Manisha Chakrabarti

Some patent attorneys know the law. Others understand the technology. Manisha Chakrabarti brings both: intimate and sophisticated tech acumen and a deep understanding of relevant IP law. But just as importantly, she knows how to listen. She takes the time to understand what inventors are trying to accomplish, asks the questions that get to the heart of an invention, and remembers the details that can make a difference in a patent application. Her clients value that her work is thoughtful, and precise.

Manisha is also the kind of attorney clients can count on. She is direct, dependable, and proactive. She follows through on her commitments, communicates early when she sees a potential problem, and tells clients what she believes they need to know, even when it is not necessarily what they want to hear. She believes trust is built by being honest, following through, and taking the time to listen, including when the conversation extends beyond the immediate matter.

Her ability to understand complex technology has roots in an unusual place: NASA. Before becoming a patent attorney, Manisha spent five years as an electrical engineer supporting the Space Shuttle program. She trained astronauts and flight controllers in shuttle simulators, working with data processing, navigation, and communications systems and running failure scenarios that required astronauts to identify and solve problems. The experience gave her an engineer’s instinct for understanding how complex systems work…and how to communicate that understanding clearly.

That combination of technical understanding and legal experience has shaped Manisha’s approach to patent work for more than 20 years. She focuses on patent preparation and prosecution, working with clients ranging from large technology companies to startups and growing businesses. Her experience spans electrical and computer systems, software, telecommunications, autonomous vehicles, aerospace, medical devices, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, SaaS, and e-commerce.

Manisha understands that clients have different reasons for investing in intellectual property. Large companies may need experienced counsel who can efficiently manage sophisticated, high-volume patent portfolios. Startups and growing companies often need something different: a patent attorney who takes the time to understand the business and connect IP decisions to broader strategic goals. In either case, she brings a practical perspective shaped by years of working directly with engineers, business teams, and inventors.

Her relationship-driven approach has helped Manisha develop long-standing relationships with sophisticated technology companies, including Hewlett-Packard and AT&T, as well as automotive and emerging companies. She believes maintaining those relationships means more than simply completing the work. It means being available, asking questions, listening, and understanding what is happening in the client’s business.

Manisha did not initially set out to become a patent attorney. She entered Vermont Law School intending to practice environmental law, but her combination of engineering and legal training repeatedly led others to suggest patent law. She eventually took a patent position to put her legal education to work and discovered a field she genuinely enjoyed. She chose to build her career in patent preparation and prosecution, where she could work closely with inventors and stay engaged with technology.

Manisha earned her B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.B.A. from the University of Houston, and her J.D. from Vermont Law School. She is admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is licensed in Illinois and Connecticut.