At just 12 years old, Christa Brown-Sanford ’01 already had a vision for her future. After expressing an interest in becoming a lawyer, her mother encouraged her to consider a career in patent law. That early spark led Brown-Sanford to pursue an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering at Rice University, a decision that would form the foundation of a remarkable and multifaceted career.
Today, Brown-Sanford, whose practice focuses on intellectual property, licensing, patent prosecution, and technology, is a leading figure at Baker Botts, one of the country’s most prestigious law firms and which has a longstanding relationship with Rice that goes back to the University’s founding. She serves as Chair of the Intellectual Property Department (the second largest department at the firm) and sits on the firm’s executive committee.
“In engineering, it's all about problem solving. It's also all about learning new things quickly and figuring it out. And in my practice, I am having to move between a number of different technical areas, so those are skills that I use in my day to day as a lawyer.”
While in her senior year at Rice, she recalls being the only student in her Communications Theory class to express interest in patent law. “Most of my classmates were planning to go into industry,” she said. “It wasn’t a typical path at the time.” Her professor, J.S. Abercrombie Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Director of the Rice Neuroengineering Initiative (NEI) Behnaam Aazhang, who holds several patents himself, supported her vision and affirmed her unique career choice.
Now, two decades later, Brown-Sanford says that awareness of patent law as a career is growing among engineering students. “We’ve tried to do better as lawyers, to not just look at law schools to identify those that are interested in patent law, but to start earlier in engineering school and let undergraduates know about the opportunities in patent law and that industry is not the only avenue.”
Under Brown-Sanford’s leadership, Baker Botts’ IP department is thriving. She supports clients through the entire patent lifecycle, including portfolio development, licensing, and litigation, and is often on the front lines of emerging technologies like AI and machine learning.
“One of my favorite things is when I get to work with an inventor on their baby, their idea that they've really invested in. I can help them shepherd their baby to the point of getting a patent and licensing at the end of the day. That is really special to see, that they have this asset based on their idea that they can now do a ton of things with, and it can transform industry.”
Through Baker Botts, Brown-Sanford works with a school outside of Dallas to judge children’s inventions at the “Invention Convention.” The firm facilitates a free patent application for the winner of the competition. “It’s even more special when you're working with a 12 year old, and you get to help them get a patent. That's a highlight for me.”
Brown-Sanford’s leadership extends well beyond the legal field. In 2021, she became the first African American president of the Junior League of Dallas, leading the organization during its centennial year. She described the experience as “an honor and a responsibility,” and one of her proudest achievements. She also currently serves as an adjunct professor at SMU Dedman School of Law.
Brown-Sanford maintains close ties to Rice, serving on the advisory board of the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing. Serving at the Baker Botts law firm is, in itself, also a connection to Rice: Historically, Capt. James A. Baker of the Baker Botts law firm played a critical role in Rice University’s origin story following the death of benefactor William Marsh Rice. As a Rice alumna who has been at the Baker Botts firm for 21 years, for her that formative relationship between the firm and the university is very special.
She met her husband in Houston while she was a freshman at Rice University, and now they have three teenagers looking at college. She said, “I've been advising them on finding a school that is the right fit for their long-term goals. That's what I found in Rice and every day, even now, 20-plus years after graduating, I can say that my Rice degree has helped me tremendously. You go anywhere and mention that you went to Rice undergrad, and it’s like a gold star behind your name.”
“The work matters, but relationships are just as important,” she advised. “Start building them early, and be intentional about how you grow your network.”