iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Two Indian American advocates have been chosen among the top 50 lawyers of San Franciso for 2023 by Attorney Intel which provides news and information on notable law firms and the broader legal industry.
Keval Patel[Above right] and Devang Shah[Above left] were selected along with 48 other advocates from a pool of 20,000 attorneys in San Francisco County. “San Francisco is one of the nation’s most prominent legal markets, rivaled only by New York City. It is a thriving destination for lawyers seeking career advancement, characterized by a dynamic business environment with a consistent demand for legal services driven by Fortune 500 companies and startups. San Francisco also hosts over 30 international financial institutions, cementing its position as a major player in the business and finance sectors,” Attorney Intel said in a statement.
Keval Patel is the General Counsel of Zipline, a company that was founded to create the first logistics system that serves all users equally. Leveraging expertise in robotics and autonomy, Zipline designs, manufactures, and operates the world’s largest automated delivery system that serves millions of people around the world and is building an equitable and more resilient global supply chain. Patel first joined the company in 2019 as legal counsel.
Previously, Patel was a technology transactions associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP. Before that, he served as a legal clerk and child advocate at The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights. Earlier in his career, he worked with Assemblymember Jim Frazier as a caseworker and office assistant. Patel earned a JD from the University of Chicago Law School and an undergraduate degree in political science and government from the University of California, Davis.
“San Francisco’s association with innovative companies often gives rise to intricate legal challenges, prompting a need for specialized attorneys. This year’s award selection was a challenging task, given the extensive legal talent pool within the area. With over 20,000 lawyers actively practicing in San Francisco County, the region’s legal diversity empowered us to identify truly exceptional men and women who have demonstrated excellence across various legal domains, underpinned by their extensive experience and esteemed reputations in their respective sectors,” Attorney Intel said.
Devang Shah joined Pivot Bio in March 2023, as General Counsel, he oversees all legal affairs. Founded in 2011, Pivot Bio is a sustainable agriculture company delivering farmers’ patented crop nutrition technologies that harness the power of nature to reliably and productively grow the food the world needs in the face of increasing volatility.
Shah began his career as an attorney at Skadden Arps, working in both Palo Alto and NYC. He holds a B.S. in civil and environmental engineering from Cornell University, an M.S. in civil engineering from Stanford University, and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
This year’s honorees include Jamal Al-Haj, who holds the position of General Counsel at Density, a technology company. Over the course of his career, Al-Haj has served as an advisor in transactions totaling more than $50 billion and is a frequent speaker at symposiums focusing on topics related to the venture capital community. Jeannine Sano, another award recipient, is a Partner at Axinn Veltrop & Harkrider. With nearly three decades of experience in intellectual property litigation, Sano’s achievements have garnered recognition from publications and awards such as IAM Patent 1000, Managing IP, The Recorder, and the Daily Journal, among others.
Shawn Williams, a Founding Partner at Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd, is also on Attorney Intel’s list of top 50 lawyers in San Francisco. Williams played a lead role in a case that accused Facebook of privacy violations, resulting in a record-breaking $650 million recovery, marking the largest-ever privacy class action.