Biography
Bijal Vakil is a highly accomplished first-chair trial attorney who advises on contentious patent matters, copyright and trademark litigation, trade secrets disputes, complex technology transactions and cross-border deals.
Mr. Vakil represents publicly traded and venture-backed companies and has extensive experience in high-stakes intellectual property and technology litigation. He is an invaluable partner to major Silicon Valley and international technology companies and relentlessly works to protect intellectual property and foster success for those at the forefront of technological innovation. Mr. Vakil has worked on matters across a broad spectrum of sectors, including computer software, AI, fintech, blockchain, semiconductors, drones, e-commerce, social media, payments, autonomous vehicles, consumer electronics, telecommunications, video games, medical devices and cryptocurrency.
Mr. Vakil has substantial experience advising on artificial intelligence issues in contentious matters, including trade secret and patent disputes. He also has significant experience with complex cross-border technology transactions and IP transactions involving AI tools, models and data. Mr. Vakil regularly counsels global technology companies on the allocation and protection of IP rights in AI systems, training data and AI-enabled products, and on the structuring of AI-driven collaborations, licensing and commercialization arrangements worldwide.
Prior to joining Skadden, he founded and served as co-chair of the Global Technology Industry Group of another global law firm, where he worked on more than 500 patent, copyright, trade secret and trademark disputes.
Mr. Vakil has co-chaired the Lawyer Representative Committee, chaired two magistrate judge selection committees for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and served as a mediator in the court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program. In addition, he is a regular lecturer at the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology. Mr. Vakil has also held leadership roles within numerous national and local bar associations and professional organizations.
Throughout his career, Mr. Vakil has believed in ensuring accessibility for everyone in the legal profession. He served in senior leadership roles at the Asian Law Alliance, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley, NAPABA Law Foundation and South Asian Bar Association of North America. NAPABA named him one of its Best Under 40 for his work with the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community.
