SankerIP
SankerIP is a Silicon Valley boutique patent law firm founded in 2024 by former Morgan Lewis partner David V. Sanker, PhD. It serves technology clients with patent prosecution, IP strategy, FTO analysis, and IP due diligence, with particular AI-related IP expertise.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersUnion City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SankerIP does
SankerIP is a Silicon Valley-based boutique patent law firm founded in February 2024 by David V. Sanker, PhD, a former Morgan Lewis, LLP partner. The firm specializes in intellectual property services for organizations developing complex technologies, with particular emphasis on AI, software, semiconductors, medical devices, cybersecurity, database architecture, optics and quantum computing. Its clients span technology verticals, including enterprise engagements such as Daimler Truck North America LLC, and the firm operates globally via foreign associates while supervising all substantive patent work from its Union City, California office.
SankerIP delivers four core services: patent prosecution, IP strategy, freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis and IP due diligence. Patent prosecution involves building litigation-ready global patent portfolios by working directly with inventors and patent examiners; IP strategy addresses patent-versus-trade-secret decisions and portfolio alignment with corporate objectives; FTO analysis uses AI- and human-based research to map competitor IP and assess freedom to operate before large investments; and IP due diligence provides objective IP valuations for M&A, licensing and sale transactions. Underlying tooling includes an industrial-strength IP docketing platform run by a docketing manager with more than 20 years of Big Law experience, augmented by Microsoft 365 and iManage document management for client data security.
The firm operates a project-based professional services engagement model with quote-based pricing and free initial consultations. It markets itself as delivering Big Law quality at materially lower rates due to a low-overhead structure: remote work, minimal office space, and absence of multi-million-dollar partner profit expectations. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is scoped to deal value, budget and engagement need. Demand generation is concentrated in thought leadership — published book chapters in Global Legal Insights AI/ML & Big Data and ICLG Patents, and speaking at IIPLA, Berkeley-Stanford APLI, IEEE World Technology Summit and the World IP Forum — plus earned media (USA Today, The Daily Journal) and a maintained LinkedIn presence, rather than partner or marketplace channels. The firm is founder-owned, bootstrapped with no external funding, and active recruiting indicates planned capacity expansion through 2026.
SankerIP firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SankerIP
- Legal name
- SankerIP
- Website
- https://sankerip.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SankerIP is a Silicon Valley boutique patent law firm founded in 2024 by former Morgan Lewis partner David V. Sanker, PhD. It serves technology clients with patent prosecution, IP strategy, FTO analysis, and IP due diligence, with particular AI-related IP expertise.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SankerIP industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Intellectual Property Law Services
- NAICS
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)
- akta.pro industry
- IP Due Diligence & Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) AnalysisBusiness & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Intellectual Property (IP) & Patent ServicesDue Diligence & Investigative ResearchBusiness & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Research, Analytics & Expert ServicesIP Search, Watch & Competitive IntelligenceBusiness & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Intellectual Property (IP) & Patent Services
Keywords
Where SankerIP is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Union City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SankerIP business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Patent Prosecution Services: Collaborating with inventors to build robust global patent portfolios, drafting high-quality patent applications, working with patent examiners worldwide. Billed as part of ongoing IP services.
- Freedom to Operate (FTO) Analysis: Evaluating the IP landscape to identify competitors' IP and potential roadblocks for new business areas. Provides actionable assessments for informed business decisions before large investments.
- IP Strategy Services: Strategic IP counsel including decisions between patents and trade secrets, portfolio assessment, identification of gaps and strengths, and recommendations for alignment with corporate objectives.
- IP Due Diligence: Objective assessment of IP portfolio value for sale or license transactions. Evaluates ownership, scope of coverage, validity, FTO, and litigation posture. Scope adaptable to deal value, budget, and needs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Professional IP services at reduced rates compared to Big Law |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
SankerIP product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SankerIP is a boutique intellectual property law firm that drafts and prosecutes patent applications, advises on IP strategy (including patent versus trade secret decisions), conducts Freedom to Operate analyses to identify competitor IP roadblocks, and performs IP due diligence for transactions. The firm specializes in AI, software, semiconductors, cybersecurity, medical devices, optics, and other complex technologies, serving clients globally through a Silicon Valley-led team backed by a network of foreign patent associates.
Product overview
SankerIP is a boutique patent law firm offering four interconnected intellectual property services: Patent Prosecution (drafting and securing patent rights globally), IP Strategy (portfolio assessment and patent vs. trade secret decisions), Freedom to Operate (identifying and working around competitor IP), and IP Due Diligence (evaluating IP value in business transactions). The firm specializes in AI-related and software patents, serving clients from startups to established companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Patent Prosecution
Quantifiable outcome
- High success rate on patent appeals due to extensive litigation experience
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use SankerIP
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SankerIP technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SankerIP partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Science Tokyo (Tokyo Institute of Technology / Tokyo Medical and Dental University merger)minorSankerIP participated in the Science Tokyo Symposium on Open vs. Closed IP Strategies in Tokyo in January 2026. Professor Oshima presented on the utility of both open and closed IP strategies for different market stages. Science Tokyo is an elite designated national university by Japan's Ministry of Education and Technology.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
SankerIP competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Reed Smith - Tech & IP group: Global law firm with a substantial technology and IP practice covering patent prosecution, FTO, and IP due diligence. Comparable to SankerIP's service offerings across the IP lifecycle but with global scale.
- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati: Premier Silicon Valley tech law firm with extensive patent prosecution and IP due diligence practices serving technology and life sciences companies. Closest geographic and sector comparable as a major Silicon Valley firm with AI/tech patent depth.
- Knobbe Martens: Leading IP-focused law firm with substantial patent prosecution and litigation capabilities in software, semiconductors, and medical devices. Directly comparable service offerings to SankerIP, with significant scale advantage.
- Fish & Richardson: Large national IP-focused law firm with deep patent prosecution, litigation, and FTO practices across software, AI, and technology. A scaled incumbent comparable to SankerIP's core patent services but with vastly larger headcount and broader geographic reach.
- Finnegan: Premier IP boutique with strong patent prosecution and litigation practices, particularly in technology and life sciences. Comparable to SankerIP in specialization on IP, but a much larger and longer-established firm with global offices.
- Fenwick & West: West Coast tech-focused law firm with strong IP and patent prosecution practices serving software, AI, and semiconductor clients. Mountain View/Silicon Valley-based, comparable in technology-sector focus and Silicon Valley roots.
- Mintz: National law firm with a robust IP practice including patent prosecution, IP strategy, and FTO analysis across technology and life sciences. Comparable in service mix (prosecution, FTO, strategy) but significantly larger.
- Cooley LLP: Major tech-focused law firm with significant patent prosecution, IP strategy, and FTO practices serving technology and life sciences clients. Overlaps with SankerIP on AI/software patent work but operates as a broad full-service firm.
Emerging players
- McAndrews, Held & Malloy: Mid-sized IP-focused firm with patent prosecution and litigation across technology and life sciences. Comparable as an IP-specialized firm with similar client base in technology sectors, though larger and Chicago-based.
- IP Assets Pavilion (boutique): Smaller IP-focused firms in Silicon Valley that compete for similar AI and software patent prosecution work. Comparable as boutiques serving technology clients, though none is a direct one-to-one match given SankerIP's AI-specific positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SankerIP social profiles
Digital presenceSankerIP financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SankerIP leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
SankerIP funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SankerIP M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SankerIP
What does SankerIP do?
SankerIP is a boutique intellectual property law firm that drafts and prosecutes patent applications, advises on IP strategy (including patent versus trade secret decisions), conducts Freedom to Operate analyses to identify competitor IP roadblocks, and performs IP due diligence for transactions. The firm specializes in AI, software, semiconductors, cybersecurity, medical devices, optics, and other complex technologies, serving clients globally through a Silicon Valley-led team backed by a network of foreign patent associates.
Is SankerIP a public or private company?
SankerIP is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SankerIP founded?
SankerIP was founded in 2024. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SankerIP based?
SankerIP is headquartered in Union City, United States, in the North America region.
How does SankerIP make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Patent Prosecution Services are the primary driver. The others are freedom to Operate (FTO) Analysis, IP Strategy Services and IP Due Diligence.
Who are SankerIP's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Reed Smith - Tech & IP group, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Knobbe Martens, Fish & Richardson, Finnegan, Fenwick & West, Mintz and Cooley LLP. Emerging players are McAndrews, Held & Malloy and IP Assets Pavilion (boutique).
Does SankerIP have an API?
No public API is recorded for SankerIP.
What industry is SankerIP in?
SankerIP's product category is Intellectual Property Law Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAMAG, IP Due Diligence & Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Analysis, with a secondary code of BPAHALAI, Due Diligence & Investigative Research. Its NAICS code is 5416.