Dorsey & Whitney Expands Palo Alto Patent Practice with Two Seasoned Partners
Event summary
- Patent partners Al Araiza and Lena Petrovic joined Dorsey & Whitney's Palo Alto office on July 14, 2026.
- Al Araiza specializes in patent strategies for tech companies, startups, and investors across wireless communications, AI, and energy innovation.
- Lena Petrovic focuses on software/hardware patent applications and global trademark/copyright matters, with experience at Pixar.
- Both partners bring technical backgrounds—engineering and computer science—and prior industry experience.
The big picture
Dorsey & Whitney’s addition of two patent partners with deep technical and industry experience underscores the growing demand for specialized IP counsel in Silicon Valley. The move aligns with broader trends where law firms are investing in hybrid legal-technical talent to serve high-growth tech sectors, particularly AI and fintech. This hire could signal Dorsey’s intent to compete more aggressively with boutique patent firms in the region.
What we're watching
- Practice Expansion
- Whether Dorsey can leverage this hire to strengthen its position in Silicon Valley's competitive patent law market.
- Client Diversification
- How the firm will integrate Araiza and Petrovic’s startup/investor expertise into its existing corporate client base.
- Technical Depth
- The pace at which Dorsey can capitalize on their engineering backgrounds to differentiate in AI, fintech, and energy innovation sectors.
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