In this episode, we interview patent litigator Amanda Brouillette, a Senior Associate in the Atlanta office of Kilpatrick Townsend. Amanda has defended a wide range of clients accused of patent infringement through all stages of litigation, including at trial. Her cases encompass a variety of technical fields, including telecommunications, medical billing, pharmaceuticals, and mechanical systems. In 2022 and 2023, Amanda was recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” for Intellectual Property Law by The Best Lawyers in America®.

Amanda has a B.S. in physics and a B.A. in English from the University of Georgia, where she graduated summa cum laude, highest honors. She earned her J.D. from Stanford Law School with pro bono distinction for her work with the Stanford Domestic Violence Pro Bono Project. During law school, Amanda served on the Stanford Technology Law Review, first as a Lead Editor, then as Editor In Chief.

From an early age, Amanda thrived on learning new things. Her decision to double-major in Physics and English proved a perfect recipe for never being bored or feeling like she was stagnating with her studies—and it turned out to be the perfect gateway to patent litigation, too.

Amanda is a firm believer in taking charge of her own professional destiny and creating her own opportunities, including by actively developing connections with other patent law practitioners. Her brilliance, can-do attitude, and sunny disposition, which she brings to any task set before her, have helped her build strong relationships with mentors and sponsors within the firm, with clients, and with more junior attorneys whom she now supervises.

In this episode, Amanda shares her insights about what it takes to build a successful career as a patent litigator. She also discusses the importance of communication and relationship-building for professional development. And she talks about the two-pronged approach that firms—and individuals—can take to accelerate the creation of a more diverse and inclusive workplace.

Highlights include:

• A chain of happy accidents leads to a career in patent law (1:49)
• Thriving on the feeling of success (4:33)
• The theater bug as translated into litigation (6:48)
• Taking deliberate steps toward more diversity in hiring (11:33)
• The cultural cues that may discourage women from pursuing a patent litigation career (12:55)
• Mentorship vs. sponsorship (19:09)
• How to find sponsors and build relationships with them (20:34)
• Bonding in a personal way for increased work productivity (27:59)
• Motivating factors (30:24)
• Managing up and managing down (32:05)
• Developing a leadership style (37:57)
• A personal professional highlight that demonstrates the importance of sponsorship (39:09)
• A collaborative approach to better serving clients through diverse teams (44:34)
• A two-pronged approach to diversity and inclusion (46:56)
• The paradox of emphasizing female mentoring for junior women (50:15)