Bernard Chao

Bernard Chao is a Professor of Law and Maxine Kurtz Research Scholar at the University of Denver's Sturm College of Law, where he also serves as Co-Director of the Intellectual Property and Technology Law Program. His expertise spans patent law, privacy law, and empirical studies of legal systems. Prior to academia, he spent nearly 20 years in Silicon Valley, litigating high-stakes patent cases at firms like Wilson Sonsini and Pennie & Edmonds, and held roles such as Vice President of Legal Strategy at Covad Communications. He has advised federal judges as a court-appointed Special Master, including in the landmark In Re Katz Interactive Call Processing Patent Litigation.

Professor Chao holds a JD from Duke University School of Law and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University. He is a registered patent attorney and active member of the California Bar.

His research focuses on patent remedies, data privacy, and jury decision-making. Notably, his work has been recognized with the Samsung-Stanford Patent Prize and featured in prestigious journals like the California Law Review. He has authored amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court alongside organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Chao’s scholarship emphasizes transparency in legal processes and the intersection of technology with law. His recent articles address issues like patent thickets in pharmaceuticals, privacy rights procedural gaps, and empirical analyses of civil-criminal legal standards.

Awards include the Samsung-Stanford Patent Prize and inclusion in West/Thomson’s Intellectual Property Law Review. His advocacy extends to protecting standards-essential patents and reforming FRAND licensing practices.

He teaches courses in intellectual property, contracts, and patent litigation at the Sturm College of Law, integrating his practical legal experience with academic rigor. His work often bridges theory and practice, influencing both judicial decisions and policy debates.