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Devika Kornbacher
Devika Kornbacher
Partner — Technology Transactions & Intellectual Property
E: dkornbacher@velaw.com T: +1.713.758.2757
VCard BIO PDF
Partner — Technology Transactions & Intellectual Property

Devika Kornbacher

Devika Kornbacher
Houston
T: +1.713.758.2757
F: +1.713.615.5219

Texas Tower
845 Texas Avenue
Suite 4700
Houston, Texas 77002

New York
T: +1.212.237.0115
F: +1.713.615.5219

The Grace Building
1114 Avenue of the Americas
32nd Floor
New York, New York 10036

E: dkornbacher@velaw.com
VCard BIO PDF
start quote symbolTechnology isn’t just a part of my work life, or a hobby, it is a big part of who I am. I’m a true geek. I find helping clients leverage technology and explore the uses, possibilities, and the future that technology brings, both exciting and rewarding.end quote symbol
Devika Kornbacher

Devika Kornbacher is a technology and intellectual property lawyer who leverages her extensive technological knowledge and experience to assist clients in such fields as energy, sports, aviation, software and hardware.

Devika advises on technology-related legal matters, including data privacy compliance, cybersecurity preparedness, open source software and obtaining, protecting, licensing, and enforcing intellectual property rights.

She is experienced in handling a wide array of transactions, including commercialization agreements, license agreements, reseller agreements, collaboration agreements, joint ventures, software development agreements and patent clearances.

Devika is Head of V&E’s Cybersecurity & Data Privacy practice and the firm’s Technology Transaction Team. She is also a co-lead of V&E’s ESG Taskforce, and provides counsel on the data-centric, cybersecurity and privacy implications of ESG matters, as well as working with other members of the V&E ESG Taskforce to create end-to-end solutions for clients navigating their non-financial risks and opportunities. Chambers USA has recognized Devika in the field of intellectual property law for the past four consecutive years. Devika is also a member of the firm’s Diversity Equity Committee.

Devika’s passion for technology and computers started when she was a child. She began programming at a young age and eventually received an engineering degree. She worked as a design engineer, designing near-shore and offshore oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Nigeria before deciding to switch gears and pursue a legal career.

Devika has been designated a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

In addition to her active legal practice, Devika devotes time to supporting Children at Risk, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in Texas. She is Chair of the Board of Directors of the organization.

Experience Highlights

  • Sunoco in the $3.3 billion sale of a majority of its convenience stores to 7-Eleven

  • Major sports leagues in drafting and negotiating technology agreements across from vendors such as Oracle, NextVR and Akamai in matters involving use of open source software, data services, streaming media, tracking systems, and other digital technologies 

  • Various companies in counseling with respect to internal and external transfers of personal data, including with respect to compliance with GDPR and EU-U.S. and Swiss-U.S. privacy shield frameworks

  • Healthcare government contractor in negotiating outsourcing agreements as part of large-scale overhaul of IT infrastructure and help desk

  • Taiwanese chip manufacturer in negotiating a development agreement with a large American augmented reality company for the development and manufacture of digital pixel sensor chips

  • Pizza Hut in development and implementation of digital loyalty program, including IT master subscription services agreements that leveraged SaaS big data platforms

  • Major sports league in negotiating agreements related to wearable technology for player tracking 

  • KFC in drafting and negotiation of agreements with broadband services provider 

  • Software services company in international distribution agreements for SaaS and on-premises platforms, terms of use, data privacy, cloud-based services, and strategic licensing

  • Building manufacturer in development and negotiation of collaboration and licensing agreements with software providers for integration of providers’ software into the manufacturer’s novel software offering 

  • Major entertainment company in counseling regarding open source software matters, including licenses for contribution of code to open source community 

  • An international chemical company in the licensing of its proprietary petrochemical technology for a polyethylene JV

  • Multinational conglomerates and early-stage companies in counseling related to various intellectual property matters including drafting terms of use and website development and hosting agreements

  • Apollo Global Management in its equity investment in Infrastructure Networks, a provider of private broadband wireless LTE solutions

  • TPG Growth and The Rise Fund in the acquisition of CLEAResult, the country’s leading provider of efficiency solutions for utility companies, from General Atlantic

  • YouEarnedIt in an investment in the company by Vista Equity Partners

  • AVX Partners as the lead investor in the $11.3 million Class B Preferred Stock financing of Tasktop Technologies, a Canada-based software developer 

  • Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, LLC, in its lead investment in Maana’s $26 million Series B funding, including diligence regarding big data manipulation platform 

  • Select Energy Services in its $1.3 billion merger with Rockwater Energy Solutions 

  • Spredfast, a leading provider of social media management software and solutions, in the merger with Lithium Technologies via its private equity sponsor, Vista Equity Partners 

  • Lucid Energy Group II in the $1.6 billion sale of the company, an EnCap Flatrock Midstream portfolio company, to a joint venture controlled by investment funds affiliated with Riverstone Holdings and the Goldman Sachs Group 

  • Omega Protein in its $500 million sale to Cooke, a global seafood company based in Canada

  • Alon USA in the $464 million acquisition by Delek US Holdings of the outstanding shares of Alon common stock 

  • Socialware, a leading provider of social media compliance solutions, in its sale to Proofpoint 

  • Oilfield services companies in patentability analysis and prosecution of patent applications related to perforating technology

  • Bain Capital in patent matters, including patentability analysis, in the acquisition of an oil and gas tools company 

  • Oilfield equipment designer in drafting non-infringement opinions as clearance due diligence for an oilfield tool 

  • Hedge fund in analysis of patents and applications related to paper manufacturing technology

  • Gulf Coast Ammonia (a joint venture of Agrifos and Borealis) in intellectual property efforts related to the development and financing of a world-scale ammonia project in Texas 

  • Venture capital firm in intellectual property efforts related to financing of software providers

  • Financial company in intellectual property efforts related to the financing of solar projects 

  • Financial company in intellectual property efforts related to financing of mercury control company

  • Oil and gas company in intellectual property due diligence in debt offering in connection with divestment of the company

Credentials

  • Harvard Law School, J.D., 2006 (Research and Technology Director, Harvard Legal Aid Bureau; Honorable Mention, Williston Contract Drafting and Negotiation Competition; Harvard Journal of Law and Technology)
  • University of Houston, B.S.C.E. cum laude, 1998 (Alpha Lambda Delta-Pi Eta Sigma; Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society; Vice President, Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society)
  • Before practicing law, as a structural engineer, Devika designed near-shore and offshore oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Nigeria.
  • Chambers USA, Intellectual Property (Texas), 2017–2022; “Up and Coming” in Intellectual Property (Texas), 2017 and 2018; “Recognized Practitioner” in Intellectual Property (Texas), 2019; Technology: Corporate & Commercial (Texas), 2022
  • Legal 500 U.S., Sport, 2022
  • Managing Intellectual Property, IP Stars, 2020; Transaction Star and Top 250 Women in IP, 2021
  • The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), (Houston): Litigation–Intellectual Property, 2021 and 2022; Litigation–Patent, 2021 and 2022
  • Selected to the 500 Leading Dealmakers in America, Lawdragon, 2022
  • Member: International Association of Privacy Professionals, Texas Bar Foundation, Houston Young Lawyers Foundation
  • Secretary: State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Section
  • Texas
  • New York
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • “Privacy Matters in the Virtual Workspace,” National Association of Corporate Directors Northern California Chapter Program, January 19, 2021 (panelist)
  • “The Perils, Pitfalls, and Positives of Privacy,” WomenCorporateDirectors San Francisco Chapter Event, August 13, 2020 (panelist)
  • “California and Other Privacy Law Developments in the Wake of GDPR,” UT Law’s 32nd Annual Technology Law Conference, May 24, 2019 (speaker)
  • “Data Privacy and Information Security,” 32nd Annual Course on Advanced Intellectual Property Law, February 28, 2019 (speaker)
  • ‘What IP Lawyers Need to Know About Emerging Issues in Cybersecurity,” CAIL Conference on Intellectual Property Law, November 12, 2018 (speaker)
  • “Cyber-Governance: Legal Considerations for Cyber Disclosure and Preparedness,” V&E Houston Office, November 1, 2018 (speaker)
  • “Voices in the Room: Professional Ethics of Advising Clients on Responding to Cyber Extortion Demands,” American Bar Association Business Law Section Annual Meeting, September 14, 2018 (panelist)
  • “Keep Calm and Carry On: How Disputes, Data Privacy and Employment Issues Post-Brexit Will Affect American Businesses,” V&E Houston Office, June 14, 2018 (speaker)
  • “How Government and the Private Sector Cooperate on Cyber Security Threat Management,” Texas-Israel Chamber of Commerce Cyber Security Conference, May 31, 2018 (speaker)
  • “Cybersecurity: In-House Counsel Challenges and Perspectives,” University of Texas Law Technology Law Conference, May 24, 2018 (moderator)
  •  “Data Security & Agreements – Negotiating Agreements of Provisions,” Advanced Intellectual Property Law Course, February 7, 2018 (speaker)
  • “Keeping Private Data Private – Law Firm Cybersecurity and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR),” 2018 AIPLA Mid-Winter Institute, January 26, 2018 (panelist)
  • “Technology Burdens for the General Counsel,” AIC General Counsels Day, November 8, 2017 (speaker)
  • “Privacy by Design: A Proactive Approach for Privacy Programs,” Women, Influence & Power in Law Conference, October 11, 2017 (moderator)
  • “Compelling Evidence of Non-Obviousness May Not be Enough,” V&E IP Insights, September 8, 2017 (co-author)
  • “7-Eleven Asset Acquisition,” Corporate Counsel Magazine, July 2017 (co-author)
  • “Cybersecurity Preparedness for the Energy Industry,” April 28, 2017 (panelist)
  • “FCC Broadband Consumer Privacy Rules Repealed,” V&E High-Tech Law & Litigation E-communication, March 30, 2017 (co-author)
  • “No Right to be Forgotten from Commercial Registers in European Union,” V&E High-Tech Law & Litigation E-communication, March 14, 2017 (co-author)
  • “New NY Department of Financial Services Cybersecurity Requirements in Effect,” V&E Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Insights E-communication, March 1, 2017 (co-author)
  • “U.S. Court Orders Google to Produce Customer Data Stored on Overseas Servers,” V&E High-Tech Law & Litigation E-communication, February 13, 2017 (author)
  • “The US-EU Safe Harbor Program: Is It Safe?,” Law360, September 24, 2015 (co-author)
  • “Head in the Cloud: Legal Developments in Software, Big Data, Life Sciences, and Other Tech Frontiers,” External Continuing Legal Education Program, August 2017 (co-presenter)
  • “Understanding and Navigating Technology Agreements,” External Continuing Legal Education Program, August 2017 (presenter)
  • “Navigating and Negotiating Information Technology Agreements,” External Continuing Legal Education Program, 2014, 2015, and 2017 (presenter)
  • “Cybersecurity 101,” Intellectual Property Owners Association, Licensing Committee, September 2015 (presenter)
  • “Protecting IP in Software,” Intellectual Property Owners Association, Licensing Committee, August 2015 (presenter)
  • “Technology Licensing and Development: Key Strategic Considerations,” External Continuing Legal Education Program, November 2014 (presenter)
  • “International Intellectual Property Enforcement,” Women, Influence & Power in Law Conference, September 2014 (panelist)
  • “Do’s and Don’ts of Open Source Software,” V&E and External Continuing Legal Education Program, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015 (presenter)
  • “Legal Ethics in Negotiation of Risk Allocation Provisions,” University of Texas Technology Law Conference, May 2014 (panelist)
  • “Invest Austin”, April 2014 (panelist)
  • “Intellectual Property Overview for Startups,” TeXchange, February 2014 (presenter)
  • “Venture Capital Investing: Technology & Operations,” External Continuing Legal Education Program, April 2013 (presenter)
  • “Copyright Legal Minute,” Texas C-BAR, February 2007

News & Insights

Rankings & Awards
The Legal 500 U.S. 2022 (Legalease, Ltd.) Recognizes Vinson & Elkins in 46 Practice Categories, 134 Lawyers Recommended
June 16, 2022
Insight
Don’t Mine Me: ERCOT Requirements May Slow Texas’ New Crypto Currency Mining Operations
June 8, 2022
Rankings & Awards
Chambers USA 2022 Recognizes Vinson & Elkins’ Corporate and Tax Departments in 30 Practice Categories, 87 Individual Lawyer Rankings*
June 1, 2022
Deals & Cases
Southwest Airlines Invests in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Pilot Project Supported by the Department of Energy
June 1, 2022