• Drummond Hansen has extensive experience litigating and advising both established technology leaders and emerging companies in diverse technology matters including patents, data security, trade secrets and copyright as well as helping clients overcome regulatory hurdles.
• Her complex technology experience includes avionics, mobile telecommunications standards, streaming video, voice recognition, artificial intelligence, and hydrogen, electric and autonomous vehicles.
• Her arrival marks the latest addition to BakerHostetler’s West Coast offices and follows the arrival of a team of nearly 20 IP professionals led by renowned IP partners Mark Itri and Mike Dreznes.

Why this matters

Drummond Hansen’s addition further exemplifies BakerHostetler’s strategic commitment to West Coast growth and adds a key strength to its nationally recognized Intellectual Property Group. With seventeen years of experience litigating and advising on complex technology matters, she has been recognized as one of California’s Top 100 Women Lawyers, and as a California Trailblazer. Drummond Hansen’s arrival further strengthens the service BakerHostetler provides to clients as they navigate sophisticated legal questions, cutting-edge technologies and focused IP strategies.

Key quote

“Melody’s arrival provides us with an immediate and significant IP presence in the Bay Area,” said Mark Tidman, firmwide chair of the IP Group. “Her technology focus lines up well with the firm’s IP strengths in artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicles, augmented and virtual reality, and sophisticated hardware and software generally. We are thrilled to welcome her to the firm.”

About Drummond Hansen’s practice

Drummond Hansen joins BakerHostetler from an AmLaw 100 firm, where she chaired its Automated & Connected Vehicles Industry Group. She is a leading lawyer counseling well-established market leaders and emerging companies on intellectual property issues and advocating for them in technology litigation. Her practice is particularly focused on mobile telecommunications and the evolving transportation mobility industry, including technology related to automated and connected vehicles, avionics, fleet management, vehicle communications standards, and clean energy including electric and hydrogen vehicles.

Drummond Hansen has represented clients in federal and state courts, in front of the U.S. International Trade Commission and the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, and in federal and state regulatory matters involving the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration and the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

She earned her J.D. from The University of Chicago, an M.Sc. from Oxford University and her A.B. from Georgetown University.

Selected Recognition and Professional Activities

• Daily Journal’s list of “Top Women Lawyers” (2021)
• The Recorder’s California Trailblazer (2020)
• Transportation Research Board’s Emerging Technology Law Committee
• Co-Chair, Bar Association of San Francisco Intellectual Property Executive Committee
• American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Law
• International Bar Association Intellectual Property Communications and Technology Section

Key quotes

“I am excited to join BakerHostetler’s growing San Francisco office and to be part of its continued California expansion. The firm’s strengths in intellectual property, digital transformation and data economy, mobile telecommunications, and transportation make it an ideal platform for my emerging technology practice. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to provide our clients with bold, strategic advice to help them achieve their goals well into the future,” said Drummond Hansen.

“We welcome Melody to the firm and the San Francisco office. She is a talented lawyer and an established leader in intellectual property and technology. Her forward-looking practice will have an instant impact for us in California and across the U.S.,” said Robb Adkins, partner-in-charge of BakerHostetler’s San Francisco office.