Devika Kornbacher is the Co-Head of the Clifford Chance Tech Group, a cross disciplinary team of 600+ lawyers globally advising on Tech risk and opportunity.
Devika is a technology and intellectual property lawyer who leverages her extensive technological knowledge and experience to assist clients in fields such as software, hardware, sports, aviation, and retail. She provides comprehensive advice on technology-related legal matters, including data privacy compliance, cybersecurity preparedness, commercialization agreements, and obtaining, protecting, and licensing intellectual property rights. She handles a wide array of transactions, including license agreements, supply agreements, data sharing agreements, reseller agreements, collaboration agreements, joint ventures, software development agreements and patent clearances.
About the Tech Group
Integrated and dynamic, our Tech Group is a single global team delivering strategic tech law advice to help clients stay ahead of the curve and outstrip the pace of change.

- Materials delivery company in procurement, license, and services agreement with robotics company for autonomous vehicles capable of off-road navigation and platooning
- Dynamic tolling company in data privacy and technology commercialization projects related to consumer-facing applications
- Leading restaurant services company in development of standard forms of subscription services agreement, master services and purchase agreement, and professional services agreements
- Museum in counselling regarding legal implications of minting and selling NFTs
- Major sports league in developing and maintaining data privacy compliance program involving regulations under COPPA, TCPA, CCPA, and GDPR
News and client work
Contact details
2023 Predictions for the Evolution of the Metaverse from Devika Kornbacher
Devika Kornbacher, Partner and co-head of the Clifford Chance Tech Group, discusses the evolution of the metaverse in 2023, predicting that while the 'consumer metaverse' adoption continues to be slow, the 'industrial metaverse' will boom this year. Expect to see more digital twins, digital replacement instead of transformation for testing, and smart hands for onsite maintenance.
Career and qualifications
- University of Houston (B.S.C.E. cum laude) 1998
- Harvard Law School (J.D.) 2006
- Admitted as an attorney in Texas 2006
- Admitted as an attorney to United States Patent and Trademark Office 2007
- Admitted as an attorney in New York 2017
- Joined Clifford Chance 2022
Professional bodies
- Member: International Association of Privacy Professionals (CIPP-US)
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Houston Young Lawyers Foundation
- Texas Intellectual Property Law Foundation (Founding Member)
- Chair-Elect: State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Section
Awards and citations
- Ranked as Leading Dealmakers
Lawdragon 500 2021 - 2022 : Technology Transactions - America - Ranked as "The Best Lawyers in America"
BL Rankings, LLC 2021 and 2022: Litigation–Intellectual Property - Houston
BL Rankings, LLC 2021 and 2022: Litigation–Patent - Houston - Ranked as Transaction Star and Top 250 Women in IP
IP Stars 2021-22: Intellectual Property - Ranked as Managing Intellectual Property
IP Stars 2020-22: Intellectual Property - Ranked by Chambers USA
Chambers USA 2017–2021: Intellectual Property - Texas
Chambers USA 2021: Technology Transactions - Texas