Aamir Kazi, Fish & Richardson, Atlanta. (Courtesy photo)

Job Title:  Principal.

Current primary practice area:  Intellectual property.

Experience: Fish & Richardson, 11 years.

Education: Northwestern University School of Law, 2007; Georgia Institute of Technology, 2002.

What drew you to a career in law?

I have always enjoyed problem-solving, which is what drew me to my prior career as a software developer. But I was looking for something with a faster pace. IP litigation offers the opportunity to tackle new and challenging questions every day. I may spend one day writing a brief on a complex legal question and the next analyzing my client's source code. No two cases are the same, and we often have to think out of the box to come up with the best business solution for our clients.

Have you set a specific goal that you want to achieve in the next year?

My goal for this year is to spend more time on pro bono work. Pro bono is a great way to stay involved with the community, and it has an impact. Some of the most gratifying experiences in my career have been winning pro bono cases, such as obtaining a restraining order for a domestic violence victim or securing a favorable settlement for a wrongful eviction. There is no shortage of pro bono organizations that need help.

What has been your proudest career moment and your biggest hurdle?

We were asked to replace counsel in a case where our client had suffered some setbacks that put it at a litigation disadvantage. We were thrown into the fire without the typical diligence time at the beginning of a case. We devised a new strategy that helped the client fight off an injunction threat and eight figures in damages exposure. This experience was both one of my proudest moments and biggest hurdles, because we successfully guided the client through litigation and achieved a successful outcome despite the fact that the client lost several important issues before we joined the case.