The SpicyIP Podcast took the opportunity to sit with our distinguished faculty and guest speakers at the SpicyIP Summer School 2025 to launch our first set of interviews!
In this episode (11), Sonisha Srinivasan speaks to Mr. Ashwani Balayan, Partner at ALG India Law Offices LLP (full bio below) about his journey from engineering to law, the importance of technical knowledge in patent prosecution, some guidance for students who wish to pursue IP litigation and prosecution, as well as ALG India’s Knowledge sharing initiatives.
00:00- Introduction
00:45- His Journey
04:13- Background in Science/Engineering in Patent Prosecution
06:11- Career guidance in IP Litigation and Prosecution
08:50- Knowledge sharing initiatives at ALG
11:00- Concluding remarks
About Ashwani Balayan: Ashwani Balayan, a Partner at ALG for over 15 years, leads the firm’s Patents, Designs, and IP Litigation practice, with a focus on advisory, prosecution, enforcement, and litigation relating to patents, trademarks, and designs in India. He holds a B.Tech (Biotechnology) and LL.M. (IPR) from G.G.S.Indraprastha University, New Delhi, and an LL.B. (IPR Hons.) from RGSOIPL, IIT Kharagpur. He is a qualified Patent Agent and Advocate enrolled with Bar Council of Delhi. His core expertise lies in drafting and enforcing patent claims – particularly in the pharmaceutical, biomedical, and bioinformatics sectors – handling pre-grant and post-grant oppositions, revocation proceedings, and infringement actions. He regularly advises on patentability, validity, and freedom-to- operate issues. Ashwani also has substantial experience in litigation, mediation, dispute resolution, including appeals, cancellation actions, and revocation proceedings before High Courts, the IP Offices, and arbitral and mediation panels. His practice further extends to strategic advisory on the protection and enforcement of industrial designs and trade secrets. Ashwani is actively involved in global IP discourse and holds leadership positions in several international IP organizations. He currently serves as Chair of the Designs Advocacy Subcommittee of INTA and Vice Chair of the Asia Pacific Committee of the IPO. He has authored publications for AIPPI, the INTA Bulletin, and IPO journals on topics including anti-suit injunctions and design law and has been invited to speak at various national and international conferences. He is recognized as a leading practitioner by IAM Patent 1000 as well as WTR 1000.
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Credits: Sonisha Srinivasan: Host, Researcher, Editor
Swaraj Paul Barooah: Producer, Researcher, Editor
Praharsh Gour, Md Sabeeh Ahmad: Camera, Mic, Set
Tanishka Goswami, Anjali Tripathi, Athreya Bhat: Graphics & Media
Praharsh Gour, Yogesh Byadwal, Bharathwaj Ramakrishnan: Research, Checks & General Setup