Somashekar Ramakrishna is a Senior Partner at BananaIP Counsels, where he leads the firm’s patent practice in mechanical, manufacturing, automotive, and related domains. With over 19 years of experience in intellectual property, he has played a key role in helping clients secure, manage, and commercialise patents in India and abroad.

Somashekar holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Intellectual Property with a specialisation in Patent Law from the University of New Hampshire School of Law (formerly Franklin Pierce Law Center), USA.

Somashekar began his IP career at a leading US patent firm before returning to India to contribute to the country’s growing innovation ecosystem. He has significant expertise in drafting and prosecuting patent applications across jurisdictions, particularly in India and the US. Known for his practical approach and deep technical understanding, Som is valued by inventors and engineers for his ability to translate complex inventions into strong patent filings.

As part of a Government of India delegation, Somashekar visited the Japan Patent Office to study Japanese patent practices from a comparative law perspective. He has also contributed to IP development efforts in SMEs through the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), where he worked closely with SMEs in the machine tools, foundry, and plastics sectors. Through this initiative, he advised over 60 companies on identifying and protecting their IP, many of whom continue to benefit from his guidance.

Som regularly conducts IP audits, freedom-to-operate (FTO) analyses, and mining exercises, and has supported the development of in-house IP strategies and processes for a range of organisations. His work has led to increased invention disclosures and the creation of valuable patent portfolios.