Sheila Niaz is a patent attorney and litigation associate at Norton Rose Fulbright, where her practice spans intellectual property, product liability, and complex commercial disputes. She represents clients in high-stakes matters involving cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT devices, blockchain, and fintech.
Before joining the firm, Sheila clerked for the Honorable Wilhelmina M. Wright and the Honorable Patrick J. Schiltz of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. She currently serves as the Eighth Circuit Representative for the Federal Bar Association’s Younger Lawyers Division, after previously chairing the Intellectual Property Practice Group for the FBA’s Minnesota Chapter.
Sheila is deeply committed to public service and mentorship. She serves as Treasurer of the Honorable Jimmie V. Reyna Intellectual Property American Inn of Court and is actively involved with the ACLU of Minnesota, where she represents civil rights plaintiffs in federal court. She also provides pro bono legal assistance to entrepreneurs, domestic abuse survivors, and individuals in need of housing or criminal appellate representation. In addition, she serves on the boards of the Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association, ChIPs Twin Cities, and the Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association. Outside of law, Sheila volunteers as a docent at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, leading public tours on art and cultural history.
A former software engineer, Sheila brings a technical perspective to her legal practice. She is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and speaks Farsi and French.