# Nehal Madhani

> Nehal Madhani is the New York-based founder and CEO of Alt Legal, a trademark docketing and IP management company. A former Kirkland & Ellis restructuring attorney and self-taught Python/Django developer, he moved from a lawyer marketplace into trademark software after customer feedback. His work also includes trademark administrator education, USPTO advisory service, LexFusion advisory work, and support for a legal technology fellowship at Penn.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at Alt Legal
- **Organizations:** Alt Legal, Kirkland & Ellis (former associate), LexFusion (advisory board), USPTO Trademark Public Advisory Committee, International Trademark Association, International Intellectual Property Standards Group, Blue Freak
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.A., biology and economics, Northwestern University, J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School, Certificate in Business and Public Policy, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- **Known for:** Founded Alt Legal and helped develop its automated trademark docketing offering., Selected for the 2016 Fastcase 50., Alt Legal won the IP category in the inaugural ATL alt.legal Innovation Awards.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2009** — Founded student marketplace Blue Freak and continued operating it during law school.
- **2009** — Graduated from Penn Law; subsequently practiced restructuring at Kirkland & Ellis.
- **2013** — Launched the business initially known as Plainlegal, a lawyer-business marketplace with productivity tools.
- **2014** — Closed the marketplace and focused on IP productivity software; Alt Legal dates its docketing launch to 2014.
- **2016** — Selected for the Fastcase 50.
- **2019** — Alt Legal agreed to acquire MarkTend’s docketing business.
- **2023** — Appointed to USPTO Trademark Public Advisory Committee.
- **2024** — Served as INTA Trademark Administrators Committee vice chair for the launch of its beginner certificate course; Alt Legal introduced Assist following the acquisition of WeberMark’s customers.
- **2025** — Alt Legal announced growth investment led by SSM Partners, with The LegalTech Fund participating.
- **2026** — Alt Legal acquired WebTMS; Penn named the inaugural Madhani Legal Tech Fellow.

## Achievements

- Founded Alt Legal and helped develop its automated trademark docketing offering.
- Selected for the 2016 Fastcase 50.
- Alt Legal won the IP category in the inaugural ATL alt.legal Innovation Awards.
- Appointed to USPTO TPAC in 2023, with a term listed through December 1, 2026.
- Supported the Madhani Legal Tech Fellowship at Penn, whose inaugural recipient was named in April 2026.
- Founded the International Intellectual Property Standards Group.

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — Alt Legal announced that WebTMS had become part of the company and that a Customer Advisory Board would guide future development.
- **2026-04** — Penn announced Christy Xie as the inaugural Madhani Legal Tech Fellow, supported by Nehal Madhani.
- **2025-12** — Alt Legal announced a growth investment led by SSM Partners with participation from The LegalTech Fund.

## Links

- Website: https://www.altlegal.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nehalmadhani
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/nehalm

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/nehal-madhani
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21