CENTER FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (CIPLIT ® )
DePaul College of Law’s Intellectual Property Law & Information Technology (IP/IT) Program—powered by the Center for Intellectual Property Law & Information Technology (CIPLIT®)—has stood at the forefront of IP/IT legal education since its inception over 25 years ago. The program’s unique interdisciplinary learning experience combines one of the most diverse and cutting-edge IP/IT curricula in the country with timely and innovative scholarship and research, outstanding career development opportunities and mentoring, and an unparalleled range of extracurricular opportunities. This comprehensive approach prepares students for the ever-changing needs of law, business and technology. Located in the heart of Chicago, DePaul College of Law is in a prime location to provide students and legal professionals with invaluable resources within these fields.
With wide-ranging opportunities and a tradition of excellence, DePaul’s IP/IT program has enjoyed national recognition for many years and is currently among the top 20% of IP programs in the country as ranked by U.S. News & World Report. DePaul’s IP/IT program also has received “A+” rankings from preLaw magazine over the past several years, as well as being named a top law school for both intellectual property law and technology law in 2023 and 2024.
Our distinguished IP/IT faculty teach and work in a broad range of specialty areas, such as copyright, patent, innovation policy, art and cultural heritage law, cyberlaw and data protection. They consistently produce a wide array of scholarship, and in just in the past couple of years, they have published articles and book chapters on multiple subjects, including the importance of technology education, patent rights during a pandemic, religious traditions, contract law, the consumer duty of care in trademark law, the preservation of cultural heritage, innovation law and policy choices for climate change-related public-private partnerships, intellectual property and authorship integrity, and artificial intelligence.
Recognized globally as experts in the IP/IT field, DePaul law faculty share their expertise across the world as presenters and panelists, have testified before the U.S. Senate regarding pending legislation to reform patent law subject matter eligibility doctrine, and have advised countries on protecting archaeological sites and combating the illegal trade in antiquities.
DePaul College of Law also has continued to implement a Technology & Data Protection Initiative, reflecting the growing importance of technology and cyberlaw and the increasing demand for technology-savvy lawyers. Through a partnership with the DePaul Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM), all upper-level DePaul law students, even those without a technical background, are allowed to enroll in select CDM technology courses for JD credit.
CIPLIT has further enhanced the College of Law’s nationally recognized IP/IT program through the introduction of more technology-focused curricular and extracurricular opportunities. This expansion includes the addition of new courses focused on the intersection of IP/IT and business, and CIPLIT’s Tech-Law Boot Camp Series, which is open to all students and the Chicago legal community, features speakers discussing myriad cutting-edge technology topics including data protection, cybersecurity, data privacy and technology law certifications.
Most recently, the College of Law and CDM have partnered to meet the fast-growing market need for highly skilled data privacy, risk management and compliance professionals by creating an innovative, online interdisciplinary Certificate in Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Law. Open to both legal, technology and other professionals, this innovative program is one of the first in the country to offer foundational training in both technology and law in six online courses taught by prominent law and computer science faculty.
As the evolution of this field affects law, business and technology across the globe, DePaul’s IP/IT program continues to innovate. CIPLIT’s tradition of excellence and success is assured with the continued collaboration and support of faculty, alumni and friends, as well as its esteemed Advisory Board. Through the growth of its interdisciplinary curriculum and specialized programming, CIPLIT is expanding its legacy of providing high-quality, leading-edge legal education to students, educators and practitioners, building the bridge between IP/IT law and technology well into the future.
IP/IT FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION
DePaul College of Law’s distinguished IP/IT faculty work in a broad range of areas including copyright, patent law, innovation policy, trademark, art and cultural heritage law, cyberlaw, data protection and moral rights. Along with the full-time faculty, DePaul College of Law also is fortunate to have diverse and distinguished adjunct and affiliated faculty bring to the law school their expertise from law practice, business, technology and other DePaul colleges.
ADMINISTRATION
FACULTY
ELLEN GUTIONTOV
Executive Director, CIPLIT®;
Adjunct Professor, DePaul College of Law and College of Business
JD, DePaul University MBA, DePaul University
ROBERTA ROSENTHAL KWALL
Raymond P. Niro Professor of Intellectual Property Law; Founding Director, CIPLIT®
JD, University of Pennsylvania
JOSHUA SARNOFF
Raymond P. Niro Professor of Intellectual Property Law
JD, Stanford University
PATTY GERSTENBLITH
Distinguished Research Professor of Law; Faculty Director, Center for Art, Museum & Cultural Heritage Law
JD, Northwestern University
PhD, Fine Arts and Anthropology, Harvard University
MARGIT LIVINGSTON
BRETT HARRISON DAVINGER Program Coordinator, CIPLIT®; Associate Director, Center for Animal Law
JD, DePaul University
Vincent de Paul Professor of Law; Faculty Director, Center for Animal Law
JD, University of Minnesota
LLM, University of Illinois
MA, University of Minnesota
MICHAEL GRYNBERG
Raymond P. Niro Professor of Intellectual Property Law
JD, University of Virginia
ANTHONY VOLINI
Professor of Legal Practice; Director, Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Initiatives
JD, Loyola University Chicago
MS, Cybersecurity (Networking & Infrastructure Concentration), DePaul University
Registered U.S. Patent Attorney; CIPP/E/US and CSXF certifications
CIPLIT ADVISORY BOARD
Glen Belvis (Chair) Belvis Law, LLC
Daniel R. Bestor Motorola Solutions, Inc.
David K. Callahan Latham & Watkins LLP
Lawrence J. Crain (Chair Emeritus) Greer Burns & Crain, Ltd.
Mark W. Croll
Leydig, Voit & Mayer, Ltd.
Monika Dudek Miller JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Thomas J. Filarski Steptoe & Johnson LLP
Victoria Friedman Dennemeyer & Associates, LLC
Dennis J. Gallitano
Conn Kavanaugh
H. Michael Hartmann (Chair Emeritus)
Leydig, Voit & Mayer, Ltd.
Anne S. Jordan
Jordan Associates
Julie L. Langdon
VedderPrice
John S. Mortimer
Wood Phillips
Dean D. Niro
Vitale, Vickrey, Niro, Solo & Gasey
Gregory S. Norrod
Intellectual Property Attorney
John S. Paniaguas (Chair Emeritus)
Clark Hill PLC
Christopher Reckamp
Kennedy Lenart Spraggins LLP
William J. Ryan
Scandaglia & Ryan
Matthew J. Sampson
Lee Sullivan Shea & Smith LLP
Brian Sodikoff
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Kathryn Starshak K&L Gates LLP
Melissa K. Ventrone
Clark Hill PLC
AFFILIATED FACULTY
KAREN HEART
Professor, DePaul Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media
JD, University of Texas PhD, Computer Science, University of Illinois Chicago (coursework completed) MS, Computer Science, DePaul University
2024-2025 JAHARIS FACULTY FELLOW IN HEALTH LAW & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
RYAN KNOX
JD, New York University
ADJUNCT FACULTY
JEFFREY S. BECKER
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP
GREG CASIMER Thorelli & Associates
RON KAMINECKI Kaminecki IP
TRAVIS LIFE
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP
JOHN J. LUCAS Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP
KEVIN E. NOONAN McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff
CHRISTINA PANNOS Howe & Hutton, Ltd
SARA SULEIMAN Dinsmore LLP
SCOTT WEINGUST Stout LLC
STEVEN WISER
DePaul College of Law
SELECTED FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS
PROFESSOR JOSHUA SARNOFF is an internationally recognized expert on the intersections of intellectual property law, environmental law, health law, and administrative and international law. His current research focuses on innovation policy and technology development; climate change technology and data; utility and design patent empirical analyses, history and theory; and intellectual property rights in genetic and natural resources, diagnostics and therapeutics.
Professor Sarnoff has the following book chapters forthcoming:
• “The Right to Repair, Intellectual Property, Exhaustion, and Preemption,” in T he C ambridge h andbook of e merging i ssues aT T he i n T erse CT ion of C ommer C ial l aw and T e C hnology (Stacy-Ann Elvy and Nancy S. Kim eds., Cambridge University Press, forthcoming 2024)
• “An Introduction to, Premises of, and Problems with Patent Claim Construction,” with Edward D. Manzo, in P aT en T C laim C ons T ru CT ion in T he f ederal C ir C ui T 2014-2023 e di T ions (Thomson Reuters 2014-2024, 2025 forthcoming); quoted by the U.S. Supreme Court in Nautilus, Inc. v. Biosig Instruments, Inc., 134 S. Ct. 2120, 2128 (2014)
His advocacy work for the past year includes:
• Co-author, Brief of Amici Curiae Patent Law Professors, the Repair Association, Securepairs, iFixit, and US PIRG in support of Appellants on En Banc Rehearing, LKQ Corp. v. GM Global Technology Operations LLC, No. 2022-2348 (Fed. Cir.) (filed August 28, 2023), decision at 102 F.4th 1280 (Fed. Cir. 2024) (en banc)
• Comments of Professor David S. Levine and Joshua D. Sarnoff for the Office for Global Affairs, Office of the Secretary, HHS on The Implications of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Commitments/Regimes and Other Proposed Commitments Being Considered Under a WHO Convention, Agreement, or Other International Instrument on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness & Response (January 31, 2024)
• Comments of Professor Joshua D. Sarnoff in response to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Request for Comment on Text-Based Negotiations before the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore (Traditional Cultural Expressions), Docket number PTO–C–2023–0019 (February 28, 2024)
• Comments of Professor Joshua D Sarnoff on RFC on AI Assisted Inventions Guidance, Docket Number PTO-P-2023-0043 U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Guidance on AI-Assisted Inventions (June 20, 2024)
Additionally, his article, “Supreme Court Confirms Judicial Supremacy Over Democracy and Expertise,” was published by Notice & Comment, a blog from the Yale Journal on Regulation and ABA Section of Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice (June 30, 2024), and he also was quoted in “New Design Patent Test Creates Uncertainty Over What’s Obvious,” Bloomberg Law (May 23, 2024).
PROFESSOR PATTY GERSTENBLITH’S areas of expertise are cultural heritage law and art and museum law. She is the founding president of the Lawyers Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation; senior advisor to the American Bar Association’s Art and Cultural Heritage Law Committee; and formerly served as an appointee of President Obama as the chair of the President’s Cultural Property Advisory Committee in the U.S. Department of State.
Professor Gerstenblith’s article, “An Introduction to Cultural Heritage Law,” published by the Grey Room in 2024, provides a brief introduction to cultural heritage law with a focus on armed conflict, the international trade in archaeological objects, and the challenge of resolving the rights of Indigenous groups to their cultural heritage. In 2023, she published “Setting the Standard: The 1970 Standard and Ethical Codes of Archaeological Organizations” in Levant, where she analyzes the ethical codes of archaeological organizations and concludes that these codes are inadequate for compliance with current legal understandings of the legality of cultural objects. Also in 2023, she published “Disrupting the Trade: A Legal Approach to Countering Trafficking in Archaeological Artifacts in the MENA Region,” with co-author Morag M. Kersel, in the Journal of Art Crime, which provides a legal and ethnographic analysis of the looting of archaeological sites under the economic incentive of the corresponding trade in artifacts, with a primary focus on Jordan.
Professor Gerstenblith’s book, C ulT ural o bje CT s and r e ParaT ive j us T i C e : a l egal and h is Tori Cal a nalysis , was published by Oxford University Press in 2023, and she also published the following book chapters:
• “Returning Illegally Trafficked Cultural Objects: Civil Forfeiture at the Intersection of Private and Criminal Law,” in C ulT ural P ro P erT y C rime and T he l aw : l egal a PP roaC hes To P roT e CT ion , r e PaT riaT ion , and C oun T ering i lli C i T T rade (Michelle Fabiani et al. eds., Routledge 2024)
GERSTENBLITH (cont.)
• “Article 9 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention,” co-authored with Wang Yunxia, in T he 1970 unes Co C onven T ion and 1995 u nidroi T C onven T ions on s Tolen or i llegally T rans - ferred C ulT ural P ro P erT y : a C ommen Tary (Ana Filipa Vrdoljak et al. eds., Oxford University Press 2024)
• “Recognizing State Ownership of Archaeological Artifacts: The Unidroit Convention and Model Provisions,” in 25 y ears laT er … T he 1995 unidroi T C onven T ion –C ulT ural obje CT s aT T he C rossroad of righ T s and in T eres T s (Marina Schneider ed., Unidroit 2023)
• “Toward a Human-Rights Based Approach as an Element in Post-conflict Cultural Heritage Reconstruction,” in h eri Tage d es T ru CT ion , h uman r igh T s and i n T ernaT ional l aw (Amy Strecker and Joseph Powderly eds., Brill 2023)
• “Development of the Law of Armed Conflict as Applied to Cultural Heritage,” in T he r ou T ledge h andbook of h eri Tage d es T ru CT ion (José Antonio González Zarandona, Emma Cunliffe and Melathi Saldin eds., Routledge 2023)
She also was interviewed by WBEZ, “Artworks alleged to have been stolen during the Holocaust seized from Art Institute of Chicago” (September 25, 2023), and she was quoted in the following news articles:
• Editorial: A Less-than-pretty picture at the Art Institute,” Crain’s Chicago Business (March 29, 2024)
• “In this legal fight, the Art Institute stands to lose more than an artwork,” Crain’s Chicago Business (March 28, 2024)
• “Don’t Try This on Vacation: Learning from Other Travelers’ Mistakes,” New York Times (November 23, 2023)
• “Prove It: Cleveland Museum of Art lawsuit challenges New York DA to prove bronze sculpture was stolen – Analysis,” Cleveland.com (October 22, 2023)
• “Provenance of a Museum’s Greek Exhibit Is Questioned, Fueling a Debate,” New York Times (September 17, 2023)
• “Artifacts meant for a White House party ended up at Mar-a-Lago. Awkwardness Ensued.” The Washington Post (July 21, 2023)
• “At the Met, She Holds Court. At Home, She Held 71 Looted Antiquities.” New York Times (July 18, 2023)
PROFESSOR MICHAEL GRYNBERG previously served as associate dean for research and faculty professional development. His research concerns intellectual property and technology law with a focus on trademark law.
Professor Grynberg’s article, “Trademark Free Riders,” published in the Berkeley Technology Law Journal in 2024, explains that trademark law has been shaped by the view that “free riding” by trademark defendants is wrongful. Grynberg argues that if morality stories are to be part of trademark law, then they should be applied in a balanced manner and recognize a simple truth: Trademark holders free ride, too. As it is, trademark precedent lacks a vocabulary for describing plaintiff free riding, and this asymmetry distorts trademark doctrine. Grynberg explores the ways that trademark holders free ride on culture, competitors and consumers, and he offers suggestions for reform. He also published, “The Jack Daniel’s Dialogues,” in the Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal in 2024. Jack Daniel’s Properties, Inc. v. VIP Products LLC limited the ability of defendants to resist trademark claims by arguing their activities are artistic or noncommercial speech. This important result obscures a fundamental preliminary question. How could a dog chew toy that mocks Jack Daniel’s whiskey be the target of a viable trademark infringement claim in the first place? Answering that question implicates deep questions about trademark law that were not directly before the Court. They nonetheless bubbled up during the Jack Daniel’s oral argument, giving the justices the opportunity to think out loud about them. Read in conjunction with the final opinion, the argument tells us a lot about problems in trademark doctrine and highlights the challenges generalist judges face in ensuring that trademark law serves the interests of consumers and citizens rather than brands and corporations. He also created a video series about the case.
Professor Grynberg’s article, “Living with the Merchandising Right (Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Free-Riding Stories),” 25 y ale j l . & T e C h . 1 (2023), was selected for republication in Intellectual Property Law Review (Thomson Reuters 2023). He also released a new edition of his free casebook, T rademark l aw and created a video about the trademark implications of Steamboat Willie’s entry into the public domain.
PROFESSOR ROBERTA KWALL is an internationally renowned scholar and lecturer and has published over 30 articles on a wide variety of topics including authorship rights, intellectual property, and Jewish law and culture. She has authored several law casebooks as well as two monographs.
Professor Kwall’s essay, “The Role of Ghetto Art in Holocaust Education and Fighting Antisemitism,” published in 2023 in the DePaul Law Review, explores the educational and unifying power of artistic works created by Jewish prisoners during the Holocaust. Kwall argues that ghetto art—encompassing visual art, literature, music, theater and other creative genres—has a unique communicative power due to the extraordinary circumstances of its creation. This art form not only educates but also promotes Jewish unity and combats the rising tide of antisemitism. Ghetto art holds a special place in Holocaust education because of its ability to stimulate dialogue between the creator and the viewer, offering profound insights into the experiences and environments of the artists. Unlike other scholarly focuses on copyright law, Kwall emphasizes the significance of ghetto art in mobilizing communities and serving as a powerful tool in larger antisemitism-fighting programs. Ghetto art represents a singular type of storytelling because it is a response to a distinct, unparalleled historical event—the systematic targeting and attempted extermination of the Jewish people and their entire culture.
Her book chapter, “Lawmaking in the Conservative Movement: A Balance of Law and Norms,” was published online in The oxford handbook of jewish law (Zev Eleff et al. eds., Oxford University Press 2024) and is forthcoming in print in 2025, and her article, “I thought the law school where I teach had my back. Then came the Hamas attacks on Israel,” was published by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (October 18, 2023).
PROFESSOR MAGGIE LIVINGSTON is a Vincent de Paul Professor of Law who teaches Copyright Law and writes in the areas of intellectual property and commercial law.
Professor Livingston’s article, “I Use Non-Binary Pronouns in Class,” was published in Newsweek (June 2023), and her most recent book chapters include:
• Chapter, Community Property, in m aTT hew b ender d ebTor -C redi Tor l aw T reaT ise (Theodore Eisenberg ed., LexisNexis 2022)
• Chapter, Construction Law, in C ommer C ial d amages T reaT ise (LexisNexis 2022)
PROFESSOR OF LEGAL PRACTICE TONY VOLINI’S areas of expertise are legal writing, patent drafting, IP licensing, and cybersecurity and privacy.
Professor Volini’s article, “The Right to Data Privacy: Revisiting Warren and Brandeis,” 21 n w j . T e C h & i n T el . P ro P . 1 (2023), was selected for inclusion in the forthcoming 2024-2025 edition of Thomson Reuters’ e n T erTainmen T , P ublishing and T he a rT s h andbook
AFFILIATED
FACULTY
PROFESSOR KAREN HEART is an experienced teacher, software developer and attorney. She has created software for industries including publishing, banking, insurance and logistics, and her legal work has focused on intellectual property, civil and criminal litigation, and appellate work. Her current research interests include system security, forensics, and cybersecurity regulation and liability. At DePaul, she teaches Computer Science, Cybersecurity Law and Information Technology Law.
Professor Heart and her colleague, Professor Alex Rasin, were awarded two patents for innovations in computer security:
• Operating System Enhancements to Prevent Surreptitious Access to User Data Files, U.S. 11,983,288 B1 (May 14, 2024)
• Preventing Surreptitious Access to File Data by Malware , U.S. 11,822,699 B1 (November 21, 2023)
IP/IT CURRICULUM
DePaul College of Law offers one of the most diverse, cutting-edge IP/IT curricula in the country. The program features a wide range of coursework, as well as seminars, skills classes and clinical experiences, including the Technology/Intellectual Property (TIP®) Field Clinic. Students also have the opportunity to pursue a certificate in either Intellectual Property Law or Information Technology, Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Law; one of three joint degrees; and an LLM in IP/IT. Additionally, CIPLIT’s recent Technology & Data Protection Initiative expanded data privacy, data security and technology course offerings and created a partnership with the DePaul Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM) that allows all DePaul law students, even those without a technical background, to enroll in select CDM technology courses for JD credit. Current CDM courses include: Information Security Management, Disaster Recovery Theory Strategies, Introduction to Programming, Legal Responsibilities in IT, Data Privacy Law: US & EU, Cybersecurity Law: Litigation & Negotiation, and IT Auditing.
COURSES
Courses may vary from year-to-year.
• Advanced Intellectual Property Law
• Advanced Patent Law
• Copyright Law
• Cybersecurity Law
• Cybersecurity Law: Litigation and Negotiation
• Data Breach Notification Laws
• Data Privacy Law: US & EU
• Disaster Recovery Theory Strategies
• Entertainment Law
• Food & Drug Law
• Guided Research: IP
• Independent Study: IP
• Information Security Management
• International Intellectual Property Law
• Internet Law
• Introduction to Programming
• IT Auditing
• Journal of Art, Technology & Intellectual Property Law Editorial Board
• Legal Responsibilities in IT
• Music Law
• Music Transactions: Representing Talent
• Patent & Trademark Searching
• Patent Law
• Practical Legal Research: IP
• Practical Legal Research: Legal Practice Technology
• Privacy Law
• Special Topics in Law: IP Valuation in Tech, Health & Other Industries; IT & Data Regulation
• Sports Law
• Trade Secret Law
• Trademark & Unfair Competition Law
LEGAL DRAFTING COURSES
• Legal Drafting: IP Licensing
• Legal Drafting: Patents
• Legal Drafting: Trademarks & Patent
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING COURSES
• Externship Program: IP
• Field Clinic Practice & Seminar: Technology/Intellectual Property (TIP®)
• Litigation Strategies: IP
• Moot Court Competition: IP
• Moot Court: Patent Law Patent & Trademark Searching
JD CERTIFICATES
• Intellectual Property Law
• Information Technology, Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Law
JOINT DEGREES
• JD/LLM in Intellectual Property Law & Information Technology
• JD/MS with DePaul’s Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media
• JD/MBA with DePaul’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business
MASTER OF LAWS (LLM)
• LLM in Intellectual Property Law & Information Technology
MASTER OF LEGAL STUDIES (MLS)
• Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Law (online)
NON-DEGREE CERTIFICATE
• Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Law for Legal, Technology and Other Professionals (online)
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
DePaul College of Law provides students with a variety of hands-on opportunities to enhance their IP/IT studies and prepare them for practice in this field, including externships, clinics, journals and extracurricular activities.
TECHNOLOGY/INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (TIP ®) FIELD CLINIC
Dedicated to “Protecting the Creative Works of Creative Minds®,” the Technology/Intellectual Property (TIP®) Field Clinic, a successor to one of the first intellectual property clinics in the country, enables students to gain practice experience in intellectual property and technology law. Students work off-site with law firms and partner organizations specifically chosen for their ability to expose students to intellectually challenging and exciting legal issues. Clients include entrepreneurs, musicians, artists, authors and inventors who need assistance in protecting their creations and businesses. The TIP Field Clinic is an integral component of the College of Law’s nationally ranked IP/IT program.
AN INTRODUCTION TO IP THEORY & PRACTICE LECTURE SERIES
CIPLIT’s extremely successful An Introduction to IP Theory & Practice Lecture Series is designed to acquaint all first-year students with substantive content and elements of practice in the various areas of IP law. The lectures are presented by both fulltime faculty members and experienced IP attorneys.
TECH-LAW BOOT CAMP
Part of the Technology & Data Protection Initiative, CIPLIT’s Tech-Law Boot Camp Series features lectures by professors, practicing attorneys and other technology specialists on relevant substantive technology topics, including certifications, technology management principles, data privacy, cybersecurity, networking concepts and internet law. These lectures are open to DePaul law students, alumni and the Chicago legal community.
D E PAUL JOURNAL OF ART, TECHNOLOGY & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW (JATIP)
The DePaul Journal of Art, Technology & Intellectual Property Law (JATIP) is a student-edited online law journal established in 1991. Published biannually, JATIP reviews developing legal and policy issues in the fields of art, technology and intellectual property law.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW SOCIETY
The student-led Intellectual Property Law Society connects DePaul law students with the IP legal community by providing mentoring opportunities and hosting events with IP professionals and alumni.
ART & CULTURAL HERITAGE LAW SOCIETY
The Art & Cultural Heritage Law Society connects DePaul law students with professionals and organizations whose practice areas center around the evolving and diverse landscape of museum, art and cultural heritage law.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Each year, DePaul College of Law’s outstanding IP/IT curriculum, faculty and extracurricular opportunities attract many students with excellent and diverse credentials who come to the law school to engage in its rigorous, invigorating academic environment.
EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS
Through its extensive mentoring and job placement advising, CIPLIT assists students and alumni with career development and potential placements at myriad firms and organizations, locally and nationally. Recent student and alumni placements include:
• Adler Law Group
• Antiquities Coalition
• Art-Law Centre at the University of Geneva
• Association on American Indian Affairs
• Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider
• Baxter
• Beem Patent Law Firm
• Chicago History Museum
• Culhane Meadows PLLC
• Dennemeyer and Associates, LLC
• Eligo Energy
• Ernst and Young
• Global IP
• Greer Burns & Crain Ltd.
• HARP
• Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
• Hon. Cecilia A. Horan, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division
• Husch Blackwell LLP
• International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) (Rome)
• Institute of Art and Law (London)
• IpHorgan Ltd.
• Irwin IP
• Katten Muchin Rosenman
• Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
• Kirkland & Ellis LLP
• K&L Gates LLP
• Lawyers’ Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation
• Leydig, Voit & Mayer, Ltd.
• Marshall Gerstein & Borun, LLP
• Mayer Brown
• Meta
• McDermott Will & Emery
• Motorola Solutions
• Nike
• Nixon Peabody
• Northern District of Illinois
• Polsinelli
• PwC
• Quarles & Brady LLP
• Rakoczy Molino Mazzochi Siwik LLP
• Raymond P. Niro Law LLC
• Scandaglia & Ryan
• Sidley Austin LLP
• Smithsonian Institution, Office of the Under Secretary for History, Art and Culture
• Spotify
• Swanson, Martin & Bell
• U S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Washington, DC
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of the Associate Chief Counsel
• Wilson Elser
• ZS
STUDENT PERSPECTIVES
Sarah Alpert (JD ’25)
KIRKLAND & ELLIS
“This summer, I had the privilege to work as a summer associate in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis in the Technology and Intellectual Property Transactions Practice Group. There, I contributed to several transactional matters relating to technology and intellectual property, including M&A carve outs on the sell-side and buy-side, debt finance, new joint ventures, manufacture-supply and licensing deals. I also had the opportunity to take on pro bono projects, such as editing grant agreements, and had many opportunities to shadow attorneys interacting with clients and opposing counsel. My summer experience at Kirkland provided the opportunity to learn about many types of legal transactions and how each one touched on aspects of technology and intellectual property.
I attribute much of my success to CIPLIT and its faculty and staff. CIPLIT laid my foundational knowledge through the extensive IP course offerings, clinic opportunities that involve IP work, and various lunch presentations from practicing IP attorneys. CIPLIT Director and Adjunct Professor of Law Ellen Gutiontov provides her students with support, mentorship and opportunities, and Professor of Legal Practice Tony Volini always offered me useful career guidance. For any student wishing to break into the tech and IP legal field, CIPLIT is a great program full of invaluable resources.”
Ben Leraris (JD ’25)
QUARLES & BRADY LLP
“My unique, hands-on experience acquired during my 1L summer at an IP boutique firm helped me land a summer associate position at Quarles & Brady in the Intellectual Property Practice Group. One of my favorite parts was working with several different IP sub-practice groups and taking on a wide assortment of projects, like IP licensing, patent prosecution, IP litigation and data privacy. This variety really helped me sharpen and hone my legal skills, and it also helped me identify what my specific interests and strengths in IP were.
My IP courses at DePaul helped prepare me very well for this summer experience, and I felt ready to take on whatever projects I was assigned. One of the best parts of my experience was that both my junior and senior mentors at Quarles were DePaul law alumni, which emphasizes how successful the DePaul IP program truly is!”
Kyra Holzmacher (JD ’26)
SCANDAGLIA RYAN LLP
“After my first year of law school, I was afforded the amazing opportunity to work as the summer associate at Scandaglia Ryan LLP, a small, Chicago-based firm that specializes in corporate, real estate and intellectual property litigation. I spent the summer doing research in support of both ongoing and anticipated litigation in a number of industries, including financial services and hospitality. The amazing attorneys at Scandaglia provided me invaluable mentorship and taught me so much. I was able to learn and get hands-on experience with the process of bringing and defending cases in Illinois state courts. I was tasked with drafting multiple argument sections for motions in opposition. I also had a long-term research project that spanned the entire summer, involving the enforceability of restrictive covenants in employment contracts under New York law. The project enabled me to dive into more nuanced, specific research questions and be a part of the process of developing a litigation strategy from the beginning.
Overall, this summer was an amazing experience, and I am so grateful for CIPLIT Director and Adjunct Professor of Law Ellen Gutiontov for putting me in touch with Scandaglia Ryan, as well as other CIPLIT faculty, such as Professor Tony Volini, for helping to prepare me for the summer and for providing with indispensable advice and support.”
Makayla Reynolds (JD ’25)
RAYMOND P. NIRO, LLC
“I had the privilege of working as a summer associate at Raymond P. Niro Law, LLC. There, I contributed to several new and ongoing matters relating to IP litigation, including trademark and patent work. I also was tasked with legal research and drafting memorandums and briefs. This summer has been a hands-on experience that has provided me with tools that will not only help me in my last year of law school but also prepare me for my future law practice.
I am so grateful to CIPLIT and DePaul Law’s robust alumni network for aiding me in securing a summer position, as well as equipping me with the skills I need to succeed. Professors Ellen Gutiontov and Tony Volini have been instrumental in building the future lawyer I am becoming.”
PROGRAMS
As part of its mission to contribute to discourse in IP/IT law, CIPLIT hosts multiple programs each year, highlighting the latest developments in the field. Notable programs hosted or sponsored by CIPLIT include:
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SCHOLARS CONFERENCE
Started by DePaul, the Intellectual Property Scholars Conference is an annual event bringing together IP scholars from across the world to present their works-in-progress and discuss current IP/IT issues. The conference is co-sponsored by The Berkeley Center for Law & Technology, UC Berkeley School of Law; Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University; Center for Intellectual Property Law & Information Technology (CIPLIT®), DePaul College of Law; and the Stanford Program in Law, Science and Technology, Stanford Law School. DePaul Law is excited to host the next conference on August 7-8, 2025.
D E PAUL CYBER RISK CONFERENCE
The annual DePaul Cyber Risk Conference features discussions related to new frontiers in cybersecurity with multi-faceted examination of the legal, business and ethical ramifications of technological advancements in the modern world. It is co-sponsored by CIPLIT, DePaul’s Arditti Center for Risk Management in the Driehaus College of Business, and the DePaul Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media. The tenth annual conference, “Attack of AI,” explored the growing risks and concerns of artificial intelligence and how companies and lawyers can prepare for this increasing force in life and business (November 2023).
JAHARIS SYMPOSIUM ON HEALTH LAW & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The annual Jaharis Symposium on Health Law & Intellectual Property, co-hosted by CIPLIT, focuses on current topics at the intersection of health law and IP/ IT. The March 2024 symposium, “Artificial Intelligence in Health Care: Existential Challenges for Law & Ethics,” dove deeper into the role and impact of large language model artificial intelligence technologies and the radical changes they are making to medical innovation and practices.
NIRO DISTINGUISHED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LECTURE
Founded in 1998, the Niro Distinguished Intellectual Property Lecture features an influential figure in IP/ IT law who addresses faculty, students and attorneys on current issues in the field.
Previously speakers have included:
• Zorina Khan, Bowdoin College: “Trolls and Other Patent Inventions”
• Joseph Fishman, Vanderbilt Law School: “Creating Around Copyright”
• Honorable Paul R. Michel, Chief Judge (Ret.), U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: “How to Retain Patent Enforcement While Reforming It? Judges and Counsel Should Manage Infringement Suites, Not Congress.”
HOSIER DISTINGUISHED VISITING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SCHOLAR
The Hosier Distinguished Visiting Intellectual Property Scholar series features the nation’s leading intellectual property scholars presenting their research in IP/IT law. Started in 2005, past Hosier Scholars have come from a variety of law schools, including Harvard, Notre Dame, Tulane, Rutgers, University of Illinois, Boston University and the University of Arizona, among others.
CIPLIT FACULTY LECTURES
Our distinguished faculty often present on relevant issues facing the IP/IT landscape. Recent topics covered included: Digital Forensics; the Right to Repair; the patent-related cases Amgen v. Sanofi and LKQ Corp. v. General Motors; and the trademark-related case Jack Daniel’s v. VIP
COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS
Sarah Alpert (’25) receiving the Scandaglia Ryan award
SCANDAGLIA RYAN EXCELLENCE IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LEGAL WRITING AWARD
The Scandaglia Ryan Excellence in Intellectual Property (IP) Legal Writing Award is given annually to the student who receives the highest grade in the IP legal writing section. Scandaglia & Ryan established the award in 2002, and the firm continues to support the award and provide numerous opportunities to DePaul law students. Recent recipients include Liya Levin (’23), Matthew Messina (’24) and Sarah Alpert (’25).
ROBERT & CLYTIA CHAMBERS PATENT LAW AWARD
The Robert & Clytia Chambers Patent Law Award is awarded each year to the student who achieves the highest grade in Patent Law. Recent recipients include Andrew Burnham (’22), Natalia Shamuel (’23) and Miranda Bolin (’24).
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PRIVACY PROFESSIONALS WESTIN SCHOLAR AWARDS
The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) recognizes future leaders in the fields of privacy and data protection. Recent recipients of the DePaul IAPP Westin Scholar Award include Ali Albazzaz (’21), Christopher McCarthy (’22) and Natalia Shamuel (’23).
INTA’S SAUL LEFKOWITZ MOOT COURT COMPETITION AND AIPLA GILES SUTHERLAND RICH PATENT MOOT COURT COMPETITION
DePaul law students frequently participate in national and international intellectual property moot court competitions. Guided by IP/IT faculty and alumni, these teams have achieved continued success and have won a number of regional and national awards in patent and trademark competitions over the years.
OUR NETWORK
One of CIPLIT’s strongest achievements is its network. DePaul law students benefit from the guidance of numerous loyal alumni and supporters, many of whom are employed in intellectual property and information technology positions nationally and internationally.
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