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Shaping Tomorrow’s Intellectual Property & Information Technology Leaders at DePaul Law
By Brett Davinger /
September 16, 2025 /
Posted in: Intellectual Property Law /
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Image created by DePaul Law“The coursework and faculty have been central to my legal education,” says Matthew Hickmann (JD ’26), reflecting on his experience in DePaul Law's
Program of Excellence in Intellectual Property Law & Information Technology (IP/IT). His early exposure to advanced topics like Cybersecurity Law, taught by Professor
Tony Volini, and Information Security Management “helped me understand the business and technical concerns of clients and participate in conversations with more senior attorneys, especially in tech-focused practice areas.”
His experience is one of many that illustrate how DePaul's IP/IT program blends rigorous coursework with practical opportunities. Kyra Holzmacher (JD ’26) points to the
Technology/Intellectual Property Law Field Clinic (TIP Clinic®) as a pivotal moment in her education. Courses gave her the foundation to “engage in intellectual discussions about IP rights and protections,” but working directly with clients in the TIP Clinic showed her how IP/IT law can affect an entire business. She calls it “one of the most fulfilling and beneficial experiences I’ve had so far in law school.”
For Colin Varady (JD ’26), an internship with the patent team at Gray Ice Higdon PLLC put his classroom preparation to the test. Interested in patent prosecution and the impact of emerging technologies on IP law, he describes his DePaul coursework as “crucial” to his success. He credits Professor
Joshua Sarnoff’s Patent Law course for its dual focus on legal analysis and technological literacy, which “provided a solid foundation in patent doctrine and offered a broader perspective on the system’s objectives and limitations.” This perspective, he says, “boosted my confidence and skills to be able to contribute to a fast-paced patent practice.” He also values “DePaul’s close-knit IP/IT community and regular interactions with practicing attorneys” that linked coursework to practice.
These student experiences are grounded in the work of the
Center for Intellectual Property Law & Information Technology (CIPLIT®), directed by
Ellen
Gutiontov, who mentors students and plans programs that bridge classroom concepts with real-world applications. Signature CIPLIT initiatives, such as the IP Theory and Practice Lecture Series for 1Ls, Tech-Law Boot Camp and regular networking events, have practitioners directly interacting with students, while a partnership with DePaul’s Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media allows JD students to take technology courses for credit, adding a multidisciplinary advantage.
The program’s reach is extended through faculty contributions and co-curricular opportunities. DePaul Law’s IP/IT faculty directly support student learning, such as through Professor
Michael
Grynberg’s free, publicly available
Trademark Law textbook, which is accompanied by a series of instructional
YouTube
videos that make trademark concepts easily accessible and understandable. Students also can participate in the
DePaul Journal of Art, Technology & Intellectual Property Law and the Intellectual Property Law Society to bolster their IP/IT education and legal network.
Graduates of the program work in every area of IP and IT and have gone on to careers at leading law firms and organizations, including the Field Museum, Kirkland & Ellis, Mayer Brown, Meta and Nike. These outcomes underscore how DePaul’s program equips its graduates with the skills, connections and adaptability to excel in these rapidly evolving fields.