We are excited to announce that Harrity & Harrity Partner Elaine Spector has been recognized as a Diversity Champion by World IP Review (WIPR) in their 2025 WIPR Diversity & Inclusion Top 100 People.
This prestigious recognition honors individuals who drive meaningful change and create a more accessible and equitable IP community. Elaine was selected through a combination of peer nominations and in-house research conducted by WIPR, underscoring the real-world impact of her efforts.
With over two decades of experience in intellectual property law, Elaine’s leadership extends beyond client service to a broad range of impactful initiatives. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Intellectual Property Owners Association’s (IPO) Diversity Committee, a Board Member for Patent Pathways®, and an active participant in ADAPT (Advancing Diversity Across Patent Teams) efforts.
Elaine’s personal initiatives include Elevate, Empower, Enlighten (E³), a weekly vlog providing actionable equal opportunity tips, and Voices of Visionaries, a quarterly webinar series featuring insights from leaders who are advancing the future of IP.
In a climate where equal opportunity initiatives face unprecedented challenges, Elaine continues to be a vocal and unwavering advocate. As shared by WIPR, the Diversity & Inclusion Top 100 “offers hope—and leadership.”
Elaine has been outspoken on social media about the need to take a stand against the D&I backlash.
“As lawyers, we are uniquely positioned—and ethically obligated—to speak up, especially when others cannot. Silence may feel safe, but it comes at a cost. Let’s use our voices and our platforms to push back against injustice, misinformation, and intimidation. Now is not the time for indifference.”
At Harrity & Harrity, we are proud to celebrate Elaine’s accomplishments and her dedication to empowering the next generation of IP professionals.
To learn more about Elaine’s initiatives and Harrity’s commitment to breaking barriers in the IP profession, visit Our Commitment to Progress.
In a recent episode of the Knobbe IP+ podcast, Elaine Spector, Partner at Harrity & Harrity and advisory board member of Patent Pathways®, joined Terra Davis, Chief Diversity & Talent Development Officer at Knobbe Martens, for a powerful conversation about increasing diversity in the patent profession.
The discussion highlighted how Patent Pathways®, a program initiated by Harrity & Harrity, is addressing the lack of diversity in the intellectual property field. By creating a pipeline of diverse candidates, the initiative provides under-represented groups with resources such as education, mentorship, and financial support for the patent bar exam. The ultimate goal? To ensure the patent profession reflects the demographics of society at large.
Elaine shared how the program leverages data to identify diversity gaps and collaborates with law firms and corporate sponsors to offer participants comprehensive support. This includes mentorship, financial assistance, and hiring opportunities. Since its inception, Patent Pathways has grown significantly—now supporting 75 participants in its third year—and aims to continue expanding until the term “under-represented” no longer applies in the patent field.
The conversation also addressed how programs like Patent Pathways® are helping to combat the challenges of a shrinking profession by increasing the number of patent agents and attorneys entering the field.
If you’re passionate about fostering a more inclusive IP profession, this episode is a must-listen. Learn how you or your organization can partner with Patent Pathways®, contribute financial support, or engage in its impactful committee work.
Catch the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform and learn more about Knobbe IP + Podcast here.
Join us at Patent Pathways®, where we empower individuals with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to navigate the patent process successfully. Let’s build meaningful relationships that lead to lasting innovation.
On Friday, September 20, 2024, Harrity Partner and Patent Pathways’ Board Member Elaine Spector participated in a pivotal discussion at the Innovator Diversity Pilots Conference, held at Emory University’s School of Law. The conference, hosted in the esteemed Tull Auditorium, brought together a range of voices dedicated to fostering inclusion in the intellectual property and innovation ecosystem. Elaine was joined by Braxton Davis, Senior Patent Counsel at Meta, in a conversation that highlighted the challenges facing underrepresented groups in patent law and the importance of programs designed to address these disparities.
Breaking Barriers in Patent Law
Patent law remains a field where many individuals from historically marginalized groups—especially women, people of color, and those from lower-income backgrounds—face substantial barriers to entry. The path to becoming a patent practitioner can be daunting, not due to a lack of talent or ambition, but due to structural barriers such as financial constraints, a lack of mentorship, and limited awareness of the career pathways available in this field. As a result, the innovation ecosystem misses out on a wealth of ideas and perspectives, perpetuating an “innovation gap” that limits the diverse contributions crucial for groundbreaking advancements.
This gap is particularly concerning given that innovation thrives on diverse perspectives. Without the inclusion of voices from underrepresented groups, the field of intellectual property loses out on fresh ideas and solutions that could drive meaningful progress in technology and beyond.
How Patent Pathways is Driving Change
To address these challenges, programs like Patent Pathways play a vital role. By offering free, virtual education, practical training, one-on-one mentorship, and financial support, Patent Pathways is dedicated to breaking down the barriers that often prevent underrepresented individuals with STEM degrees from pursuing careers in patent law. These resources provide aspiring patent professionals the tools they need to take and pass the patent bar exam, positioning them for success in a highly specialized field.
This kind of support is more than just educational—it’s transformational. By building a network of mentors, offering hands-on experience, and providing financial assistance, Patent Pathways is not just creating opportunities for individuals, but also fostering a more inclusive and innovative patent law landscape.
How You Can Help
The conversation at the Innovator Diversity Pilots Conference underscores the need for active participation in fostering diversity in patent law. Patent Pathways is committed to being part of the solution, but our impact can be greater with the support of volunteers, partners, sponsors, and participants.
Here’s how you can get involved:
Volunteer: Offer your expertise as a mentor to aspiring patent agents and attorneys. Your guidance can be instrumental in helping them navigate the patent bar exam and their subsequent careers in the field.
Partner: If you represent a corporation, law firm, or educational institution, consider partnering with Patent Pathways to provide additional resources such as internships, pro bono support, or financial contributions to help our participants succeed.
Sponsor: Your sponsorship can make a real difference in the lives of aspiring patent practitioners by covering essential costs such as exam fees, study materials, and other program-related expenses.
Participate: If you’re a STEM graduate from an underrepresented community interested in patent law, we encourage you to join our next cohort. You’ll have access to educational resources, mentorship, and financial assistance designed to help you take the next step in your career.
Building a More Inclusive Future in Patent Law
Innovator Diversity Pilots Conference made one thing clear: diversity in patent law is not just about fairness; it’s about the future of innovation. By creating pathways for underrepresented individuals to enter the field, we open the door to new ideas, unique perspectives, and innovations that benefit us all.
At Patent Pathways, we believe that while talent is equally distributed, opportunity is not. But with the right resources, guidance, and support, we can change that.
Take action today! Whether you’re an individual looking to mentor or a company wanting to create lasting change, Patent Pathways offers meaningful ways to get involved. Visit Patent Pathways to learn more about how you can support our mission to make patent law more inclusive and accessible.
Together, we can close the innovation gap and build a more diverse and dynamic future for patent law. Let’s create change—one pathway at a time.
Today, we’re diving into a subject that’s close to our hearts: the advancement of diversity in the patent law field. If you’re as passionate about this issue as we are, you’ll want to know all about the Diversity Dialogue: ADAPT Webinar that recently took place. This event brought together some of the brightest minds in the industry to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in patent law.
In a world where innovation drives progress, it’s important for the teams behind the patents to reflect the diversity of the world they serve. This isn’t just an ethical imperative; it’s a business necessity. Diverse teams bring fresh perspectives that can catalyze groundbreaking ideas. And that’s where the ADAPT initiative comes in, as a collaborative effort aimed at making tangible changes in the industry.
Harrity’s Elaine Spector was joined by panelists Gail Su (Google), Mike Binns (Meta) and Judy Yee (Microsoft) as this collective wisdom came together to delve into the ADAPT initiative, each contributing their unique perspectives and expertise.
How ADAPT Came to Be
Elaine Spector kicked off the discussion by recounting the founding story of ADAPT. The goal? To transition from mere talk to meaningful action. The thought that collective action from power players like Google, Meta, and Microsoft was the key to making waves in the patent law ecosystem. So they formed a DEI collective and gave it a name worth remembering: ADAPT.
Why DEI Isn’t Just a Buzzword
DEI isn’t a corporate fad—it’s a corporate strategy. Gail Su hit the nail on the head, reminding us that diverse teams don’t just check boxes; they break new ground. Also, Mike Binns pushed us to think broader about what diversity means. It’s not just about color or gender; it’s about varied educational backgrounds, experiences, and even diverse ways of thinking.
The Progress So Far
ADAPT is more than just a collective on paper; it’s making real moves. From mentorship programs to data analytics for tracking DEI metrics, this initiative isn’t playing small. ADAPT isn’t here for the short game, but is looking to build sustainable diversity.
As we look to the future, the objectives for ADAPT extend well beyond the present moment. The panelists articulated a strategic vision aimed at institutionalizing DEI practices within the patent law ecosystem. Elaine Spector emphasized Harrity & Harrity’s unwavering commitment to not only supporting but also actively contributing to these pioneering initiatives. The ambition is to elevate DEI practices to the level of an industry standard, setting a precedent for excellence and inclusivity that other firms in the patent law field will aspire to meet.
Questions to Spark Your Imagination
How can your firm adopt a data-driven approach to keep DEI at the forefront?
What unorthodox strategies could you utilize to attract and retain diverse talent?
Could DEI be the secret sauce for your organization’s long-term success?
If this post has piqued your interest, don’t miss the chance to watch the entire ADAPT Diversity Dialogue Webinar here. Until we meet again, let’s continue to challenge the status quo and reshape the future landscape of patent law.
Watch the full webinar here:
Want to get involved? Check out the useful link below!
Want more? Watch Elaine Spector’s Driving Diversity series HERE. Elaine shares tips and sparks conversations to drive diversity in the legal field in this weekly short-video series.
In the realm of personal and professional development, the role of mentorship is often underscored. The Patent Pathways™ program, a unique initiative designed to guide budding patent practitioners, is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship. Ayana Marshall, the chair of Patent Pathways™, recently shared her insights on the profound impact that mentors can have on the lives of their mentees in the following video.
Ayana’s journey into the patent field was sparked by an inadvertent mentor, a woman she met at a conference who spoke with infectious enthusiasm about her career in technology transfer and patent work. This encounter, though seemingly incidental, had a profound impact on Ayana’s career trajectory. It led her to delve into the patent field, a domain she might not have discovered otherwise. This story underscores the immense influence mentors can wield, often without even realizing it.
However, the Patent Pathways™ program is not about inadvertent mentorship. It’s about intentional mentorship. The mentors in this program consciously choose to guide, support, and inspire their mentees. They are the catalysts for change, the guiding lights that illuminate the path for future patent practitioners.
The mentors in the Patent Pathways™ program are not just diversifying the patent field; they are creating a ripple effect that transcends generations. This is particularly significant for minorities, who, with the right guidance and support, can make their mark in a profession that is not only financially rewarding but also instrumental in driving innovation.
By becoming a mentor for this unique program, you have the power to shape the future of the patent field and, more importantly, to make a difference. You have the opportunity to be the intentional mentor that will change the trajectory of an individual’s life, and future generations to come.
The impact of mentorship, as exemplified by Ayana’s story and the Patent Pathways™ program, is profound and far-reaching. It’s about more than just guiding someone through their career; it’s about inspiring them, supporting them, and helping them realize their potential. As a mentor, you have the power to change lives. If you are passionate about increasing diversity or helping others, become a mentor, and make a difference today. Your commitment can shape the future of the patent field and the lives of the individuals within it. Get started by clicking here: BECOME A MENTOR
Patent Pathways (a 501(c)(3)) is a virtual program that focuses on helping the least represented demographic in patent law, Black women, by aiming to register participants with the patent bar and matching them up with mentors and job offers over the course of just one year. The entire program, including patent bar preparation and exam fees, is free to participants thanks to the generosity of Patent Pathways™ sponsors, partners, mentors, and volunteers.
Harrity’s Elaine Spector was joined by panelists Rosa Walker (Pillsbury Law), Mehul Shah (Juniper) and Heather Molleur (Micron) to discuss the program and the multiple opportunities for patent law firms to work alongside each other to make a difference in this one of a kind program.
Webinar topics included a summary of the current demographics of patent law, what Patent Pathways™ is doing to improve diversity in the patent field, the benefits of joining Patent Pathways™, and the many ways you can get involved.
Watch the full webinar here:
Want to get involved? Check out these useful links below!
Want more? Watch Elaine Spector’s Driving Diversity series HERE. Elaine shares tips and sparks conversations to drive diversity in the legal field in this weekly short-video series.
Harrity’s Elaine Spector explains what the diversity landscape in patent law looks like, why the current approaches aren’t working, and what we can do to improve diversity and inclusion in the field as a community in this brief video on ‘The Diversity Problem in Patent Law.’
Patent Pathways (a 501(c)(3)) is a virtual program that focuses on helping the least represented demographic in patent law, Black women, by aiming to register participants with the patent bar and matching them up with mentors and job offers over the course of just one year. The entire program, including patent bar preparation and exam fees, is free to participants thanks to the generosity of Patent Pathways™ sponsors, partners, mentors, and volunteers. We are scaling up the program to 50 participants this year, and need your help!
Want to get involved? Check out these useful links below!
Want more? Watch Elaine Spector’s Driving Diversity series HERE. Elaine shares tips and sparks conversations to drive diversity in the legal field in this weekly short-video series.
Patent Pathways (a 501(c)(3)) is a virtual program that focuses on helping the least represented demographic in patent law, Black women, by aiming to register participants with the patent bar and matching them up with mentors and job offers over the course of just one year. The entire program, including patent bar preparation and exam fees, is free to participants thanks to the generosity of Patent Pathways™ sponsors, partners, mentors, and volunteers.
Harrity’s Elaine Spector and Ayana Marshall hosted a webinar to share more about scaling up the program to include 50+ participants, and opportunities for our patent community as a whole to work alongside each other to make a difference in this one of a kind program.
Other speakers included:
Cass Dottridge, Cargill
Maeve Carpenter, IBM
Phong Dinh, Microsoft
Shruti Costales, Dell
Scott Markow, Stanley Black & Decker
Richard Watkins, Medtronic
John Harrity, Harrity & Harrity
Steve Kontos, Harrity & Harrity
Samantha Sullivan, Harrity & Harrity
Ryan Thelen, Harrity & Harrity
Webinar topics included a summary of the current demographics of patent law, what Patent Pathways™ is doing to improve diversity in the patent field, the benefits of joining Patent Pathways™, and the many ways you can get involved.
Watch the full webinar here:
Want to get involved? Check out these useful links below!
Want more? Watch Elaine Spector’s Driving Diversity series HERE. Elaine shares tips and sparks conversations to drive diversity in the legal field in this weekly short-video series.
Harrity & Harrity is excited to announce that we have partnered with Advancing Diversity Across Patent Teams (ADAPT) to bring standardization and transparency to how the patent profession measures diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and scale efforts to improve diversity of the patent bar.
ADAPT is a collective of corporate legal teams, law firms and industry groups who have come together to address the lack of diversity in the IP profession, including LOT Network Inc., Amazon, Cruise, The Walt Disney Company, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Uber. By spreading awareness of the issue, increasing accessibility to DEI resources and opportunities, and making it easier to participate in diversity efforts, ADAPT aims to significantly improve DEI in the intellectual property space.
Harrity Analytics will work with data science teams from Google and other ADAPT members to conduct and publish accurate analysis of the diversity breakdown of the profession. With input from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Harrity and ADAPT aim to better visualize the DEI landscape of the talent pipeline, understand practical application of technical training for patent careers, better map out the career path for patent practitioners, and much more. ADAPT will open source the underlying data and methodology once established.
Harrity is also collaborating with ADAPT on multiple diversity programs, removing barriers for external firms and individuals to participate in diversity efforts by creating volunteering and sponsorship opportunities and sharing templates to launch similar programs.
“We are thrilled to be part of ADAPT, and to continue our work in tracking data statistics with regard to diversity of the patent bar,” shared Elaine Spector, Harrity Partner and Diversity Co-Chair. “This collaboration will build on our seminal work, published in ABA Landslide magazine, regarding demographics of the patent bar. It is so important that we understand whether our diversity efforts in the patent field are effective, and this collaboration will allow us to do so. It is critical to the US economy to have a diverse patent bar, so that we can expand diversity of innovation to underrepresented communities.”
Through this collaboration, Harrity and the ADAPT consortium will create a network of practitioners passionate about improving diversity, provide insights on what the career path of an IP attorney can look like, and connect aspiring patent professionals with the organizations that can support them in their journey. This new partnership will be a huge step in changing the demographics of the patent bar to mirror those of our society, and Harrity is honored to be on the forefront of this transformation.
Harrity & Harrity has recently been recognized by Bloomberg Law for our diversity initiatives, specifically with respect to increasing the representation of African-American/Black women within patent law.
The article, Black Women Lawyers Still Sparsely Seen at Federal Circuit, refers to Harrity as a law firm focused on moving the needle by creating programs that target the pipeline problem of a lack of women and minorities sitting for the patent bar, including quotes from Diversity Co-Chair, Elaine Spector, on our Patent Pathways program.
“Harrity & Harrity LP—after conducting a diversity and inclusion study that found that there are more patent attorneys and agents named “Michael” than there are racially diverse women in those roles in the US—launched a program to register more Black women as patent practitioners.
The initiative, called Patent Pathways, starts this summer. Harrity & Harrity will help women who complete the program find law firm jobs afterward. The inaugural program’s 20 participants could ‘move the needle quickly,’ said Elaine Spector, a Harrity partner leading Patent Pathways.
‘We want to make sure that innovation is expanded across all of our populations,” Spector said. ‘Women and racially diverse inventors are inventing or showing up on patents at a lower rate, and there is that correlation, to make sure that they can go to attorneys that represent them.'”
Patent Pathways is a Diversity & Inclusion Program dedicated to increasing numbers of registered African-American/Black women patent attorneys and agents through free patent skills training, mentoring, career counseling, and expenses paid to prepare for and take the patent bar exam. This program was created to help address the significant lack of diversity found in IP Law.
To learn more about the Patent Pathways program, click HERE.
Click HERE to read the full article by Samantha Handler.
