Elaine Spector is a patent attorney with over 20 years of experience in intellectual property law. Her current practice consists primarily of prosecuting patent applications with a focus on electromechanical technologies.
Prior to joining Harrity & Harrity, Elaine worked in private practice for over 15 years handling various intellectual property matters, including patent application drafting and prosecution, trademark prosecution and enforcement, as well as litigating complex patent cases in federal courts. Elaine’s extensive litigation experience provides her with a unique perspective in prosecuting patent applications.
Most recently, Elaine worked in-house for 6 years at Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, where she managed over 500 matters in medical and software related technologies.
As an avid believer in giving-back, Elaine served for several years as a Board Member at Change the Conversation (Formerly No More Stolen Childhoods). She is also dedicated to improving diversity in the field of patent law through her numerous diversity leadership roles. Elaine hosts Driving Diversity, a weekly vlog sharing diversity-related tips and FAQ’s, as well as quarterly webinars in a series called Diversity Dialogue as part of Harrity’s Diversity Channel.
ELAINE SPECTOR
PARTNER
Phone: 571-432-0800
University of Baltimore School of Law
(J.D.) – 1996
University of Maryland, College Park
(B.S. Mechanical Engineering) – 1993
United States Patent and Trademark Office
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
United States District Court for the District of Maryland
Maryland
District of Columbia
The Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia (WBA) – Stars of the Bar Award (2023)
IAM 1000 – Recommended Patent Practitioner (2023)
WIPR Diversity – Influential Women in IP – 2022
Managing Intellectual Property Global IP Stars – Patent Star (2021)
IPO Outstanding Committee of the Year Award – Diversity & Inclusion Committee (2021)
IPO Diversity Committee – Vice Chair
IPO D&I Committee Outreach Subcommittee – Chair
Harrity Diversity Committee – Co-Chair
Patent Pathways™ – Advisory Board Member; Employment & Inclusion Committee Chair
Interview. “Elaine Spector: Partner, Harrity & Harrity. An interview: inspirations, experiences, and ideas for equality.” Women in IP Leadership Spotlight, The Patent Lawyer Magazine (March/April 2023).
Interview. “How to Make the Future DigitALL: Persevere,” ChIPs Network (March 2023).
Interview. “Why Is There a Chronic Lack of Diversity in the Legal Profession?” Brink News (December 2022).
Interview. “Black Women Lawyers Still Sparsely Seen at Federal Circuit,” IP Law Section of Bloomberg Law (June 2022).
Author. “Ask A Mentor: How Do I Negotiate Long-Term Flex Work?” Law 360 Pulse, Expert Analysis (September 2021).
Contributor. “In The Supreme Court of Florida, Case No. SC21-284 In Re: Amendment to Rule Regulating The Florida Bar,” Intellectual Property Owner’s Association, Diversity & Inclusion and Women in IP Committees (July 2021).
Quoted. “On Tiffany Cunningham’s Appointment to the CAFC: An Impeccable Candidate and a Rallying Call for More Diversity in IP,” IPWatchdog.com (July 2021).
Author. “Why Continuing Remote Work Options After the Pandemic Will Support a More Diverse and Inclusive Work Culture,” Harrity Blog (April 2021).
Interview. “Elaine Spector On Improving Diversity In The Patent Bar,” Law360 Pulse (March 2021).
Quoted. “Closing The Gender Gap In STEM Inventions – A Conversation With Qualcomm’s EVP & President Of The Technology Licensing Business – Alex Rogers,” Forbes Magazine (March 2021).
Author. “Ensuring Women and Diverse Candidates in the Patent Bar: We Must Address the Root of the Problem,” IPWatchdog.com (March 2021).
Author. “5 Strategies For Diversifying The Patent Bar,” Law360 Expert Analysis (March 2021).
Contributor. “Response to USPTO Request for Comments on the National Strategy for Expanding American Innovation,” Intellectual Property Owner’s Association (February 2021).
Co-Author. “Diversity in Patent Law: A Data Analysis of Diversity in the Patent Practice by Technology Background and Region,” Landslide Magazine (September 2020).
Co-Author. “A Practical Guide to Diversity & Inclusion in the Legal Profession,” Intellectual Property Owners’ Association Diversity & Inclusion Committee (September 2020).
Author. “Five Tips for Working From Home During the COVID-19 Crisis,” (March 2020).
Co-Author. “Gender Pay Gaps White Paper,” Intellectual Property Owners’ Association Diversity & Inclusion Committee (2018).
Author. “Working From Home: A Game Changer,” (September 2018).
Author. “Case Summary of Vanda Pharma v. West-Ward Pharma,” (May 2018).
Case Note, “Blood Pressure Medication Patent Found Obvious in Light of Prior Art,” Annual Review of Intellectual Property Law Developments 2006-2008, ABA Publications (2009).
Case Note, “Pharmaceutical Patent Held Not Obvious Under Flexible Teaching-Suggestion-Motivation (TSM Test),” Annual Review of Intellectual Property Law Developments 2006-2008, ABA Publications (2009).
Case Note, “The Protection of Color as a Trademark: A Review of Qualitex Co. v. Jacobson Products Co.,” 3 U.Balt.Intell.Prop.L.J. 103 (1994).
Host, “Diversity Dialogue: Advancing Diversity Across Patent Teams (ADAPT),” Webinar Featuring Gail Su (Google), Judy Yee (Microsoft) and Michael Binns (Meta) (September 2023).
Host, “Patent Pathways™ Webinar: Law Firm Partnership Informational Session,” Nonprofit Webinar Featuring Mehul Shah (Juniper), Rosa Walker (Pillsbury Law) and Heather Molleur (Micron) (June 2023).
Panelist, “IPO’s D&I Committee’s Hiring & Retention Guide – An Introduction and Overview,” Intellectual Property Owner’s Association (IPO) Chat Channel (May 2023).
Panelist, “Hopes and Dreams DEI Panel,” ADAPT – Advancing Diversity Across Patent Teams & The National Council on Patent Practicum’s Day of Diversity (May 2023).
Host, “Patent Pathways™ Webinar: How You Can Get Involved & Help Solve the Diversity Problem in Patent Law,” Nonprofit Webinar Hosted by Harrity & Harrity, LLP (April 2023).
Guest Speaker, “Increasing Diversity in Patent Law with Elaine Spector and Judy Yee,” Inclusion Evolution Podcast Hosted by Lisa Mueller and Mike Kasdan (March 2023).
Host, “Diversity Dialogue ThinkTank: An Update on Programs to Increase the Representation of Women in IP,” Webinar Presented by Harrity & Harrity (March 2023).
Panelist, “Patent Pathways: A Case Study (DEIA Session),” Association of Legal Administrators Intellectual Property Conference (October 2022).
Guest Speaker, “Tell Me Something Good Podcast,” Hosted by Steve Nudelberg (September 2022).
Panelist, “Best Practices in Law Firms,” DEI Panel, LOT Network’s Bridge Annual Meeting and Launch of ADAPT – Advancing Diversity Across Patent Teams (September 2022).
Panelist, “The Working Mom: Perspectives and Advice on Pursuing a Work-Life Balance Throughout Your Legal Career,” Webinar Presented by American Intellectual Property Law Association (June 2022).
Panelist, “Women in IP Panel,” Patent Law Forum, Student Intellectual Property Law Association, and Women‘s Law Student Association’s UNH Law’s Women in Intellectual Property Celebration (March 2022).
Panelist, “Discussions on Diversity in Innovation,” Webinar Presented by the United States Patent & Trademark Office Midwest Regional Office (December 2021).
Panelist, “Making Better Lawyers by Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession: A Conversation Between IPO and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association,” Webinar Presented by Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) Chat Channel (November 2021).
Panelist, “D&I Practical Guide 3.0, Part 1,” Webinar Presented by Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO), Diversity & Inclusion Committee’s Committee (July 2021).
Panelist, “Best Practices for Patent Quality,” Webinar Hosted by Patent Bots and Harrity & Harrity, LLP (June 2021).
Moderator, “Diversity in Innovation,” Diversity Dialogue Webinar, The Diversity Channel (June 2021).
Guest Speaker, “Prosecuting Patent Applications with Elaine Spector,” Tech Transfer IP Podcast (June 2021).
Moderator, “Strategies for Moving the Needle with Respect to Diversity of the Patent Bar,” Diversity Dialogue Webinar, The Diversity Channel (March 2021).
Speaker, “Advancing Equity in Innovation,” Emory University’s School of Law 6th Annual TI:GER® Conference (January 2021).
Guest Speaker, “Bridging the Gender Gap in IP with Attorney Elaine Spector,” IP Breakfast Podcast (November 2020).
Panelist, “Start Your Path to Successful Career in Intellectual Property” Webinar, Presented by Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO), Diversity & Inclusion Committee’s Outreach Subcommittee (July 2020).
Panelist, “Work/Family Balance: Views from the Trenches,” Women in IP Law Committee Meeting, AIPLA Annual Meeting, October 2008.
Harrity for Parity™
Host and Presenter, Spring 2018 to Present
Co-create and host the Harrity for Parity™ program, a four-day women’s workshop offered exclusively to female engineering and law students interested in pursuing a career in patent law. Coordinate prominent women attorneys as speakers. Present opening session on “Patent Basics.”
The Harrity Academy™
Coordinator and Presenter, Fall 2020 to Present
Co-create and host four-week “Patent Basics” program. Present opening session on “Introduction to Patent Basics.”
IPO NextGen Committee Presentation
Presenter, May 2021
Present to the IPO NextGen Committee on “Tools for Building Your Brand on LinkedIn.”
Johns Hopkins University
Guest Lecturer, Fall 2014 to Present
Guest lecturer to JHU freshmen mechanical engineering design class on “Patent Basics.”