Law Students Raise Awareness in Hopes of Bridging IP Gender Gap

The field of intellectual property law has long been an overwhelmingly male space, with a notably wider gender gap than general law practice. The student body at UNH’s Franklin Pierce School of Law – an international power in IP law for decades – is one place where that gap has grown much smaller over the years, and a group of students is doing its part to raise awareness in hopes that similar progress can continue throughout the profession.

The law school’s Intellectual Property Law Association continues to advocate for progress on the women in IP front. The organization held its fifth annual Women in Intellectual Property Night on March 6 – just days before International Women’s Day – and in partnership with several other IP groups has helped facilitate appearances on campus by a host of women in the field.

The numbers are striking. Whereas about 50.3% of law firm associates are women, according to Stephanie Jackson, SIPLA president and a 2L Daniel Webster Scholar at the law school, representation in IP is much lower. Among those in front of the International Trade Commission, women account for 27% of advocates and 13% of lead counsel. In general, Jackson says, only 33.5% percent of all IP lawyers and only 19% of patent attorneys are women.

“The main theme is empowerment,” Jackson says. “We hope this event shows law students that bridging the gap is possible. When I look around my IP classrooms at UNH Law, the gender distribution is nearly even, but that is not the experience everywhere. As students, we can challenge our profession to be better. By learning from our panelists, we can make the path in our profession both wider and more welcoming for women who follow in our footsteps.”

The March 6 event featured a panel made up of women working in intellectual property, including Gwen Tawresey, partner at Troutman Pepper Locke; Carrie Webb Olson, partner at Day Pitney LLP (a 2000 JD/MIP graduate of UNH Franklin Pierce); Rebecca Christon, IP counsel at Olympus Corporation; Kim Rosenfield, director of technology transfer at Dartmouth College; and Allison McGregor, IP associate at The Toohey Law Group, LLC (a 2020 graduate of UNH Franklin Pierce).

Jackson gave a keynote address at the event – something she called “a highlight of my law school career” – and the panel was moderated by 2L Paméla Espinal. Jackson noted the efforts of the entire SIPLA team in putting the event on, a group that includes Nissi Tadigiri, Zoe Goldblatt, Trivani Joy, James Lacno, Emma Amick, and Keelin Martin.

Jackson says she “found it really powerful how many women in the room resonated with the idea of being underestimated,” and appreciated the panelists’ vulnerability and willingness to share their stories with our students, adding, “the panel really showed how it is possible to redefine these expectations others place on us and pursue the career we desire.”

Jackson added that the group was "very thankful to the panelists for sharing their time, energy, and expertise with the UNH Law community."

Among those to speak at the event was Interim Dean Courtney Brooks, who emphasized the importance of facilitating dialogue on the issue.

“Although women now make up more than half of law students nationwide, they remain underrepresented in senior roles in intellectual property practice, both in law firms and in-house. Meaningful progress occurs when individuals deliberately work to change systems, mentor others, and advocate on their behalf,” Brooks said. “Conversations like those taking place tonight help ensure that the future of intellectual property law practice reflects the full range of talent, experience, and perspective that innovation demands.”

Espinal had the opportunity to facilitate the panel discussion, and found that the lawyers were able to provide valuable insight for students about gender dynamics, speaking about “how to navigate being the only woman in the room who is making big decisions, what mentorship and support and sponsorship look like, and how mentorship has served them throughout their careers,” she says.

Espinal has first-hand experience being the only woman in a room, having spent time professionally in the fields of entertainment – largely in the music industry – and advertising before pursuing a law degree. The battle over ownership of creative work that she routinely witnessed in those spaces was a big part of what pushed her toward law school.

Getting the chance to interact with professionals who have overcome hurdles and found success as women in a male-dominated industry has proved inspiring.

“The goal is to open up doors for others to walk through,” Espinal says. “I feel like in this field, in particular, there has been a lot of gatekeeping. But I think a lot of women have been pushing through that ceiling. You are only as strong as your support and your network, so if the goal is to reach the top, how do you hand over the baton and allow others to walk through?”

Initiatives like those at UNH Franklin Pierce are a great way to build momentum, Jackson says, and she is proud to contribute to progress she hopes will only continue to expand.

“We really have this momentum at the school to make change, and I think we can continue to bring that forward,” Jackson says. “I am really happy to be a part of that message, and I hope it continues for years to come.”