
CONNECTING WOMEN IN IP
“Our goal in forming this group is to bring together all women who work in the IP field in Chicago to help them enhance their practices and skill sets, and to provide a forum for the many successful women IP lawyers in the city to give back to their colleagues and to the community.”
–Kara E.F. Cenar, an Officer and founding member of ChiWIP
and leader of the IP Practice Group at Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.

ChiWIP Book ClubWed, Jan 14Virtual Event
ChiWIP Holiday Gift Wrapping WorkshopTue, Dec 02Polsinelli
Financial Planning for Legal Professionals - Part 1Wed, Nov 12Location is TBD
Culinary HeartsThu, Oct 23Ronald McDonald House
Mentoring Circles: ParentingTue, Oct 21Online
Farmers Market Meet-UpThu, Oct 09Daley Plaza
End of Summer Happy HourWed, Sep 24Tiny Tapp & Tiny Café
Fireside Chat with Vaishali Udupa, former Commissioner of PatentsWed, Sep 17Barnes & Thornburg LLP
ChiWIP Book ClubThu, Aug 07Old Town – RSVP for Address
Middle School Law CampMon, Jul 28Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
ChiWIP 10th Anniversary PartyWed, Jul 23Morgan's on Fulton
Parenting as a LawyerThu, Jun 26Greenberg Traurig
Spring Flower Arranging WorkshopTue, Jun 10Deborah's Place
Young Professional Happy HourWed, Jun 04AfterBar
2024-25 IP Case ReviewThu, May 29McDermott Will & Emery
ChiWIP INTA LuncheonMon, May 19Meze Greek Fusion
ChiWIP Book Club - Bel CantoWed, May 07Online
WHO WE ARE
Chicago Women in IP (ChiWIP) is a networking and mentoring group committed to the connection, promotion and success of professional Chicago women in all stages of practice of every facet of IP law.
Through regularly scheduled events, we offer seminars, knowledge sharing, career resources, and leadership opportunities for personal and professional development. ChiWIP provides a forum for women professionals in the field of intellectual property to share their successes and challenges with other women more openly than they might with colleagues at their own firms.






MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Catherine Klima
Board Vice Chair; Committee Development Co-Chair, In-House Advisory Member
Catherine Klima is Intellectual Property Counsel at Continental Automotive Systems, Inc., which develops technologies for mobility, ranging from autonomous vehicle innovation to improvements for fuel efficiency and safety. Because the automotive industry is rapidly changing, the body of law surrounding it is similarly constantly evolving. Catherine, a lifelong learner, enjoys the challenge each new day brings. She supports Continental's IP needs with a focus on patents, and also Standard Essential Patents and issues related to AI. Her days are balanced between the steadiness of managing a patent docket and handling unexpected legal challenges that frequently arise. "It keeps my days exciting and fresh," she says.





