
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.
- Tue, Dec 05Richard J. Daley CenterDec 05, 2023, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CSTRichard J. Daley Center, 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602, USADec 05, 2023, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CSTRichard J. Daley Center, 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602, USAJoin the ChiWIP Social Committee for our annual Christkindlmarket meet-up! The Christkindlmarket is a German-style outdoor holiday market that is a popular Chicago holiday season must-do. We will meet in the Daley Plaza around noon, browse the shops, and grab a bite to eat.
- Wed, Jan 17The PaintbrushJan 17, 2024, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CSTThe Paintbrush, 2446 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
- Wed, Nov 15Center for Native FuturesNov 15, 2023, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM CSTCenter for Native Futures, 56 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60603, USANov 15, 2023, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM CSTCenter for Native Futures, 56 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60603, USAJoin us as we visit the newly-opened Center for Native Futures, a dynamic art space featuring the work of more than a dozen established and emerging contemporary Native artists from the Great Lakes region.
- Wed, Nov 08OnlineNov 08, 2023, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CSTOnline
- Thu, Nov 02Banner WitcoffNov 02, 2023, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM CDTBanner Witcoff, 71 S Wacker Dr #3600, Chicago, IL 60606, USANov 02, 2023, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM CDTBanner Witcoff, 71 S Wacker Dr #3600, Chicago, IL 60606, USADid you know that it has been more than 80 years since the United States has updated regulation of cosmetics and beauty products? Join us on November 2nd for a panel discussion on the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA).
- Tue, Oct 24BIÂNOct 24, 2023, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM CDTBIÂN, 600 W Chicago Ave suite 001, Chicago, IL 60654, USAOct 24, 2023, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM CDTBIÂN, 600 W Chicago Ave suite 001, Chicago, IL 60654, USAEscape to BIÂN for a wine tasting and fun conversation in the intoxicatingly peaceful setting of Chicago's finest wellness space. Gathering in their main dining room lounge, beverages will include white wine option, red wine option, sparkling option, and a specialty mocktail.
- Wed, Oct 11Reed Smith LLPOct 11, 2023, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM CDTReed Smith LLP, 10 S Wacker Dr ste 4000, Chicago, IL 60606, USAOct 11, 2023, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM CDTReed Smith LLP, 10 S Wacker Dr ste 4000, Chicago, IL 60606, USAPlease join the Mentoring Circles Committee on October 11 for Speed Networking. Attendees will engage in brief one-on-one/small group exchanges, with prompts from a variety of mentorship topics targeted towards both personal and professional networking.
- Tue, Oct 03CarnivaleOct 03, 2023, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CDTCarnivale, 702 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60661, USA
- Thu, Sep 28Ronald McDonald HouseSep 28, 2023, 3:45 PM – 8:00 PM CDTRonald McDonald House, 211 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USASep 28, 2023, 3:45 PM – 8:00 PM CDTRonald McDonald House, 211 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USAJoin the Community Involvement Committee at the Ronald McDonald House Near Lurie Children's Hospital for Culinary Hearts, a chef-led experience where groups of up to 10 volunteers cook a meal together for families who are staying there.
- Tue, Sep 26The Green at 320Sep 26, 2023, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDTThe Green at 320, 320 S Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606, USASep 26, 2023, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDTThe Green at 320, 320 S Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606, USALocal law students are invited to join ChiWIP members at the Green, BMO Tower at 320 S. Canal, on Sept. 26, from 5-7pm. Weather permitting, the outdoor space will have live music and a farmer’s market. Please join us to mingle and get to know other law students and ChiWIP members.
- Wed, Sep 06Outdoor Park at 320 S. CanalSep 06, 2023, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM CDTOutdoor Park at 320 S. Canal, 320 S Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606, USASep 06, 2023, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM CDTOutdoor Park at 320 S. Canal, 320 S Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606, USAJoin for a fun 'back to school / back to business' outdoor yoga + vino class. Class will be 45 minutes 6pm-6:45pm followed by light snacks and wine 6:45 pm - 7:30 pm. Yoga mat and something comfy to wear is great. Try to bring a water bottle too and be ready to bend and get your body moving!
- Tue, Aug 08Millennium ParkAug 08, 2023, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM CDTMillennium Park, 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601, USAAug 08, 2023, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM CDTMillennium Park, 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601, USAJoin the ChiWIP Social Committee for a free screening of the '90s teen classic Clueless in Millennium Park. We will meet up outside the park and find a place to picnic together. Bring a blanket and a snack and your nostalgia (As If!).
- Thu, Jul 27Jennivee's BakeryJul 27, 2023, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CDTJennivee's Bakery, 3301 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, USAJul 27, 2023, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CDTJennivee's Bakery, 3301 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, USACelebrate Pride with ChiWIP at LGBTQ owned Jennivee's Bakery (jenniveesbakery.com). Come by yourself, with your partner, or with your children, and join us for an after-dinner treat. Owned by Jenne Vailoces, Jennivee's offers something for everyone. Dessert is pay your own way.
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.
