About CWSL IP Society

Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law ("CWSL") Intellectual Property Society ("IP Society") is a student organization for those interested in intellectual property. On campus, the IP Society seeks to facilitate student interaction, involvement, and networking within the field of intellectual property. In furtherance of this mission, the IP Society has launched a website to act as an outlet for student authorship on intellectual property topics and related issues, such as technology, digital privacy, entertainment, and fashion.

Events

In past years, the VLS IP Society has hosted several speaking events, such as:

"All About NFTs" - Presented by Andrew Bull, Bull Blockchain Law
"Patent Litigation" - Talk by John Vandenberg, Klarquist Sparkman
"Musicologist Meeting" - Talk by Judith Finell, president of Judith Finell MusicServices Inc.
"Career in IP" - Talk by Peter Detkin, founder of Intellectual Ventures (IV)
"Law of Pharmaceutical Drugs" - Presented by Elizabeth Gau, FDA, and Marilou Matson, Fox Rothschild

Competitions

IP Society has promoted student participation in the USPTO Patent Application Drafting Competition as a way to introduce students into the patent drafting process.

Interdisciplinary Connections

IP Society seeks to promote interdisciplinary connections by co-hosting events, such as with BLSA, Emerging Technology Law Society, and Fashion Law Society.

Student Authorship

All Villanova Law students are invited to contribute to the IP Society Blog. If you are interested in submitting a blog post, please email Molly Moore.

CWSL IP Society Executive Board

Gavin Canzanese

President

Gavin is a 3L from Malvern, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Villanova University in 2023 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, concentrating in Solid Mechanics, with minors in Business and Political Science. In Summer 2024, he served as a Federal Judicial Intern for the Honorable Chad F. Kenney at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. This past summer he interned at Ice Miller LLP as an IP-focused associate and will return there full time in Fall 2026 as a Patent Attorney. On campus, Gavin is pursuing the Intellectual Property concentration. He has worked in both the IP Clinic and Advanced IP Clinic. He also currently serves as a Peer Mentor.

Andrew Waldman

Vice President

Andrew is a 2L from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Penn State University in 2024 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. This past summer, Andrew interned at Fish & Richardson P.C., and he is slated to return for Summer 2026. On campus, he was a semi-finalist in the 1L Trial Competition. In the upcoming academic year, Andrew will serve as a member of the National Trial Team and as a staff writer for Villanova Law Review, Volume 71.

Alex Eisenberg

Secretary

Alex is a 2L from Chevy Chase, Maryland. He earned his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from University of Delaware in 2019 and his M.E. in Bioengineering from the University of Maryland in 2023. Prior to law school, Alex worked as a Biomedical Patent Examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This past summer, he was a summer associate at Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP in their Wilmington office. He plans to continue pursuing a career in intellectual property law, with a focus on patent prosecution, licensing, freedom to operate, and related litigation matters. At Villanova, Alex is a staff writer for the Villanova Environmental Law Journal, Volume 37, and will participate in the IP Clinic in Spring 2026.

Ted Bolte

Treasurer

Ted is a 2L from Marlton, New Jersey. He earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Villanova University in 2021 and his M.S. in Structural Engineering from Stanford University in 2022. This past summer, Ted split his time between Jones Walker LLP, where he worked in Construction Litigation, and Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell LLP, where he focused on Intellectual Property Litigation. He is particularly interested in pursuing a career in Patent Litigation. At Villanova, Ted is a member of the Moot Court Board, serves as Assistant Director of Lacrosse Operations for Villanova Men’s Lacrosse, and volunteers as Head Coach of Flag Football for Montgomery County Special Olympics. In Spring 2026, he will participate in the IP Clinic.

Maggie Emmendorfer

2L Representative

Maggie is a 2L from Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated from Rhodes College in 2024 with a B.A. in Education Policy Analysis. This past summer, she interned in the Employment Law Office at the United States Postal Service. Maggie is interested in the intersection of soft intellectual property with art, entertainment, and music. On campus, Maggie currently serves as Vice President of the Entertainment and Media Law Society and as the 2L Representative for Women’s Law Caucus.

Bonnie Kennedy

2L Representative

Bonnie is a 2L from Chicago, Illinois. She graduated from Rhodes College in 2024 with a B.S. in Chemistry and a B.A. in History. This past summer, she interned at Troutman Pepper Locke LLP, and she will return for Summer 2026. On campus, Bonnie is a staff writer for the Villanova Environmental Law Journal, Volume 37. In Spring 2026, she will participate in the IP Clinic.

Olivia Gang

1L Representative - Section 1

Olivia is a 1L from Sparta, New Jersey. She earned her B.B.A. in Digital Marketing and Business Analytics from Villanova School of Business in 2023. Olivia is interested in the intersection of technology and intellectual property.

Joseph Kornicki

1L Representative - Section 1

Joseph is a 1L from Sicklerville, New Jersey. He earned his B.S. in Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 2025. Joseph is interested in pursuing a career in patent law.

Eleanor Mulvenon

1L Representative - Section 2

Eleanor is a 1L from Burke, Virginia. She earned her B.A. in Media Studies, from the University of Virginia in 2024. Eleanor is interested in pursuing a career in either trademark or copyright law.

Sara Brocious

1L Representative - Section 2

Sara is a 1L from Voorhees, New Jersey. She earned her B.A. in English and History from Rutgers University in 2023. Sara is interested in pursuing a career in either copyrights or trademarks.

Abby Reasoner

1L Representative - Section 3

Abby is a 1L from Kutztown, Pennsylvania. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from Shippensburg University in 2025. Abby is interested in pursuing a career in trade secrets.

Soukayna Mardas

1L Representative - Section 3

Soukayna is a 1L from Downingtown, Pennsylvania. She earned her B.S. in Physics, with a concentration in Astrophysics from Drexel University in 2023. Soukayna is interested in pursuing a career in either patent law or trade secrets.

The Intellectual Property Concentration is one of five concentrations offered by Villanova CWSL that allows students to demonstrate their breadth and depth of IP knowledge and experience. Participation in the IP Concentration guides students through a structured framework of IP-related coursework, experiential learning, and extracurricular activities. Specifically,

The coursework consists of at least four core curriculum classes, a practical writing course in IP, an additional IP elective, and an "ancillary" class that tangentially relates to IP.
The experiential learning requirement refers to six academic credits of practical experience that may be fulfilled by participating in externships and clinics, such as the Villanova Law Intellectual Property Clinic.
The extracurricular activities include attendance at the Ben Franklin American Inn of Court and participation in IP Society.

To successfully complete the IP Concentration, students must participate in an application process and obtain a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or above in the required concentration coursework.

For more information regarding the Intellectual Property Concentration and the four other concentrations offered by Villanova CWSL, please see Villanova's concentration website.

Intellectual Property Society Blog

About CWSL IP Society

CWSL IP Society Executive Board

CWSL Intellectual Property Concentration