Representing Catholic Law, second-year students Katherine Colaianni and Josef Novacek competed in the USPTO 2026 National Patent Application Drafting Competition. Their outstanding performance in the Regional Round against law schools from across the East Coast earned them third place.

Throughout the competition, Josef and Katherine were tasked with working through the complexities of a hypothetical product, conducting detailed prior art searches, drafting a thorough patent application, and presenting their findings to a panel of USPTO judges. The experience provided valuable insights into patent prosecution and offered both students an opportunity to further develop their legal skills in a competitive setting.

During their preparation, both students credited Professor Winston and their coach, Nicki Kennedy, for providing guidance and practical insight into patent prosecution. Colaianni reflected, “Patent Law was one of my favorite courses, and the competition offered a great opportunity to explore the field from a different perspective. I value these experiences, as they help me gain a more well-rounded understanding of patent and IP practice.”

Novacek shared, “I appreciated being able to apply what I learned in class alongside my teammate and found it rewarding to learn from our coach, who works regularly in the field. Experiences like this motivate me to support Catholic Law’s continued presence in law and technology competitions.”