Gray Ice Higdon establishes scholarship for patent bar eligible law students pursuing careers in patent law.

The University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law has established the Gray Ice Higdon Scholarship, a new award that will support students preparing for careers in patent law.

The scholarship is made possible through a gift from the Louisville-based firm Gray Ice Higdon. The funds will be used to provide financial assistance to Brandeis Law students who are eligible to apply for admission to the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Bar. Patent Bar eligibility requires a background in science, engineering, or a related field in addition to legal training.

As one of the region’s leading intellectual property firms, Gray Ice Higdon is committed to growth—both internally and in the greater community. Since its founding less than three years ago, the firm has quickly become a leader providing superior representation to clients’ legal needs. With this gift, Gray Ice Higdon is helping Brandeis Law expand opportunities for students while supporting the school’s broader efforts to strengthen intellectual property law education.

Brandeis Law’s initiative is led by Grosscurth Chair in Intellectual Property Law Professor Lorelei Ritchie and Associate Dean for Experiential Education and Samuel J. Stallings Chair in Law Professor Lars Smith. Together, they are expanding the school’s intellectual property law curriculum and experiential opportunities.

A natural pipeline already exists between the J.B. Speed School of Engineering and Brandeis School of Law, and the scholarship will help attract more students with technical backgrounds to pursue this career path. 

Professor Ritchie states, “Intellectual property is a vital area of law. It's fantastic to have so much interest from students. But studying for, and taking the patent bar is time-consuming and pricey. So we really appreciate this thoughtful support from Gray Ice Higdon, and we look forward to more interactions.”

In addition to financial support, Gray Ice Higdon is offering a paid internship to scholarship recipients, providing hands-on experience in intellectual property practice. The fund also allows for future contributions from Gray Ice Higdon or other donors, with the goal of extending the scholarship’s impact for years to come.

Principal Partner John Salazar '88, '89, '94 states, “we look forward to working with the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law to attract legal talent in a very competitive field. Developing young patent attorneys has proven challenging all around the country and our hope is that the scholarship will provide the Law School and the City of Louisville a competitive advantage to attract these highly skilled students.”

Brandeis School of Law is grateful for Gray Ice Higdon’s support and foresight in investing in students and in the growth of intellectual property law in Louisville.