Banner Witcoff has selected four
law students as the 2019 recipients of the Donald W. Banner Diversity
Fellowship. Created by the firm to strengthen diversity and inclusion in the
field of intellectual property law, the fellowship provides recipients with $5,000
for law school tuition or other school-related expenses.

The
2019 recipients are:

• Robert
  Chou, a second-year law student at Northwestern University Pritzker School of
  Law. He earned his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering from
  University of Texas.
• Rebecca
  Ding, a second-year law student at The George Washington University Law School.
  She graduated from Peking University with a degree in electric engineering and
  computer science.
• Emily
  M. Ross, a first-year law student at Northwestern University Pritzker School of
  Law. She earned her undergraduate degree in general engineering from Harvey
  Mudd College.
• Alessandra
  Schaszberger, a first-year law student at American University Washington
  College of Law. She graduated from Columbia University with a degree in
  biomedical engineering.

All
four will participate in the firm’s upcoming summer associate program. Robert
and Emily will be based in Banner Witcoff’s Chicago office, and Rebecca and
Alessandra will work in the Washington, D.C., office. 

“We
are honored to reward these four outstanding law students for their
contributions and commitment to the field of intellectual property law. We are
equally honored they expressed an interest in joining our team,” Banner Witcoff
President Andy Mu said. “We look forward to watching their careers and
continuing our dedication to diversity through The Donald W. Banner Diversity
Fellowship.”

The
Donald W. Banner Diversity
Fellowship is open
to law students who identify as members of a historically underrepresented
group in intellectual property law and meet certain criteria, including
academic merit, a commitment to the pursuit of a career in the field, and demonstrated
leadership qualities.

Donald W.
Banner (1924-2006) — the namesake of the fellowship and firm — was a leader in
the field of patent law. A former U.S. Commissioner ofPatents and Trademarks, he was chairman of the American Bar
Association Section of Intellectual Property Law, president of the American
Intellectual Property Law Association, a founding member of the Association of
Corporate Patent Counsel, president of the International Patent and Trademark
Association, co-founder and president of the Intellectual Property Owners
Association and director of The John Marshall Law School Center for
Intellectual Property Law.