Benesch Expands Patent Prosecution Team with Additions of Philip Wdowiak and Taylor Grote

Benesch is pleased to announce the additions of Philip Wdowiak, patent agent, and Taylor Grote, associate, to the firm’s growing Patent Prosecution Group. With robust technical backgrounds, they bring valuable experience that will further strengthen the firm’s patent prosecution capabilities and enhance its ability to provide strategic counsel to clients in protecting their innovations and maximizing the value of their patent portfolios.

“We’re excited to welcome Philip and Taylor to our team. Both have strong engineering backgrounds with experience in software including artificial intelligence and machine learning, bringing a unique blend of technical and legal insight that will be a tremendous asset to our clients,” said Eric Krischke, Co-Chair, Intellectual Property – Patent Prosecution. “Their additions reflect the continued growth of our intellectual property and patent practices as we expand our capabilities to serve a broader range of innovative industries and technologies.”

In addition to Philip and Taylor, the team also welcomed Lily Ho in the past year.

Benesch’s Patent Prosecution Group guides clients through every stage of patent prosecution, from initial patentability assessments and application drafting to examinations, post-grant proceedings and enforcement. The team is experienced in identifying patentable innovations, drafting compelling applications that meet examiner expectations and developing strategies that strengthen and protect patent portfolios worldwide. With a deep understanding of clients’ technologies and businesses, the team anticipates and overcomes challenges throughout prosecution while also advocating to secure and defend patent rights against infringement.

Philip Wdowiak

Philip focuses his work on the preparation and prosecution of patents in the U.S. and abroad, guiding clients through matters of patentability, freedom-to-operate, patent landscapes, and portfolio strategy and development to secure protection for their innovations. He has advised clients of all sizes across a wide range of industries, including automotive, mechanical, medical device, consumer products, software, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Philip earned his B.S.E. in Aerospace Engineering, magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan. Prior to joining Benesch, he served as a patent agent at Cooley LLP.

Taylor Grote

Taylor focuses her practice on patent prosecution, working closely with clients to conduct patentability assessments and draft applications that clearly articulate the unique value of their inventions. She also provides counsel on office actions and prosecution strategy, competitor patents, patent term adjustments, and portfolio development, helping clients strengthen and grow their intellectual property assets.

Before becoming an attorney, Taylor spent seven years as a patent engineer, where she gained experience across a diverse range of technologies, including security and malware prevention software, edge networking, artificial intelligence manipulation, analog devices, electrical motors, memory enhancement software and accelerators.

Taylor earned her J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and her B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology from Purdue University.