Katherine E. White

Katherine E. White is a Professor of Law at Wayne State University, specializing in intellectual property and patent law. She holds a B.S.E. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Princeton University, a J.D. from the University of Washington, an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law from George Washington University, and an M.S.S. in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Her professional roles include Deputy Commander of the 46th Military Police Command in the Army National Guard (Brigadier General rank), and service on the University of Michigan Board of Regents (1998–2023). She has served on federal advisory boards for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the USDA's Plant Variety Protection Office. Dr. White is a registered patent attorney, Fulbright Senior Scholar, and former White House Fellow.

Her research focuses on intellectual property litigation, patent law jurisprudence, and the intersection of military contracting with legal frameworks. Key publications include the seminal Intellectual Property Litigation: Pretrial Practice (co-authored with Eric Dobrusin), analyzing procedural strategies in patent disputes. Her work explores topics like claim construction standards, extraterritorial patent enforcement, and the evolution of Federal Circuit precedent.

• Education:
  • B.S.E., Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Princeton University
  • J.D., University of Washington School of Law
  • LL.M., Intellectual Property Law, George Washington University
  • M.S.S., U.S. Army War College
• Awards:
  • Fulbright Senior Scholar (Germany)
  • White House Fellow (2001–2002)
  • Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor (2021)
• Current Affiliations:
  • Board Member, Old National Bancorp
  • Board Member, Alta Equipment Group Inc.

Her recent courses at Wayne State include Contracts A/B and Patent Law seminars. Military service includes strategic leadership roles linking legal frameworks to defense logistics. She has advised numerous federal agencies on IP policy and testified before congressional committees on patent reform.