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Stephanie Curcio
IP Lawyer, Co-founder & CEO
Clerq
Stephanie Curcio is CEO and Co-Founder of Clerq (formerly NLPatent), the AI clerk for patent professionals, described as transformative by clients. A former Big Law IP attorney who was among the first to apply AI to patent practice, she has become a sought-after voice across both the IP and AI legal-technology communities, known for grounding the conversation in practical adoption and the measurable return on investment AI delivers in patent work.
Her team spent five years developing NLPatent, a proprietary system of Large Language Models trained specifically to understand the language of patents, which has earned the trust of top law firms, innovative companies, and universities worldwide. In 2026, the company rebranded to Clerq, reflecting its evolution from research platform to agentic execution.
Beyond leading Clerq, Stephanie actively engages with the global IP community, holding various leadership roles at IP organizations. She is a frequent writer and speaker on the practical and ethical dimensions of AI in patent practice, from AI ethics and governance to demonstrating measurable ROI. She speaks regularly at major IP conferences and national patent offices across North America and Europe, with a particular focus on the shift from AI-assisted tools to agentic workflows that execute patent work under professional supervision, and what that shift means for how firms and IP teams structure, price, and deliver their services.
Stephanie also remains dedicated to sharing her knowledge with the next generation of patent professionals, taking part in mentorship programmes and guest lecturing at law schools.
Recent Articles by Stephanie Curcio
Your AI Is Saving You Time: So What?
I have spent most of my professional career talking to patent practitioners about AI. For years, the conversation was about whether AI could be trusted, whether it was ready, and whether it would actually change how patent work gets done. I have watched the profession move from skepticism to curiosity to cautious adoption to – in 2026, for the first time – something that feels like acceptance. Questions that once provoked heated debate at conferences now feel almost trite. Nobody is really questioning whether AI has a place in patent practice anymore. The question that has replaced it is harder and more consequential:
The AI Ethics Waterfall: Disclosure, Governance, and Who’s Really Responsible
From a trickle just a few years ago, AI use in the patent profession has become a rushing torrent. AI tools, features, and applications are now an integral and sometimes invisible part of patent practice. From invention harvesting and prior art searching to drafting, filing, opinion work, litigation, and licensing, the savvy patent practitioner almost certainly has AI embedded somewhere in their workflow.
Upcoming Events with Stephanie Curcio
Women’s IP Forum 2026
September 23-25, 2026