Eldora Ellison is an accomplished patent attorney and director at Sterne Kessler. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated expertise in patent challenging and prosecution, most recently serving as the lead strategist for CRISPR technology. Prior to her Professional in Residence discussion, Ellison discussed her career trajectory and how she has taken charge of her professional destiny. Graduate students and postdocs can register here for her visit on April 7.
Meaghan Marohn: As a patent attorney you have both a JD and PhD—which came first? Can you provide a brief overview of your career trajectory?
Eldora Ellison: Halfway through grad school, I saw my advisor seek a patent for a protein I was studying, which sparked my interest in law. I learned that firms hire PhDs as technical specialists or patent agents. I was hired right after my PhD, took the patent bar to become an agent, and attended law school at night.
MM: What was it like working as a patent agent directly after grad school, and what motivated you to pursue a JD?
EE: It involved significant on-the-job training. I had to become scientifically comfortable with concepts much broader than what I did in my PhD. It excited me to work on a variety of topics. While the firm helped pay for law school, my main driver was professional autonomy. I didn’t want to limit myself; I wanted to be the boss and have control over my destiny.
MM: What initially interested you about this work and how have those interests evolved?
EE: I enjoy seeing technology up close and helping it reach the market. My interests have evolved alongside the law itself. A major shift occurred around 2012 when new procedures for challenging patents were introduced. I was in a position to shape my practice around those changes, building a reputation by handling these complex cases. While the unpredictability of the law can be frustrating for clients, I found the challenge to navigate that shift rewarding.
MM: What are your key responsibilities, especially since that shift?
EE: Work falls into three buckets: patent prosecution (filing), litigation (infringement), and challenging patents. That last category is where I spend most of my time now. As lead attorney, I am responsible for leading teams and developing strategies to argue over whether patents comply with the law.
MM: Do you notice overlap between your scientific research and legal work?
EE: Definitely. Everything is grounded in technology, and patent applications read a lot like science publications. I read scientific papers and translate technical arguments into accessible “plain English” for various audiences, often using lots of pictures. Ultimately, we are advocates who must zealously represent our clients’ interests.
MM: Do you have advice for someone trying to transition from research into patent law?
EE: Prioritize introspection. Think about why you want to make a transition. I often recommend the book What Color is Your Parachute? to help understand if a field suits your personality.
For patent law specifically, remember we are in a high-pressure service industry. It requires hard work and sacrifice, so you must keep the “greater scheme of life” in perspective. In my view, gaining additional credentials allowed me more control over my professional destiny. When you take your next step, think about where it leads and what the possibilities are beyond it.
Eldora Ellison earned her PhD in biochemistry and molecular and cell biology from Cornell University. While working as a technical specialist and patent agent at Fish & Richardson P.C., she completed law school at Georgetown University. She currently is a director in Sterne Kessler’s Biotechnology & Chemical and Trial & Appellate Practice Groups, exercising experience in inter partes patent matters.
Meaghan Marohn recently completed her PhD from UC Berkeley in molecular and cell biology with a designated emphasis in computational and genomic biology, studying human evolution and population genetics in Priya Moorjani’s lab. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Moorjani Lab while building experience as a freelance science writer.