Professional in Residence Eldora Ellison Takes Charge of Her Professional Destiny

Eldora Ellison, Ph.D. 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 at Berkeley on April 7, 2026, Ellison discussed her career trajectory and how she has taken charge of her professional destiny.

When asked about the start of her career, Ellison said, “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 Ph.D.s as technical specialists or patent agents. I was hired right after my Ph.D., took the patent bar to become an agent, and attended law school at night.”

Ellison then described the key responsibilities in her current practice within intellectual property, “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.”

She also notes the overlap between her scientific research and legal work, “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.”

For scientists considering a transition into patent law, Ellison offered, “Prioritize introspection. Think about why you want to make a transition,” she continued, “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.”