Michael Ellenberger, a patent attorney at Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C. in Washington, D.C., has a background in biochemistry and focuses his practice on patent prosecution, licensing, counseling, and due diligence for life sciences clients. He also has experience as a patent litigator. His clients span a range of technologies, including medical devices, small and large molecule therapeutics, gene editing, and antibody therapies.
Before entering the legal field, Michael earned a B.A. in Chemistry–Biochemistry from Washington University in St. Louis and conducted medicinal chemistry research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse within the National Institutes of Health. This background provides a strong scientific foundation for his legal practice.
Michael guides clients through every stage of the patent lifecycle, from initial strategy to drafting priority applications and prosecuting U.S. and global applications, as well as post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He also conducts in-depth diligence investigations, helping clients assess the strength and value of IP assets, evaluate competitive landscapes, and navigate freedom-to-operate issues. Michael has substantive experience in navigating complex IP licensing, including advising on the creation, negotiation, and enforcement of licensing agreements, and evaluating agreements in corporate transactions. Michael’s litigation background includes developing pre-litigation strategies, drafting contentions, conducting fact and expert discovery, and preparing dispositive motions, all of which inform his prosecution and counseling work with a strategic, risk-aware perspective.
He received his J.D. from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (cum laude).