Breakthrough Biotech Law is
Gregory Ellis, Ph.D.
California Bar # 257796
USPTO Registration # 56,186
Greg’s journey to Breakthrough Biotech Law begins with his interest in biology. His curiosities surrounding molecular evolution and the philosophical readings of Richards Dawkins, among others, led him to enroll as a Ph.D. student at the University of Oregon’s Institute of Molecular Biology. His graduate research utilized the one-cell stage C. elegans embryo as a model to study cellular genetics in the context of multicellular development. And if development is the study of how genes give rise to regulated cellular function, then cancer is the study of how genes lead to uncontrolled cellular function. It was thus a natural transition for Greg's curiosities to gravitate towards a biochemical approach as postdoctoral fellow at UCSF, where his research focused on how viruses modulate genetic output during PI3K signaling.
As much as Greg enjoyed the science he was a part of, he recognized that unlike most scientists, he enjoyed writing about science more than he enjoyed sitting at the bench. While at UCSF, Greg started to become interested in how his scientific background could be applied to intellectual property and eventually enrolled in law school at the University of Washington. While in law school, Greg published two intellectual property-related law review articles, one of which was published as a result of winning first place in the Richmond Journal of Law & Technology writing competition. He was also the President of the Technology Law Society and awarded a scholarship during his final year as the University of Washington's outstanding intellectual property student.
Greg’s legal career began as a biotechnology patent attorney, practicing first at Townsend and Townsend and Crew (now Kirkpatrick Townsend), and then at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. Greg next transitioned to in-house counsel at Myriad Genetics, where he was hired to oversee the legal operations as the first attorney of an acquisition known as Crescendo Bioscience located in South San Francisco. Greg remembers being inspired during his interview when Myriad’s General Counsel offered the opportunity to become a legal generalist that would supplement his IP foundation. Following Myriad, Greg next transitioned to Phylos Bioscience, which is an agricultural biotechnology company discovering genetic markers associated with phenotypic traits in cannabis with the goal of developing commercially auspicious varieties. While at Phylos, Greg was General Counsel and built the company’s legal function from the ground up.
Greg left Phylos Bioscience in early 2022 to found Breakthrough Biotech Law, which counts Phylos as its first client.
In his free time Greg enjoys spending as much time as possible outdoors with his partner and their dog - whether it’s at the beach, mountain biking, hiking, snowboarding, or snowshoeing in the mountains.
Greg is also an avid BASE jumper with over 800 jumps to his credit. BASE jumping has been an integral part of transforming not only his philosophical approach to life, but also his career. Like most attorneys, Greg was inherently risk averse. But jumping allowed Greg to evaluate more thoroughly the rewards that come with properly-assessed risk, while at the same time satisfying his desires to succeed at activities where very few can succeed.
While BASE jumping might appear to an outside observer as nothing more than a reckless undertaking, in reality BASE jumping demands meticulous attention to many factors that are both within and outside of the jumper’s control. BASE jumping has forced Greg to adapt to risk assessment on new levels; and importantly, has allowed him to become comfortable with uncertainty. Greg will be the first to admit that not every jump has gone as planned; and on a few occasions inauspiciously planned jumps have left Greg with scraps, bruises, broken bones, and even hanging from trees. But success requires learning from one’s mistakes. The start-up world is replete with failure, but those who succeed are the ones who can advance their objectives by overcoming obstacles navigated in part by learning from past miscalculations.
Greg is excited to use his scientific and legal expertise, as well as lessons learned in life, to join you on your journey.
