Biography
Elissa Knoff counsels companies across a wide range of technologies on strategically developing and leveraging their patent portfolios. Elissa represents clients ranging from startups filing their first patent application to Fortune 500 companies. She prepares and prosecutes patent applications, performs freedom-to-operate analyses, analyzes competitor portfolios, performs diligence on potential acquisitions, analyzes enforcement opportunities, and drafts and negotiates agreements. Elissa’s favorite projects are those that involve thorny issues—whether legal or business-related.
Elissa’s experience spans a broad range of technological areas, including medical devices, image processing, artificial intelligence, healthcare software and technology, computer systems, consumer products, aerospace, and heavy machinery. Through secondments, Elissa has worked in-house at a major medical device company. She calls on this experience to understand the myriad considerations her clients are facing every day. As a result, she is pragmatic and collaborative, guided by her clients’ business interests. Elissa appreciates that client goals can vary—from a quick allowance of a patent application to obtaining a patent of ideal scope over many rounds of engaging with the patent office.
Prior to entering practice, Elissa served as a law clerk to the Honorable Timothy B. Dyk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. After her clerkship, she worked as a patent litigator in large, general-practice law firms. This litigation background informs her advice to her clients in all areas of her practice. Elissa prioritizes obtaining strong patents that both deter competitors and can hold up in litigation.
Highlights
- Served as a law clerk to Judge Timothy B. Dyk of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
- Acted as in-house counsel at a Fortune 500 medical device company through secondments.
- Performed numerous freedom-to-operate studies to support launching of commercial products and acquisitions of other companies.
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Education
- Northwestern University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, June 2014
- Northwestern University, M.S.Ed., Secondary Education, August 2010
- Northwestern University, B.A., Physics, June 2008
Professional Recognition
- Recognized by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” for intellectual property, 2022-2024.
Publications
- Coauthor. “Supreme Court to Determine the Future of the PTAB’s Post-Grant Reviews,” Latham & Watkins Client Alert, June 16, 2017.
Organizations
- BoMc Associate Committee, Liaison, 2023