Samuel Ernst

Samuel F. Ernst is Professor of Law at Golden Gate University School of Law, where he teaches in the areas of patent law, copyright law, trademark law, contracts, torts, and civil litigation practice. Professor Ernst has published extensively in the areas of intellectual property and contract law as they relate to innovation policy, consumer protection, freedom of speech, the courts, and legal history. Prior to entering academia Professor Ernst was a partner at the international law firm of Covington & Burling in San Francisco, practicing intellectual property and appellate litigation while maintaining an active pro bono practice focusing on veterans disability recovery, civil liberties, immigration law, and homeless advocacy. During these years Professor Ernst also co-taught Pre-Trial Civil Litigation at the U.C. Berkeley School of Law.

After law school, Professor Ernst served as a law clerk to the Honorable Timothy Dyk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In 2010, Professor Ernst was recognized by the Federal Circuit Bar Association for his work on behalf of veterans. In 2006 and 2008, he received a Certificate of Excellence from the Berkeley Food and Housing Project and serves on the board of that organization. 

• Georgetown University Law Center, JD
• University of California Los Angeles, MA in Comparative Literature
• University of California Santa Cruz, BA in Modern Literary Studies

• Chapman University Fowler School of Law, Associate Professor
• Covington & Burling LLP, Partner
• Heller Ehrman LLP, Associate
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Associate