Sam Ernst

Professor of Law at Western State College of Law

San Francisco Bay Area

About

Professor of Law at Golden Gate University specializing in intellectual property and contract law. Read my publications below. Bio: https://www.ggu.edu/shared-content/faculty/bio/samuel-ernst • I teach and write in the areas of contracts and intellectual property law as it relates to consumer protection, innovation policy, legal history, and the courts. • I speak on intellectual property law to scholars and practitioners at conferences around the country. • I am also a homeless advocate and sit on the Board of the Berkeley Food and Housing Project • I have served on several law school Committees and am currently serving as the Chair of the Law School Dean Search Committee for Golden Gate University • I have organized several conferences, including a Bay Area I.P. Scholars Conference; a symposium on intellectual property non-practicing entities that featured the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and a U.S. Congressman; and organizing the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in holding hearings and conducted a question and answer session with the judges at my previous law school, Chapman University Fowler School of Law. • Prior to entering academia, I was a civil litigator for ten years practicing intellectual property and appellate litigation, most recently as a partner at the international law firm of Covington and Burling LLP. I also maintained an active pro bono practice focusing on homeless advocacy, veterans benefits recovery, civil rights litigation, immigration appeals, and defense of unlawful detainer cases. • I am a member of the State Bar of California, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Experience

  • Professor of Law at Western State College of Law
    Aug 2024 - Present · 1 yr 11 mos

  • Golden Gate University, School of Law (7 yrs 11 mos)
    • Associate Dean for Academics and Professor of Law
      Jul 2023 - May 2025 · 1 yr 11 mos

      Samuel F. Ernst is Associate Dean for Academics and Professor of Law at Golden Gate University School of Law, where he teaches in the areas of contracts, patent law, copyright law, and torts. Professor Ernst has published extensively in the areas of intellectual property and contract law as they relate to innovation policy, consumer protection, 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 sits on the board of that organization. Professor Ernst earned his JD Magna Cum Laude from Georgetown University Law Center. He has a BA in Modern Literary Studies from UC Santa Cruz and an MA in Comparative Literature from UCLA.

    • Professor of Law
      Jul 2017 - May 2025 · 7 yrs 11 mos

      I teach intellectual property and contract law at Golden Gate University School of Law. I write scholarship on patent law and contracts law.

  • Associate Professor at Chapman University
    2013 - Jun 2017 · 4 yrs 6 mos

    Associate Professor of Law at Chapman University specializing in Intellectual Property and Contracts law and litigation practice.

  • Covington & Burling (4 yrs 4 mos)
    • Partner
      Oct 2010 - Jan 2013 · 2 yrs 4 mos

      Intellectual property and appellate litigation.

    • Associate
      Oct 2008 - Oct 2010 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      Intellectual property and appellate litigation.

  • Associate at Heller Ehrman
    Oct 2003 - Sep 2008 · 5 yrs

    Intellectual property and other commercial litigation.