Jacob S Sherkow

Jacob S Sherkow is the Richard W. and Marie L. Corman Professor of Law at the University of Illinois College of Law, with additional appointments as Professor of Medicine at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Professor at the European Union Center, and Affiliate of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. He serves as Director of the Innovation Law and Technology Program and maintains concurrent appointments at the Center for Advanced Studies in Biomedical Innovation Law at the University of Copenhagen.

Sherkow received his JD from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was an editor of the Michigan Law Review, an MA in biotechnology from Columbia University, and a BSc in molecular biology and English literature from McGill University. His background includes several years of experience as a research scientist in molecular biology and he is a certified Editor in the Life Sciences (BELS).

Professor Sherkow's research focuses on the intersection of intellectual property law, regulation, and bioethics as they apply to advanced biotechnologies. He is widely recognized as a leading expert on IP protection for genome-editing technologies, particularly CRISPR. His scholarship spans patent law, regulatory policy, and the ethical implications of emerging biotechnologies, with particular attention to how legal frameworks can both promote and hinder scientific innovation in the life sciences. He has published over 75 articles in prestigious venues including Science, Nature, JAMA, the Yale Law Journal, and the Stanford Law Review, with his work cited by various federal courts including the Supreme Court.

Analysis of Sherkow's recent publications reveals a strong focus on CRISPR patent disputes, gene patenting after the Myriad decision, regulation of direct-to-consumer genetic testing, and the intersection of patent law with pharmaceutical regulation. His work demonstrates a consistent pattern of addressing timely legal questions at the cutting edge of biotechnology, often providing empirical analysis and practical insights for policymakers, courts, and industry stakeholders. A notable trend is his increasing attention to global governance frameworks for emerging biotechnologies and the implications of patent law for public health initiatives.

• University Scholar (2024) - University of Illinois System's highest honor for faculty
• Carroll P. Hurd Award for Scholarly Excellence (2024)
• Otto L. Walter Distinguished Writing Award (2018)
• Class of 2017 Teaching Award (previous institution)
• Emerging Leader in Health and Medicine Scholar, National Academy of Medicine (2018-2021)

Professor Sherkow serves as an expert in patent disputes in both the United States and Germany and has advised France's National Assembly on biotechnology patenting issues. He regularly consults with investment firms on patent litigation in the biosciences and has been extensively quoted in major media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and NPR. His legal practice background includes patent litigation at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and clerkship experience in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He teaches courses including Patent Law, Property, Genomics and the Law, and Advanced Topics in Patent Law.

Sherkow's work connects multiple research ecosystems including the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology where he contributes to interdisciplinary genomic research initiatives. His international collaborations extend to the Center for Advanced Studies in Biomedical Innovation Law in Copenhagen, where he has maintained appointments since 2018, and he has presented his research at institutions including the University of Cambridge. His scholarship bridges legal theory with practical applications in the rapidly evolving field of biotechnology.