Sally Sullivan, Patent Attorney: Combining Chemistry and Law

Chapter 5

Sally Sullivan, Patent Attorney: Combining Chemistry and Law

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Ellen A. Keiter Department of Chemistry, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, I L 61920 Since earning her Ph.D., this interviewee has followed a varied career path, beginning with chemical research and eventually leading to partnership in a patent law firm. Her experience demonstrates that professional growth can include branching into a new area and starting a business that provides services to the larger scientific enterprise. Sally Sullivan believes it was the environment at her all-girl high school as much as the subject itself that led her to choose chemistry as a field to pursue. Acting on that early decision, she enrolled as a chemistry major at Hunter College of the City University of New York where again she found a particularly nurturing environment. At the time, the campus she attended was concentrated in a single 16-story building in the heart of the city. The chemistry department included a small number of majors and several newly hired, energetic young faculty members—a combination that produced a close working relationship between professors and students. Each student had the benefit of very significant attention and personal encouragement from faculty mentors. Sally gained valuable laboratory research experience with an excellent mentor, Professor R. L. Lichter. To describe how thoroughly she was groomed and prepared in this environment for her next step— graduate school—Sally says she was "wrapped in a box and sent off." Sally's graduate school destination was the California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech), where she acknowledges she had to adjust to being in a larger world. Nonetheless, she had a good experience in large measure because she chose a research group where she felt comfortable. In fact, her choice was based as much on the character of the group and the personality of her advisor,

© 2005 American Chemical Society

Hinkle and Kocsis; Successful Women in Chemistry ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2005.

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Sally Sullivan (Courtesy ofSally Sullivan.)


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Professor J. L . Beauchamp, as on the specific research area. One of the characteristics she most appreciated was the culture o f teamwork Professor Beauchamp fostered. She was the first female in her group but others subsequently joined, demonstrating that they too found the environment welcoming. Other female graduate students in the department likewise congregated in groups where they felt comfortable, a tendency Sally observes is still prevalent among women, herself included. The comfort element has remained a strong determining factor in her personal career choices.

Research After four years at Cal Tech, Sally was awarded a Ph.D. in physical organic chemistry and went on to a prestigious postdoctoral appointment in the laboratory of J. M . Lehn at Université Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France. She returned to the United States in 1979 and assumed a second postdoctoral position at the University of Colorado with Charles DePuy. Her thinking at the time was that it would be easier to pursue permanent employment from a domestic base. However, by the end of that appointment, she had met her husband and had decided not to leave Boulder. Thus, as she puts it, she "had to find something to do". Not being interested in an academic position, she sought other opportunities.

Branching Out Thanks to her connection to Cal Tech, Sally heard about Synergen, a new biotechnology company in her area. A t this point, another central element in her career path—flexibility—becomes especially apparent. Although biotech was not a familiar field for her, she applied and was hired. Although not totally happy there, she learned some very important things about herself during the five years she spent with Synergen: 1) her scientific instincts were correct, 2) she could write well, and 3) she could conduct thorough library research. These three strengths led Sally to a successful and comfortable niche in writing proposals. Through another Cal Tech connection, Sally was introduced to a patent counsel at Agrigenetics, a plant molecular biology company in the region. She was subsequently offered a position with that firm in its patent division, which she accepted. As she became involved in writing patents, she came to realize that it was "clearly what she was meant to do." She soon became a registered patent agent, and her career in patent law was officially launched. Sally's experience at Agrigenetics involved a lot of writing and communicating with scientists, two roles in which she felt both very comfortable and very competent, although she isn't sure which came first. She's grateful that she had an in-house position in which to learn the field of patent law because it provided a lower


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stress environment than, for example, working in a law firm. She also felt very comfortable working with Lorance Greenlee, the person who had hired her. A major turning point in Sally's career came in 1987 when Agrigenetics was purchased by Lubrizol and moved to Ohio. Her division was invited to relocate along with the rest of the company, but she and two patent attorneys, Lorance Greenlee and Ellen Winner, elected instead to form their own patent law firm specializing in biotechnology and chemistry. Together the three faced the challenge of learning how to set up a firm and acquire clients.

More Education As another part of this overall transition, Sally soon recognized that she would not be fully independent as a patent agent and decided to enroll in law school. It was clear to her that having a law degree would be good both for the firm and for her position within it. Thus, in 1992 she entered the University of Denver College of Law. Somewhat contrary to her expectations, Sally loved law school, where she learned a great deal and encountered some of her best teachers. Among her fellow students were a significant number who were, like her, older and more experienced, which helped make for a comfortable environment. In 1995, Sally earned her law degree, with honors, and became a full partner in the Greenlee, Winner, and Sullivan law firm.

Adjusting to Change Sally faced two particular challenges as she adapted to her role as a patent attorney. One was learning to sell herself—something for which none of her formal training had prepared her. Although quite uncomfortable with the process at the beginning, she has gradually found it easier and now approaches it with much greater confidence. A second area that required adjustment was accepting that she is not the science expert in her dealings with scientists. While because of her background, she can ask appropriate questions, it's the scientist clients with whom she's working who are the technological experts; what she contributes is her expertise in law.

Shaping the Work Environment Greenlee, Winner, and Sullivan is a small, "boutique" firm with about 20 employees, 7 of whom are patent attorneys, most with advanced degrees in science. Although the group recently had an opportunity to merge with a much larger firm, they elected to remain small. A major element in that decision was a wish to preserve the lifestyle and culture of the group. Sally describes the


35 process of seriously considering the merger as very beneficial because it ultimately affirmed the partners' philosophy in establishing and shaping their own independent firm. One indication of the firm's environment is that it has attracted a number of women scientists who want a flexible means of combining family with a profession. Part-time work is allowed, which Sally believes is beneficial not only to individual employees but to the entire firm.


Balance Like some of her co-workers, Sally has appreciated her company's flexibility, which has enabled her to work while raising a family. She and her husband have two children, the first of whom was born while Sally was at Synergen and led to her establishing the company's maternity leave policy. Their second child was born after the formation of her current firm. Sally doesn't believe that her career choices have required significant sacrifices in this area. Her husband, a professor, has shared in childcare, and they were able to secure good day care when it was needed. The natural routine for the family has always been for everyone to get up in the morning and for each to go off to his or her own activity for the day. Being involved in her children's activities has been an enjoyable and relaxing way for Sally to relieve the stress of work. She has also enjoyed a variety of craft and volunteer activities, which offer the double benefit of providing an entirely different environment from her workplace and at the same time giving her a sense of productivity. Sally acknowledges that since cofounding her current firm, escaping work responsibilities has become a greater challenge because it's hard not to be constantly on call. As a result, traveling to interesting sites has become an increasingly important leisure activity for her and her husband.

Advice and Reflection The important elements that have guided Sally's career choices also form the basis for advice she offers to other women chemists: 1) find out what you're good at and enjoy doing; 2) seek an environment in which you feel comfortable, appreciated, and respected; and 3) remain flexible and open to new opportunities. Although she believes women have to work especially hard to be successful, she also believes that gender has been an asset for her in areas such as maintaining flexibility and being sensitive to problems.


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If success means liking what you do and knowing that you're doing it well— which is how Sally would define it—she has certainly achieved it. She enjoys her work and feels fortunate to have found a satisfying niche. In looking ahead, she sees challenging personal and professional transitions as her children leave home and she attempts to scale back her work commitments. Important goals for her are to adapt smoothly to these changes and to shift responsibilities within her firm in a manner that ensures its continuation well beyond her time there.


Sally Sullivan, Patent Attorney: Combining Chemistry and Law

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