Erika Harmon Arner > Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP > Reston, United States > Lawyer Profile

The patent prosecution group at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP is well-regarded for its provision of ‘outstanding, commercially-focused legal advice’, which includes the establishment, preparation, filing and management of patent portfolios; inventions and foreign protection issues, as well as the handling of reissues; re-examinations, IPRs, PGRs, and the scope of work that may arise from range of patent transactions, all of which the group handles for such renowned clients as FedEx Corporation, Toshiba Corporation and Google. The team is headed up by specialist Jeffrey Jacobstein and Cory Bell who leads the PTAB sub-team, both are based at the Boston office. Bell and Jacobstein lead alongside Boston-based managing partner Erika Harmon Arner who has a focus on PTAB and federal-level appeal cases and Anand Sharma who splits her time between both Boston and Reston. Among the team are an array of IP and tech experts, with attorneys to note in DC being Adriana Burgy who is experienced handling litigation in the chemical, pharma and biotech industry sectors; ‘great mentor’ Aaron Parker, Mark Feldstein and associate Gracie Mills . On the West Coast, Aaron Capron in Palo Alto has expertise handling post-grant proceedings pertaining to electronics, telecoms and software-based tech. Arpita Bhattacharyya stands out at the same office. Senior counsel Thomas Irving retired in March 2023.

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP‘s IP management and transactions section assists clients in IP-related transactions, IP licensing, and with their IP portfolios. The mechanical practice group is led by Brian Kacedon in Washington DC, who focuses on patent and technology licensing and litigation. Managing partner Erika Harmon Arner handles patent litigation related to computer software and electronic technology, while firm chair Anand Sharma handles patent portfolio management and strategy in addition to representing clients in litigation. Reston-based lawyer Elliot C. Cook advises his clients on patent litigation, portfolio development, and patent prosecution. Patent attorney Michele C. Bosch has a diverse practice with an emphasis on post-grant proceedings, while Virginia L. Carron in Atlanta counsels clients on diverse licensing and related transactional matters. In October 2023, Boston partner Nishla H. Keiser re-joined the firm from an in-house role at Orna Therapeutics. Unless otherwise mentioned, listed contacts are based in Washington DC.

Leveraging its vast experience before a diverse array of courts across the country including the Unified Patent and Trademark Office and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, tour-de-force Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP enjoys an esteemed reputation across pharma, consumer products, entertainment and financial services sectors, acting for a consortium of high-profile clients such as IBM, Nestlé and Caterpillar. The ‘top-notch’ and ‘highly competent’ practice draws on the support of its offices across Europe and Asia. The practice is jointly led by Naresh Kilaru, who routinely handles trademark, copyright and unfair competition litigation before an extensive range of US district and appellate courts, managing partner Erika Harmon Arner and firm chair Anand Sharma. Key contact Danny Awdeh fields a strong practice that comprises assisting with global brand launches, high-value transactions, and strategic counselling, while B. Brett Heavner substantially bolsters the practice with his strengths in domestic and international trademark litigation. Sports sector specialist Douglas Rettew and Mark Sommers, whose wide-ranging experience representing clients before the USPTO and TTAB alongside federal district and appellate courts. Morgan E. Smith is well positioned to manage mandates arising from sports equipment, electronics and telecoms sectors, and Laura Johnson, who operates from the firm’s Boston office, is noted for her strong presence across automotive, medical products and music sectors, among others. All other listed attorneys are based in Washington DC.

With an established presence in representing clients in the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, federal circuit courts of appeal and various other tribunals, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP‘s extensive litigation experience enables it to operate for global brands such as Under Armour and Sony Corporation. The practice is jointly led by Naresh Kilaru, managing partner Erika Harmon Arner and chair Anand Sharma. Kilaru’s capabilities encompass disputes arising from computer source code, product packaging, and gray-market goods, while key contact Danny Awdeh, who leads the firm’s trademark, copyright, and advertising group, demonstrates an outstanding knowledge of litigation concerning trademark infringement, counterfeiting, unfair competition, dilution, and false advertising. B. Brett Heavner’s expansive expertise incorporates all aspects of domestic and foreign trademark protection, and Douglas Rettew capitalizes on his immense experience in US Court of Appeals cases to count blue-chip global names in his client roster. Mark Sommers frequently handles matters pertaining to trademarks, intermediary liability, and rights of publicity, with Morgan E. Smith contributing her prowess in injunctive relief and offensive and defensive discovery. All named lawyers are based in Washington DC.