Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

Co-lead, Finnegan Forward

Kara Specht focuses on patent litigation before district courts and before the International Trade Commission (ITC). Her practice covers a wide range of electronic and electrical technology areas related to computers, consumer electronics, and computer-implemented business methods. Kara has been recognized as a Trailblazer by the World Intellectual Property Review and was shortlisted for the Intellectual Property Rising Stars awards at the 2023 Women in Business Law Awards, which recognizes leading women practitioners from over 30 practice areas. She currently co-leads Finnegan FORWARD (Focused on Raising Women’s Advancement, Representation, and Development), the firm’s women’s business initiative.

Kara has experience in all aspects of patent litigation before district courts, the ITC, and the Federal Circuit. Before the district courts and the ITC, Kara has experience from both a plaintiff and defendant perspective, ranging from pre-filing planning and strategy, discovery management, motion practice, offensive and defensive depositions, claim construction, and summary judgment. Kara also has experience before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in inter partes review (IPR) and covered business method (CBM) review proceedings, including prior art searching and analysis, petition preparation, motions to exclude evidence, and expert depositions. She has first-hand insight into corporate litigation procedures, having seconded at a leading multi-national technology company. Beyond trial level litigations, Kara also has experience before the Federal Circuit, preparing appeal briefs and amicus briefs.

Atlanta Bar Association (vice-chair/chair-elect, Intellectual Property Section, 2022-present) Federal Circuit Bar Association Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Pathfinder Program (2020) PTAB Bar Association (co-chair, Trials Committee, 2023-present; secretary, Precedential Decision Nomination Subcommittee, 2021-present; vice chair, Trials Committee, 2021-2023)

Michigan State University College of Law J.D., summa cum laude, 2013

Georgia Institute of Technology B.S., Electrical Engineering, 2010