The Patent 1000 focuses exclusively on patent practice and has firmly established itself as the definitive 'go-to' resource for those seeking world-class legal patent expertise.
Bronze - Individuals: litigation
“Finnegan offers the whole spectrum of patent services. It has an expert on just about every subject, so you always get the best possible advice and representation.” It is one of the largest IP-focused firms in the world, with 11 offices spread across three continents. The group files around 5,500 patent applications each year, litigates the most complex cases in all major contentious forums and expertly handles high-value commercialisation agreements for clients. Focusing on transactions are Brian Kacedon and John Paul. Kacedon has been busy executing licensing agreements for biopharmaceutical company Genevant Sciences and food and beverage patron True Essence. Paul is an expert in finding the commercial value of portfolios. He is also the former president of the Licensing Executives Society International. Erika Harmon Arner and Mark Sweet are among the most reputable practitioners in the country. Arner is a renowned PTAB lawyer and has been busy representing Fortune 500 player NetApp and gaming company Playtika in the past year. In 2022 she also became the outfit’s managing partner. Sweet is an expert when it comes to portfolio analysis, due diligence and opinion work. Adding further non-contentious expertise are Adriana Burgy, Jill MacAlpine, Gregory Gramenopoulos and Yanbin Xu. Burgy is at her best when working in the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields. She takes the lead in providing prosecution services to BASF Corporation. MacAlpine is another member of the team who stands out for her expertise in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. She represents the likes of AstraZeneca and Novartis. Gramenopoulos is a top strategist and counsellor. He spent five years in the firm’s Brussels office and has built up an impressive roster of European-based clients. Xu is an electrical engineering PhD whose research was to support the needs of the NASA science community. His technical expertise is invaluable when it comes to drafting and prosecuting patents. Handling a combination of prosecution and litigation work are Elizabeth Ferrill and Gerson Panitch. Ferrill has contentious experience in district courts, the federal circuit and the ITC, and is particularly knowledgeable in design patents. She is a crucial part of the group that handles prosecution and strategy work for AstraZeneca. Panitch leads the Israeli practice and helps both American and Israeli companies grow through strategic patenting and enforcement programmes. Leading the way on the disputes side of the practice are Michael Jakes and Charles Lipsey. Jakes is an eminent litigator and appellate lawyer, having argued more than 50 appeals during his career. He was recently successful in defending manufacturing company SPG against three IPRs raised by one of its main competitors. Lipsey is well versed in handling patent litigation in several industries, but in the past year he has been focused on supporting AstraZeneca in a Hatch-Waxman dispute against Zydus Pharmaceuticals, where he led his patron to a major victory that ensured seven years of patent exclusivity on a high-value product. Also highly rated when it comes to contentious work are James Barney, Smith Brittingham and James Monroe. Barney is a stellar advocate for his patrons, who operates in a diverse set of industries; Brittingham heads the Section 337 practice and leverages his experience working at the ITC’s Office of Unfair Import Investigations when handling disputes before the commission; and Monroe is hard to compete with when it comes to Hatch-Waxman litigation. Also recommended are Jeffrey Berkowitz, Bryan Diner, Michael Flibbert and Mareesa Frederick. Berkowitz excels in the computer and telecommunications arenas; Diner is a top performer in ANDA litigation and, similarly to Gramenopoulos, spent time in the Brussels office where he developed a robust understanding of European patent law; Flibbert has argued in many contentious forums, but his best asset is his ability to litigate in complex Hatch-Waxman disputes; and Frederick has a sterling track record at the ITC, where she previously worked as a senior investigative attorney. Next up are Lionel Lavenue, Joshua Goldberg, Anand Sharma, William Raich and Qingyu Yin. “Lionel is always focused on winning a case. He manages the most complex litigation easily and is excellent at working under pressure. Lionel’s presence is comforting for the client and frightening for the adversary. In short, he enjoys fighting and winning.” Goldberg chairs the PTAB practice at the firm and has acted in more than 300 IPRs, covered business methods and post-grant reviews. He is currently defending Samsung against claims of patent infringement. Sharma is working closely with Goldberg on this brief. He is a former NASA software engineer who has the ability to handle matters involving the most sophisticated of technologies. Cellular and molecular biology PhD Raich heads the biotechnology and pharmaceutical group. He brings a wealth of technical expertise in the life sciences space. Yin is a go-to for Chinese companies in the smartphone, telecommunications and medical device fields who are looking to protect and enforce their patent rights through contentious proceedings.