Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner

IP Star Naoki Yoshida heads the IP group at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner. Yoshida garners praise from competitors as an "outstanding" practitioner. "Yoshida is one of the real IP stars," one lawyer notes. Finnegan launched in Tokyo in 1988 as one of the first foreign firms permitted to practise in Japan. "They know pharmaceutical IP and Japanese culture. They have a lot of experience for brand pharmaceutical company's litigation work," says a client. The firm advises on a variety of trade mark work for Yamaha and LINE. It also handles design patent matters and assisted Nikon in obtaining patents and in appeals at the Federal Circuit.

With a staff of about 30 IP attorneys in Atlanta, Finnegan is a global IP boutique that tends to deploy smaller teams and keep an equal balance between partners and associates. Most of the firm's work is international in scope. A peer speaks of the firm as having a "stellar reputation in IP." A manufacturing client praises the firm for helping "solve many issues dealing with two ITC investigations," adding "This is a very positive and responsible team."

Roger Taylor, Virginia Carron and John Livingstone are singled out by peers for their IP capabilities. Carron is a managing partner in the Atlanta office. She was lead counsel in a multiple patent case defending NUSA that involved patents related to aseptic processing of low-acid food product. A peer notes of Carron: "Carron is the most prominent, if not the head of the Finnegan office. She has a strong patent and litigation-focused practice." Another peer notes: "She is very active locally and well-known with a good reputation."

Dyer has more than 50 lawsuits under his belt, and extensive litigation experience in both federal courts and the ITC. In the past year, Dyer successfully defended a major defense contractor in a patent infringement suit related to the heads-up display on next-generation fighter aircraft.

Livingstone, former leader of the firm's biotechnology practice in Japan, runs a US district court patent litigation practice that specializes in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and biotechnology. Recently, he acted as a first chair litigator for Ajinomoto in a rare biotechnology ITC action related to genetically modified organisms for producing amino acids. He also represented AstraZeneca at trial related to its diabetes medication.

Taylor, the former managing partner of the Atlanta office, works to protect IP rights and defend domestic and foreign clients against infringement in state and federal courts. He does opinion and guidance work involving a large portfolio of patents.

Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner, known by one peer as "the preeminent boutique in the country," is a full-service IP boutique with offices in the United States, Asia, and Europe. Annually, the firm files approximately 2,500 US and 1,000 foreign patent applications, and regularly manages large global trademark portfolios, including portfolios totaling more than 10,000 registrations and applications in more than 200 countries. Finnegan attorneys have represented Cambridge-based Biogen Idec for over 15 years in all aspects of IP relating to its biotechnology and pharmaceutical business. The company is focused on developing new therapies in neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders, and hemophilia. A software client lauds the firm's prosecution abilities, stating: "Finnegan blends the highest levels of legal skill, professional experience, technical know-how, level of service, and overall intelligence." Mary Ferguson focuses on patent litigation, opinion work, and strategic intellectual property counseling involving pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and biotechnology.

Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner is a full-service IP firm with offices in the US, Europe, and Asia. Approximately 300 of Finnegan's legal professionals hold degrees in scientific disciplines, about 200 are registered to practice before the USPTO, and about 35 are former USPTO patent examiners. Peers praise the Virginia team as "very good" and "top drawer," adding "they are competent and decent people to work with. When I see them on the other side, it is a tough case."

Based out of the Reston office, Erika Harmon Arner chairs the firm's USPTO and PTAB practice group, and is currently acting lead counsel in over 50 PTAB trials at the USPTO. Peers take special note of her "cutting edge IPRs" and Supreme Court cases. Partner Christopher Foley provides a wide range of trademark clearance, prosecution, and enforcement counseling for several major mechanical, industrial, chemical, and electrical manufacturers. He has recently been acting as counsel for Lessard Design in a copyright case involving an architectural work in which the plaintiff sought damages of over $250 million. Partner York Faulkner has handled several different litigation matters involving two different antibiotic products involving ANDA lawsuits that use so-called "product hopping" antitrust theories. Charles Suh is managing partner of the firm's Seoul office and recently completed a patent infringement case involving standard of proof and lost profits. A year after the jury verdict, the court has not entered a judgment due to the case's complexities. Charles Lipsey focuses his practice on patent infringement litigation. A peer calls him a "leader" and "always good."

Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner is a perennial top-tier presence across Managing IP's various publications. The feedback on the firm encompassed strong marks for patent prosecution work, strategic counseling, and, with respect to the DC location, particularly strong expertise handling investigations before the International Trade Commission. Referencing the latter realm, one satisfied client says "Finnegan's IP team was very professional, helping our company solve many issues about the patent – especially dealing with two ITC investigations. They taught us how to cope with this and told us many strategies. This is a very positive and responsible team." Within the context of patent prosecution, post-grant proceedings and due diligence, another client says Finnegan provides "a very deep experience and knowledge of law and practice" along with "excellent preparation under the scientific point of view." Yet another client described the process of working with the firm's prosecution team as a "professional and personal pleasure," before going on to say "The team is the most capable I've worked with during my career. Whatever the task, they deliver at the highest quality. Communication is swift, efficient and proactive."

It is worth noting that some industry competitors raise the issue of recent partner departures within Finnegan's patent litigation practice. Others wonder if name partner Donald Dunner has slowed down of late. One such peer asserts that the firm might be "riding a little on their past glory." Regardless of such sentiments, Dunner continues to garner a steady stream of praise from peers. According to a well-regarded competitor, Dunner remains "one of the giants of the patent bar." Other top names in the DC office include Gerald Ivey and Doug Rettew, the latter of whom specializes in trademark matters. A peer calls Rettew "very impressive" and "very, very professional" while a recent client boats that Rettew was "very creative in helping us obtain the maximum protections for our IP."