Finnegan Facts

Our clients come to us with some of the most innovative ideas on the planet. But innovation alone is not enough. Every good idea needs a champion.
Rich Racine, Managing Partner

Fact #1: We didn’t get to be one of the world’s largest IP law firms by just growing our lawyer ranks and adding offices.

We got there by truly believing in our clients and then protecting, advocating, and leveraging their ideas. The world’s leading corporations and innovators have entrusted us with their most valuable assets for over 40 years. They rely on our legal, technical, and scientific experience. And they understand we not only speak their language—but we know how to listen, too. That’s the first fact you need to know about Finnegan. And there are many more.

Fact #2: We have an incredibly wide range of IP-focused talent.

We offer full-service IP legal and technical experience in virtually every industry and technology—from electrical and computer technology, industrial manufacturing, consumer products, medical devices and biotechnology to pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and alternative energy. Our practice includes all aspects of patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret law, including counseling, prosecution, licensing, and litigation. We also represent clients on IP issues related to international trade, portfolio management, the Internet, e-commerce, government contracts, antitrust, and unfair competition.

More than 350 lawyers focused on intellectual property, plus an additional 600 professionals and support staff, including patent agents, legal assistants, and dedicated docketing, research, litigation support, and information technology specialists
390 professionals with scientific degrees
90+ professionals with Ph.D.'s
280 professionals registered to practice before the PTO
60 professionals who are former PTO examiners

Fact #3: We’re at the hub of innovation—wherever in the world it may be.

Our clients’ business and IP assets are global, and protection of these assets is increasingly challenging. With offices around the world and decades of experience assisting multinational companies, Finnegan has the resources and expertise to formulate and execute global strategies. We’re located in research and technology centers such as Atlanta, Georgia; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Palo Alto, California; and Reston, Virginia. We regularly appear on our clients’ behalf in courts throughout the U.S. and before regulatory and administrative agencies in Washington, DC. We also have offices in the key global markets of Brussels, Shanghai, Taipei, and Tokyo. Our professionals are multilingual, multi-cultural, and work with our clients in real-time around the clock and around the world.

Fact #4: In complex IP disputes, few firms can match the scope of our talent and experience.

Our litigation practice covers all aspects of IP disputes, from complex patent litigation and appeals to trademark disputes. Our 250+ experienced IP litigators have handled hundreds of cases at all stages of litigation. Many of our lawyers hold not only a J.D., but also a Ph.D. or other advanced degrees in leading-edge scientific disciplines. And our professionals include 25 former district court or trial judge law clerks and more than 40 former CAFC or CCPA law clerks.

Our litigation experience includes:

Patent infringement and related litigation issues
Patent appeals
U.S. International Trade Commission, Section 337 cases
Interference proceedings
Trademark litigation
Copyright litigation
Trade secret litigation

Fact #5: No other firm has briefed and argued as many cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

In the last five years alone, Finnegan has represented clients in more than 100 Federal Circuit appeals. More than 40 of our lawyers are former clerks of the Federal Circuit or its predecessor court, and at least that many of our lawyers have argued cases before the Federal Circuit. Our lawyers helped draft the rules of practice and procedure for the court in the 1980s. And, after the court’s creation, one of our name partners Don Dunner, chaired its advisory committee for 10 years.

Fact #6: Our patent stats are hard to beat.

80 percent of our work is patent-related
300 attorneys focusing on patent law
280 professionals registered to practice before the PTO
60 professionals who are former PTO examiners
11,000 U.S. patent applications filed in a three-year period
More than 400 patent due diligence engagements in the past six years
More than 1,200 annual patent opinions rendered in the past four years
Involved in more than 400 district court patent litigations in the past five years
Represented either the complainant or the respondent in nearly 20 percent of all ITC cases filed in the past five years
Involved in more than 10 percent of all interferences declared in the past five years
Briefed and argued more than 100 Federal Circuit appeals in the last past five years

Fact #7: We have one of the most successful trademark practices in the world.

We have more than 25 lawyers who practice solely or primarily trademark law. Among our ranks, we have seasoned litigators, two former trademark counsel for major corporations, and a former administrative law judge from the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). Our practice also includes an enviable core of experienced trademark legal assistants and staff professionals, including portfolio managers, in-house investigators, and a domain name expert. Our team’s depth of talent and experience is reflected in its accomplishments:

#1 Tier U.S. Law Firm for Trademark Litigation and Non-Contentious Work, 2008 (Managing Intellectual Property’s World IP survey)
#1 or #2 Tier U.S. Law Firm for Trademark Litigation and Non-Contentious Work, 2005-2008 (Managing Intellectual Property’s World IP surveys)
#1 Tier Law Firm for Trademark Litigation, 2007, 2008 (The Legal 500 U.S.)
Currently responsible for more than 20,000 trademark applications and registrations (U.S. and foreign)
Filed and defended nearly 600 U.S. trademark oppositions and cancellations in the past five years
130+ U.S. trademark civil litigations filed and defended in the past five years
Involved in more than 230 UDRP arbitrations in the past five years
Have handled more than 65 civil litigations in the U.S. involving domain names

Fact #8: Our people are remarkably loyal.

In an era where partners routinely leave firms for greener pastures, Finnegan has sustained a remarkable retention rate. In the entire 40-year history of our firm, fewer than a dozen partners have left. In addition, our firm’s administrative directors average more than 10 years with us, and our firm has one of the lowest staff attrition rates of any AmLaw 100 firm.

Fact #9: We don’t just value diversity, we live it every day—in thought, approach, and solutions.

In fact, diversity is so much a part of our culture, we’re consistently ranked as one of the nation’s top law firms for minority and overall diversity. In the 2008 Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms, Finnegan ranked in the top 15 percent for lawyer diversity. Twenty-five percent of our partners are minorities and women; 30 percent of our attorneys are women; and nearly 20 percent of our attorneys are minorities. Our commitment to diversity says a lot about our culture in general. We believe in being inclusive, not exclusive. We value collaboration and working as a team. We welcome different perspectives and unique points of view. And most importantly, we are committed to continuing to expand the diverse face of our firm through recruiting, mentoring, collaborating, and innovative approaches that ensure our lawyers and staff develop both personally and professionally.

Fact #10: Sometimes, it’s best to let others speak for you.

Full Service U.S. IP Firm of the Year, 2008 (Managing Intellectual Property)
#1 Tier U.S. Law Firm for Patent Litigation and Non-contentious Patent Work, 2002-2008 (Managing Intellectual Property’s World IP Surveys)
#1 or #2 Tier U.S. Law Firm for Trademark Litigation and Non-contentious Trademark Work, 2005-2008 (Managing Intellectual Property’s World IP Surveys)
#1 Tier U.S. Law Firm for Copyright Work, 2008 (Managing Intellectual Property’s World IP Survey)
#1 Tier U.S. Law Firm for Intellectual Property, 2007, 2008 (Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business)
#1 Tier Law Firm for Trademark Litigation, 2007, 2008 (The Legal 500 U.S.)
#1 Tier Law Firm for Patent Litigation, 2008 (The Legal 500 U.S.)
IP Litigation Department of the Year, 2006 (The American Lawyer and IP Law & Business)

Fact #11: To us, pro bono isn’t just a program. It’s a state of mind and a way of life.

Our pro bono work is as varied and diverse as the professionals at our firm. We let our professionals tell us what is important to them and where they feel they can best put their passion and expertise to good use. We credit 80 hours a year toward a lawyer’s billable hours goal. For those who choose more involved pro bono work such as litigation, the additional hours are rewarded and credited toward bonuses. Our lawyers sharpen their skills and help others by litigating criminal and civil cases, negotiating agreements and settlements, and working hand-in-hand with community non-profit organizations to address their constituencies’ legal issues. We provide counsel to artists, children, the elderly, veterans, the homeless, and other groups in need that might not be heard without our assistance.

Fact # 12: We’ve come a long way in 40 years.

March 1, 1965. The firm Finnegan & Henderson is founded on the 12th floor of the Chanin Building at 815 Connecticut Avenue in Washington, DC, by Marc Finnegan and Douglas Henderson. The mission: to do high-quality legal work focused exclusively on intellectual property law.

1968. The firm changes its name to Finnegan, Henderson & Farabow. Art Garrett becomes a partner, and his name is subsequently added to the masthead in 1973.

1979. On April 13, 1979 at the age of 53, the firm’s beloved Marc Finnegan passes away. In the fall of 1979, Don Dunner becomes a name partner.

1988. The firm opens our Tokyo, Japan office and becomes one of the first patent firms to have a lawyer actively practicing in Japan as Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi Jimusho (lawyer in foreign law).

1990. The firm’s Washington, DC office moves to 1300 I Street, NW. Our lawyer headcount reaches 100.

1993. Our Brussels, Belgium office opens to support our growing European client base.

1997. We open our Atlanta, GA and Palo Alto, CA offices.

1999. The firm grows to 200 lawyers.

2001. We open our 5th U.S. office in a high-tech market, Cambridge, MA.

2002. The firm is included for the first time in American Lawyer’s list of the 100 largest U.S. law firms—we are the only law firm in the listing focused exclusively on intellectual property law. Our Reston, VA office opens, and the firm’s lawyer ranks reach 300.

2003. Our Taipei, Taiwan office opens.

2005. The DC office relocates to 901 New York Avenue, where we are the anchor tenant in an award-winning building at the center of a downtown redevelopment project.

2008. Our 4th international office opens in Shanghai, China. The firm changes its logo and officially recognizes Finnegan as its short name.