Partner
Mareesa Frederick focuses on complex, high-stakes intellectual property litigation, with a particular emphasis on Section 337 proceedings before the International Trade Commission (ITC). She was named by The Legal 500 U.S. as a Next Generation Lawyer for ITC patent litigation and listed by Savoy Magazine as one of the “Most Influential Lawyers,” recognizing her as one of the top Black attorneys in the country. Mareesa also has extensive experience counseling clients on pre-trial strategy, strategic licensing opportunities, and patent portfolios. She currently serves as co-chair of Finnegan’s African American Affinity Group and as co-lead of the firm’s ITC litigation practice, while having previously served on the firm’s Management Committee and partner-in-charge of Community & Belonging.
Mareesa has litigated numerous cases in a broad range of technologies including cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, manufacturing processes, biotechnology, polymers, semiconductor chips and packaging, kinesiotherapy devices, tunable lasers, mobile telephones, digital cameras, television and computer monitors, inkjet cartridges, printing plates, LED lighting, and automotive parts. She has also litigated cases involving design patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and trade dress claims.
Prior to rejoining the firm, Mareesa was a senior investigative attorney at the ITC and served as lead government counsel in a number of Section 337 cases before the ITC involving patents for mechanical, electrical, and consumer products. In addition, she has extensive technical experience in polymer processing through her previous employment with Mobil Chemical, Films Division where she worked as a R&D engineer and a process engineer.
Mareesa devotes a significant amount of time to pro bono matters. The Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll recently recognized her for those contributions. She has represented clients through the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless and has participated in Finnegan’s criminal pro bono program, representing clients before the D.C. Superior Court. She now focuses her pro bono efforts on advocating for children with special education needs and has also led the effort at Finnegan to establish a formal special education program.
In addition to her patent practice at Finnegan, Mareesa has served as an adjunct professor at Howard University for six years, teaching patent law to engineering students. She also served as an adjunct professor at Howard University Law School for two years, where she taught patent law and patent policy courses. Mareesa was recognized by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) for her practice in the DC region as well as by the National Law Journal (NLJ) as a “Rising Star.”
Co-chair, Finnegan’s African American Affinity Group, 2021–present.
Federal Circuit Bar Association Global Fellow, 2015-2017.
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow, 2014.
Served as secretary and governance chair for Elsie Whitlow Stokes Charter School, 2009-2015.
Served as managing editor for the Environmental Lawyer, 2001-2002.
Served as an intern for the Honorable Reginald Gibson, senior judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 2000.
Eli Lilly and Company v. Actavis Labs. UT Inc.
Represented Eli Lilly in patent litigation relating to Cialis®.
1:16-cv-01119, E.D. Va., Judges Nachmanoff, Trenga
Actelion Pharmaceuticals v. ICOS Corp.
Represented ICOS in Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) proceeding involving pharmaceutical formulation.
IPR2015-00561, -00562, PTAB, Judges Mitchell, Snedden, Yang
Eli Lilly and Company v. Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Represented Eli Lilly in an appeal from a PTAB decision in an IPR case.
IPR2014-00693, -00752, PTAB, Judges Green, Prats, Snedden
16-1547, Fed. Cir., Judges Bryson, Moore, Newman
Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. v. POSCO
Defended POSCO in a patent infringement action involving grain oriented steel.
2:12-cv-02429, D.N.J., Judges Cavanaugh, Chesler, Falk, Waldor
15-0112, Fed. Cir., Judges Dyk, Hughes, Newman
In Re Certain Polycrystalline Diamond Compacts and Articles Containing Same
Secured a decisive victory for client US Synthetic Corp. (USS) at the ITC. After a full hearing, the ALJ found that respondents infringed multiple claims of USS’s patent and that the claims were valid and supported by a domestic industry, but an initial Commission ruling under § 101 temporarily prevented a finding of violation of Section 337. The Federal Circuit reversed the § 101 ruling, and on remand the ITC found a violation and issued a limited exclusion order barring infringing polycrystalline diamond products from entry into the United States, securing final relief for USS.
337-TA-1236, ITC, Judge Elliot
Certain Drug Products Containing C-Type Natriuretic Peptide Variants, and Components Thereof
Representing respondent Wacker Biotech GmbH in a rare section 337 ITC investigation involving drug products containing C-type natriuretic peptide variants.
337-TA-1447, ITC, Judge Cheney
Conference
International Trade Commission Litigation & Enforcement International Trade Commission Litigation & Enforcement
May 4-5, 2026
Washington, DC
Conference
2026 American Bar Association-Intellectual Property Law Section Annual Meeting 2026 American Bar Association-Intellectual Property Law Section Annual Meeting
April 15-16, 2026
Washington, DC
Articles
Why Fashion Brands are Doubling Down on US Utility Patents Why Fashion Brands are Doubling Down on US Utility Patents
March 10, 2026
World Trademark ReviewArticles
Your Best Bet for Enforcement: Schedule A Cases or Section 337 Investigations? Your Best Bet for Enforcement: Schedule A Cases or Section 337 Investigations?
November 27, 2025
World Trademark Review"Frederick has a sterling track record at the ITC, where she previously worked as a senior investigative attorney."
Intellectual Asset Management Patent 1000
“Mareesa Frederick is 'deeply familiar with the ITC practice and greatly contributes to the resolution of complicated problems, which occasionally arise during ITC proceedings.’”
Legal 500 United States
“Frederick, who also benefits from inside knowledge, recently won a rare complete victory on summary determination for REC Solar Holdings as respondent in a high-profile investigation involving solar cells.”
Intellectual Asset Management Patent 1000
"Frederick has a sterling track record at the ITC, where she previously worked as a senior investigative attorney."
Intellectual Asset Management Patent 1000
“Mareesa Frederick is 'deeply familiar with the ITC practice and greatly contributes to the resolution of complicated problems, which occasionally arise during ITC proceedings.’”
Legal 500 United States
“Frederick, who also benefits from inside knowledge, recently won a rare complete victory on summary determination for REC Solar Holdings as respondent in a high-profile investigation involving solar cells.”
Intellectual Asset Management Patent 1000
Award/Ranking
Finnegan Earns Top Rankings in 2026 IAM Patent 1000 Guide; Nearly 60 Attorneys Ranked Finnegan Earns Top Rankings in 2026 IAM Patent 1000 Guide; Nearly 60 Attorneys Ranked
May 28, 2026
Intellectual Asset Management (IAM)Award/Ranking
61 Finnegan Attorneys Recognized on the 2025 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll 61 Finnegan Attorneys Recognized on the 2025 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll
May 7, 2026
Commentary
How Litigation Funding Disclosure Could Affect ITC Cases How Litigation Funding Disclosure Could Affect ITC Cases
May 7 , 2026
Law360Commentary
Patent Cases Down 64% YOY at PTAB, up 70% at ITC in Q1 2026 Patent Cases Down 64% YOY at PTAB, up 70% at ITC in Q1 2026
April 15, 2026
Intellectual Asset Management (IAM)Commentary
ITC Commissioner Nominations Could Create a Republican Majority ITC Commissioner Nominations Could Create a Republican Majority
February 13, 2026
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