Best Lawyers Recognizes 44 Finnegan Attorneys in its 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2025

WASHINGTON, DC—Best Lawyers released the 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, recognizing 43 Finnegan attorneys for their outstanding achievements and the unparalleled expertise they have demonstrated in their respective fields.  Additionally, Best Lawyers in Japan named Finnegan’s Tokyo office managing partner Naoki Yoshida to its 2026 edition of the publication. Recognition by Best Lawyers is reserved for legal professionals whose work continues to shape the future of the legal industry and is a testament to their skill and unwavering commitment. Based purely on peer review, recognition in Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch is a testament that these individuals are respected by their colleagues and revered as some of the most distinguished members of the legal community. The 44 Finnegan attorneys recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Ones to Watch in America are below:

Best Lawyers in America

Erika Harmon Arner (Litigation - Patent; Patent Law; Technology Law)
Smith R. Brittingham IV (Litigation - Patent)
Michele C. Bosch (Litigation - Patent)
Virginia L. Carron (Litigation - Intellectual Property; Litigation - Patent; Patent Law; Trademark Law)
Kathleen A. Daley (Litigation - Patent)
Jennifer E. Fried (Advertising Law)
J. Michael Jakes (Appellate Practice; Litigation - Patent)
John D. Livingstone (Litigation - Patent)
Ryan P. O’Quinn Ph.D. (Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice)
Erik R. Puknys (Litigation - Intellectual Property; Litigation - Patent)
Benjamin R. Schlesinger (Litigation - Patent)
Jason E. Stach (Patent Law)

Best Lawyers in Japan

Naoki Yoshida (Patent Law; Intellectual Property Law)

Ones to Watch in America

Umber Aggarwal (Intellectual Property Law; Litigation - Intellectual Property)
Safiya Aguilar (Intellectual Property Law)
Christopher B. Anderson (Intellectual Property Law; Litigation - Intellectual Property)
Matthew C. Berntsen (Litigation – Patent)
Alexander M. Boyer (Litigation - Intellectual Property)
Meredith H. Boerschlein (Litigation - Intellectual Property)
Shawn S. Chang (Litigation – Patent)
Drew D. Christie (Intellectual Property Law)
Emily R. Gabranski (Patent Law)
Robert K. High (Litigation – Patent)
Matthew J. Hlinka (Litigation – Patent; Patent Law)
Christopher C. Johns (Litigation – Patent; Patent Law)
Forrest A. Jones (Litigation – Patent; Patent Law)
Nishla Keiser Ph.D. (Life Sciences Practice; Patent Law)
Sydney R. Kestle (Litigation – Patent; Patent Law)
Yoonhee Kim (Litigation – Patent; Patent Law)
Daniel F. Klodowski (Litigation – Patent; Patent Law)
Michael E. Kudravetz (Patent Law)
Karthik Kumar Ph.D. (Litigation – Patent; Patent Law; Technology Law)
J. Preston Long Ph.D. (Litigation – Patent; Patent Law)
Matthew J. Luneack (Litigation – Patent; Patent Law)
Ryan V. McDonnell (Litigation - Intellectual Property; Litigation – Patent; Patent Law)
Kassandra M. Officer (Intellectual Property Law; Litigation - Intellectual Property; Litigation – Patent; Patent Law)
Lauren J. Robinson (Litigation – Patent; Patent Law)
Jeanette M. Roorda (Litigation – Patent)
Sonja W. Sahlsten (Litigation - Intellectual Property; Litigation – Patent)
Benjamin A. Saidman (Litigation – Patent; Patent Law)
Kara A. Specht (Litigation – Patent)
Yieyie Yang Ph.D. (Litigation – Patent; Patent Law)
Chen Zang Ph.D. (Litigation – Patent; Patent Law)
Xirui Zhang, Ph.D. (Intellectual Property Law; Patent Law)

Earlier this year, Best Lawyers recognized four Finnegan partners from our Munich office in its 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Germany.

Contacts

Terra Liddell, Chief Marketing Officer
terra.liddell@finnegan.com

Angela Robinson, Director of Branding and Communications
angela.robinson@finnegan.com

About Finnegan
When your most valuable assets are ideas, innovation, and brand—you need the best to protect them. Finnegan, a premier intellectual property law firm, is trusted by global leaders to protect and advance what sets them apart. With 11 offices across the globe, we bring local insight and global reach to every IP challenge. We are located in Atlanta, Boston, London, Munich, Palo Alto, Reston, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo and Washington, DC. From high-stakes litigation to cutting-edge patent strategy and innovative brand management, we deliver unmatched depth, agility, and results. If it is IP, it is Finnegan. Please visit us at www.finnegan.com or follow us on LinkedIn to see how we’re shaping the future of IP, one breakthrough at a time.