FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 1, 2020
WASHINGTON, DC—Finnegan is pleased to welcome to the partnership seven attorneys. Resident across the firm’s U.S. offices, their practices cover the patent law spectrum: litigation before federal district courts and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC); appellate litigation before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) litigation; proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); client counseling; and patent prosecution. Their technical expertise spans industries, including pharmaceuticals, biologics, biotechnology, electrical and computer technology, renewable energy, and semiconductors. They are also dedicated to pro bono work.
“We are proud of the level of work and client service our newly elected partners have demonstrated,” said Finnegan managing partner Anand Sharma. “As we celebrate this advancement in their careers, we look forward to their continued growth as attorneys and now partners of the firm.”
New Partners in Alphabetical Order:
Cory C. Bell (Boston, MA) focuses his practice on post-grant proceedings, patent prosecution management, client counseling, and litigation, working with emerging and high-technology companies in various electrical sciences, including computer hardware and architecture, software, robotics, graphical user interfaces, communication networks, and content management systems. Cory has represented patent owners and petitioners in over 100 PTAB trials and created one of the first law school courses on PTAB trials. In addition to his practice before the PTAB, Cory has represented parties before U.S. district courts, the ITC, and the Federal Circuit. Cory’s practice draws from nearly fifteen years of experience, including time as patent examiner at the USPTO and as a student associate at the firm. Cory received a B.S. in electrical engineering (2005), with distinction, honors in business law from Pennsylvania State University and a J.D. (2011) from George Washington University Law School.
Pier D. DeRoo (Washington, DC) has broad experience in strategic client counseling and patent litigation before U.S. district courts and the PTAB. Pier has represented parties in dozens of proceedings before the PTAB, including as lead arguing counsel. His experience includes proceedings involving a broad range of technologies, including monoclonal antibody pharmaceuticals and other biologics, small-molecule drugs, biofuels, solid-state materials for renewable energy devices, collaboration software, and internet security. Pier has been recognized as a Rising Star by Managing Intellectual Property magazine. Pier received an A.B. in Chemistry (2006), with honors, from Princeton University and a J.D. (2011), with honors, from the University of Michigan Law School.
Cora R. Holt (Washington, DC) is an experienced patent litigator at both the appellate and trial levels. A former clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Cora represents clients in patent disputes before the Federal Circuit, the U.S. Supreme Court, and district courts across the country. She handles cases involving a variety of technologies, with an emphasis on the life sciences industries, including biotechnology and pharmaceutical. She has represented clients in cases involving human therapeutic antibodies, chemical compounds, medical devices, drug delivery systems, soybean plants, and engineered microorganisms, as well as in Hatch-Waxman and biosimilars matters. In addition to her litigation work, Cora assists clients in portfolio counseling matters and proceedings before the USPTO. She has been recognized as a Rising Star by Managing Intellectual Property magazine. Cora also devotes significant time to pro bono work, particularly the representation of veterans in cases before the Federal Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Cora received a B.S. in biochemistry and agricultural journalism (2008) from the University of Wisconsin and a J.D. (2011) from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Benjamin R. Schlesinger (Atlanta, GA) practices patent litigation and licensing in the electrical and computer technology fields. His experience spans technologies from software/firmware to drones and other consumer products. Ben practices before federal district courts, the ITC, state trial and appellate courts, and the Federal Circuit, and has considerable experience representing companies from inception through trial and appeal. Ben is a former law clerk to the Honorable Kimberly A. Moore of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and a former control systems engineer for a large aircraft engine manufacturer. Ben received a B.S. in electrical engineering (2005) from the University of Cincinnati and a J.D. (2011), First Honor Graduate, from Emory University School of Law.
Jeffrey D. Smyth (Palo Alto, CA) focuses on patent litigation in a wide variety of areas, including life sciences, electrical, mechanical, and computer technologies. He has litigated cases arising from the filing of ANDAs and also has experience with copyrights and trade secrets. Jeff has been involved in all aspects of U.S. district court litigation, including pre-litigation activity and analysis, conducting discovery, taking and defending depositions, coordinating with experts, drafting legal briefs, and presenting oral argument. His trial experience includes two jury trials in the Northern District of California, and he has been involved in several patent appeals at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Jeff devotes time to pro bono projects, including representing military veterans before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and in oral arguments on their behalf at the Federal Circuit. Jeff received a B.S. in biochemistry and cell biology (2005) from the University of California, San Diego, and a J.D. (2011) from Santa Clara University School of Law.
Daniel C. Tucker (Reston, VA) focuses on the interplay among district court patent litigation, PTAB post-grant proceedings, and Federal Circuit appeals. He represents clients across a broad range of technologies, including wireless/cellular communications, semiconductor technology, consumer electronics, and internet services. Having litigated numerous patent infringement cases from filing to resolution, Dan has developed and executed successful strategies for both patent owners and accused infringers. He has experience in all stages of litigation, as well as significant experience advising clients on the strategic implications of PTAB proceedings on pending district court actions. Dan has litigated dozens of post-grant proceedings before the PTAB, including IPRs, covered business methods (CBMs), and post-grant reviews (PGRs), on behalf of both petitioners and patent owners. He has been recognized as a Rising Star by Managing Intellectual Property magazine. Dan received a B.S. in electrical engineering (2005), summa cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame and a J.D. (2011), with honors, from George Washington University Law School.
M. David Weingarten, Ph.D. (Atlanta, GA) focuses on complex chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology patent litigation before U.S. district courts and the ITC and on post-grant proceedings before the PTAB. David also has extensive experience preparing and prosecuting U.S. patent applications, coordinating and managing foreign prosecution, developing strategies for portfolio management and planning, and participating in diligence projects on behalf of domestic and foreign clients. In addition, he drafts opinions on patent infringement, validity, and enforceability, and prepares intellectual property agreements, such as those relating to license and supply. Recognized on the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, David has successfully represented disabled veterans in proceedings before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims. Prior to practicing law, David spent more than a decade in the pharmaceutical industry, developing drugs across a wide range of therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, and inflammation. He was an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia University. David received a B.S. in chemistry (1991) from the University of West Florida; a Ph.D. in organic chemistry (1996) from Emory University; and a J.D. (2011), with honors, from Emory University School of Law, where he was a Robert W. Woodruff Fellow.
Contacts
Anand K. Sharma, Managing Partner
anand.sharma@finnegan.com
Mark D. Sweet, Chair
mark.sweet@finnegan.com
About Finnegan
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP is one of the largest IP law firms in the world. From offices in Atlanta, Boston, London, Palo Alto, Reston, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo, and Washington, DC, the firm practices all aspects of patent, trademark, and copyright, including counseling, prosecution, licensing, and litigation. Finnegan also represents clients on IP issues related to advertising, trade secret law, European patents and trade marks, international trade, portfolio management, the Internet, e-commerce, government contracts, antitrust, and unfair competition. For additional information on the firm, please visit www.finnegan.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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