Finnegan Elects Eight New Partners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 3, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC—Finnegan is delighted to welcome eight attorneys to the partnership. They represent distinct areas of intellectual property law including patent and trade secret litigation before U.S. federal district courts; investigations at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC); appellate litigation before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; proceedings before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); global strategic counseling; patent prosecution; and patent portfolio management. Their technical expertise spans multiple industries, including electrical and computer technology, telecommunications, industrial manufacturing, medical devices, robotics, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products. They also have practices dedicated to pro bono efforts.

“We are pleased to welcome eight new partners who bring diverse practices and perspectives to our partnership,” said Finnegan managing partner Erika Arner. “Their promotions are a result of their hard work, dedication to the highest quality legal work, and commitment to our clients.”

New Partners in Alphabetical Order:

Christopher C. Johns’ (Washington, DC) diverse patent practice includes patent application drafting, international patent prosecution, and strategic portfolio development as well as district court litigation, Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) trials, and appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. A co-author of Patent Subject Matter Eligibility: A Global Guide, Chris’ 15-year career in the patent field touches on nearly all aspects of patent prosecution and litigation. Additionally, Chris maintains an active pro bono practice. He represents asylum seekers before immigration courts through Human Rights First and has assisted with veterans’ appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. He has been recognized on the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll for his pro bono efforts. Chris received a B.S. in computer science from Johns Hopkins University (2006); a M.S. in security informatics from Johns Hopkins University (2008), and a J.D. from George Washington University Law School (2014).

Sydney R. Kestle (Washington, DC) has significant patent law experience, including pre-litigation due diligence, client counseling, litigation in U.S. district courts, proceedings before the PTAB, and appeals at the Federal Circuit. Her practice covers diverse technology sectors in the mechanical and electrical arts, including industrial manufacturing, medical devices, and wireless communications and related consumer products. Sydney clerked for the Honorable Alan D. Lourie at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (2014-2016) and served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Jimmie V. Reyna at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (2012). She also has an active pro bono practice where she assists with veterans’ affairs and serves as a guardian ad litem in custody disputes. Sydney received a B.S.E. in bioengineering, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania (2011); and a J.D., magna cum laude, from American University, Washington College of Law (2014), where she was a Washington College of Law Merit Scholarship recipient (2011-2014).

Yoonhee Kim (Washington, DC) focuses on patent litigation, prosecution, and client counseling in the chemical and pharmaceutical fields. He regularly handles U.S. district court litigation and post-grant proceedings before the PTAB, from developing pre-litigation strategy to handling day-to-day litigation activities. In addition to his litigation practice, Yoonhee maintains an active patent prosecution and client counseling practice, ranging from prosecuting patent applications, and coordinating global patent portfolio management, to providing opinions and strategic client counseling. Yoonhee was recognized on the 2021 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll list in 2021. Yoonhee received a B.S. in chemical engineering from Seoul National University (2005); and a J.D., magna cum laude, from American University, Washington College of Law (2014).

Daniel F. Klodowski (Washington, DC) has a breadth of experience with post-grant proceedings before the PTAB, litigating patents in district court and at the International Trade Commission (ITC), and prosecuting patent applications. He has participated in dozens of PTAB proceedings and has drafted both successful petitions to invalidate patents and successful patent owner responses to maintain patent validity. He also serves as an editor for the firm’s At the PTAB Blog. Daniel’s technical experience spans the mechanical and electrical fields, including computer networking and business software, cable television networks, LCD screen technology, automotive propulsion and tire technology, medical devices, and robotics. His pro bono experience includes representing disability claimants before administrative law judges of the Social Security Administration and assisting veterans with disability claims. He has been recognized three times on the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll list. Daniel received a B.S. in Engineering Science, with distinction, from The Pennsylvania State University (2010); an M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business (2013); and a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (2013).

Matthew J. Luneack (Washington, DC) focuses on complex patent litigation before U.S. district courts as well as strategic counseling on patent issues. His practice covers a range of technologies, with an emphasis towards pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and chemical products and processes. Matthew has been involved in all aspects of district court litigation, from the initial pleadings through trial and post-trial. He is experienced developing claim construction, infringement, and validity positions; conducting fact and expert discovery; drafting briefs and motion materials; preparing witnesses; taking and defending depositions; arguing claim construction and evidentiary issues; and examining witnesses at trial. He also has particular experience representing pharmaceutical patent holders in litigations arising under the Hatch-Waxman Act. Matthew was named as One to Watch in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers and has been recognized on the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll. He received a B.S.E. in chemical engineering, magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan (2011); and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School (2014).

Kassandra M. Officer's (Washington, DC) practice is diverse, with an emphasis on chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. She focuses on patent and trade secret litigation before U.S. district courts as well as post-grant proceedings before the PTAB. Kassandra represents pharmaceutical patent holders in litigations arising under the Hatch-Waxman Act as well as parties in trade secret misappropriation actions. Prior to joining Finnegan, she worked as a legal extern for a medical device company, where she conducted patent portfolio analysis and mapped competitors’ technologies in order to formulate patent strategies. In addition, Kassandra aided in developing the Maurer School of Law Intellectual Property Clinic, where she provided patent due diligence and patent drafting services for several clients. She received a B.S. in chemical and biomolecular engineering, magna cum laude, from the Ohio State University (2011); and a J.D., cum laude, from Indiana University Maurer School of Law (2014).

Cara Regan (Washington, DC) works on patent and trade secret litigation at every stage, from the strategic decision to file a proceeding through appeal. Her experience includes district court and ITC actions; post-grant challenges at the PTAB; and appeals at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. She clerked for the Honorable Kara F. Stoll, U.S. Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (2018-2019). Cara was recognized on the 2021 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll. She received a B.A. in history, cum laude, from Washington and Lee University (2011); a B.S. in physics-engineering, cum laude, from Washington and Lee University (2011); and a J.D., summa cum laude, from Washington and Lee University School of Law (2014).

Lauren J. Robinson (Washington, DC) is experienced in intellectual property litigation and transactional matters. She focuses on complex patent litigation before U.S. district courts in the chemical and pharmaceutical fields. Lauren’s litigation experience covers numerous aspects of trial preparation, including conducting discovery and handling examinations of expert witnesses, as well as the successful negotiation of settlement and license agreements. In particular, she has extensive litigation experience involving the Hatch-Waxman Act, which governs the approval of pharmaceutical products. She has been named to Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” and has been recognized on the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll. She also serves as an adjunct professor at the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School, teaching patent litigation, and as vice-Chair of the Chemical Engineering and the Law Forum of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). She received a B.S. in chemical engineering, cum laude, from the University of Florida (2011); and a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Florida College of Law (2014).

Contacts

Erika Arner, Managing Partner
erika.arner@finnegan.com

Anand K. Sharma, Chair
anand.sharma@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, Munich, Palo Alto, Reston, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo, and Washington, DC, the firm practices all aspects of patent, trademark, and copyright law, 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 and follow us on LinkedIn.