FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC—Finnegan is pleased to announce that partner Frank A. DeCosta, III, Ph.D. has assumed the role of Chair of the firm, effective July 1, 2026.
As Chair, Frank will help guide the firm's long-term strategic direction, working closely with James Barney, Finnegan’s Managing Partner, as well as the firm’s management committee and leadership team. Frank will help shape the strategic priorities that support sustained growth, continued investment in talent and technology, and the firm's commitment to delivering unmatched intellectual property counsel across litigation, prosecution, counseling, transactions, and other IP-related matters.
Frank, a first chair patent litigator who also serves as co-chair of the firm’s artificial intelligence practice, has built a distinguished career leading patent and trade secret litigation and advising the leadership of global enterprises on strategy related to protecting IP and resolving IP disputes. The matters he leads frequently involve complex technologies spanning everything from consumer electronics to intelligent medical systems. He has served on the firm’s management and compensation committees, as the leader of the firm’s litigation section, and as leader of the firm’s electrical and computer technology practice group. Frank has been recognized in Intellectual Asset Management’s (IAM) Strategy 300 as a Global Leader and a top IP strategist, and by The Legal 500 U.S. as a top IP lawyer. He was featured in The Power 100 as one of the 100 most influential Black attorneys in the United States.
Frank will help drive initiatives that strengthen client relationships, foster professional development, advance innovation, and deepen collaboration across the firm's global platform. "I am honored to serve in this role, and I look forward to working alongside my colleagues as we continue to build on the firm's reputation as one of the top IP law firms in the world," said Frank. "Finnegan's success has always been rooted in the extraordinary talent of our people, our culture of collaboration, and our unwavering commitment to helping innovators protect and maximize the value of their intellectual property."
"Frank embodies the excellence, integrity, and commitment to client service that define Finnegan," said James Barney, Managing Partner of the firm. "Throughout his career, Frank has earned the trust of clients and colleagues alike through exceptional judgment, thoughtful leadership, and a deep commitment to our firm's values. We are fortunate to have him serving as Chair."
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. From high-stakes litigation to cutting-edge patent strategy and innovative brand management, we deliver unmatched depth, agility, and results. If it’s IP, it’s 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.
