Finnegan Partner Erika Arner Appointed PTAB Bar Association’s New President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2018

WASHINGTON, DC—Finnegan partner Erika Arner took the reins as president of the PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) Bar Association during its annual conference held in Washington, DC. Erika has served as president-elect since the organization’s inception in September 2016.

Formed through a collegial collaboration among more than 45 law firms, including Finnegan, the PTAB Bar Association serves as a forum for communications between the PTAB and other stakeholders. It aims to help establish best practices for the unique practice and skills required before the PTAB, and provide continuing legal education and networking opportunities for young lawyers and practitioners.

"I am honored to serve as president of the PTAB Bar Association," said Erika. “It has been an exciting journey to be part of creating the first organization for PTAB practitioners that focuses on education, outreach, collaboration, and advocacy."

A nationally-recognized leader in trial practice before the PTAB, Erika has represented patent owners and petitioners in more than 100 PTAB trials, most as lead counsel. She was the first to file a covered business method (CBM) review petition, argue at an oral hearing, and win a trial before the PTAB. She also represents clients before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, where she has argued and won appeals of PTAB trial decisions as well as from district court litigation involving technologies ranging from graphical user interfaces, to complex telecommunications systems, to large scale scent diffusion devices. In 2017, Managing Intellectual Property named Erika PTAB Litigator of the Year.

Contacts
Mark D. Sweet, Managing Partner 
mark.sweet@finnegan.com 

James B. Monroe, Chair 
james.monroe@finnegan.com

About the PTAB Bar Association
The PTAB Bar Association is the only bar association solely dedicated to practice before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. This organization recognizes the unique practice and skills required before the PTAB, and the desire to improve the level of professional service and stature of the legal community that practices before it. The PTAB Bar Association is collaborative, congenial, inclusive, highly-professional, and community-centric.

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, copyright, and trade secret law, including counseling, prosecution, licensing, and litigation. Finnegan also represents clients on IP issues related to 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.