Fourteen Finnegan Attorneys Named to the 2026 IAM Strategy 300 List

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 13, 2026

WASHINGTON, DC—Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) has released the 2026 edition of its annual guide, IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists, recognizing 14 Finnegan attorneys among the world’s leading IP strategists. The IAM Strategy 300 highlights top practitioners who are advancing IP portfolio management and developing strategies that maximize the value of intellectual property assets.

Selection for the IAM Strategy 300 is based on nominations from at least three individuals outside a candidate’s organization, along with extensive independent research, including interviews and consultations with senior members of the global IP community.

Finnegan is proud to celebrate the 14 attorneys recognized in the 2026 IAM Strategy 300. Learn more about their accomplishments below:

Dr. Antje Brambrink is qualified and admitted as a German attorney at law and as a representative before the Unified Patent Court (UPC). She advises clients in complex cross-border patent disputes throughout Europe. With extensive experience in infringement, nullity, preliminary injunction, and compulsory license proceedings, she is particularly recognized for her work at the intersection of patent, antitrust, and regulatory law. Her dual qualification as a dentist gives her unique insight into life sciences technologies, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, chemicals, and medical devices.

Elliot C. Cook maintains a diverse intellectual property practice focused on patent litigation, post-grant proceedings, strategic patent prosecution, portfolio development, and patent monetization. With experience in more than 50 patent litigations and over 40 inter partes review proceedings, Elliot helps clients develop, protect, and maximize the value of their intellectual property portfolios. He also serves on the faculty of the University of Virginia School of Law Trial Advocacy Institute. Elliot played a key role in defending Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, and Lamborghini in patent infringement matters involving power electronics and semiconductor technologies before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), district courts, and the PTAB, including obtaining institution of multiple inter partes reviews.

Luigi Distefano’s practice focuses on patent prosecution, portfolio development and management, drafting, client counseling, and oppositions and appeals before the European Patent Office (EPO). With more than a decade of IP experience, Luigi advises clients across a range of technologies, including artificial intelligence, telecommunications, cybersecurity, quantum computing, computer software, and electronics. He has extensive experience managing global patent portfolios for multinational companies, startups, and university spinouts, and is particularly recognized for his work on computer-implemented inventions in Europe

Justin J. Hasford focuses on pharmaceutical patent litigation, Hatch-Waxman disputes, and Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) proceedings. He counsels innovative life sciences companies on complex patent and regulatory issues, including Orange Book strategy, licensing, and portfolio management. Recognized by IAM Strategy 300 as a Global Leader and by The Legal 500 U.S. as a Next Generation Lawyer, Justin is known for his success in high-stakes pharmaceutical patent litigation and post-grant proceedings.

Christopher C. Johns is a recognized leader in patent strategy, prosecution, and post-grant proceedings. With more than 15 years of experience, he advises clients on all aspects of intellectual property, including international patent prosecution, portfolio development, PTAB trials, ITC investigations, district court litigation, and Federal Circuit appeals. Chris is particularly known for his work on patent eligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101 and has co-authored a leading international treatise on the subject. Chris advises clients worldwide on complex intellectual property matters involving software, telecommunications, electronics, and other advanced technologies. A former USPTO patent examiner, he is widely regarded for his thought leadership on patent eligibility and strategic IP portfolio development.

Karthik Kumar, Ph.D. is a nationally recognized intellectual property strategist whose practice spans high-stakes patent litigation, global portfolio management, and emerging technology counseling. He advises leading technology companies on protecting and enforcing innovations in artificial intelligence, machine learning, AR/VR, telecommunications, semiconductors, and other cutting-edge fields. Karthik serves as co-chair of Finnegan’s AI practice and is widely recognized for his thought leadership at the intersection of AI and intellectual property. Karthik combines deep technical expertise with legal acumen. Before entering private practice, he conducted research in plasma physics, quantum electronics, and optics, developed technology later licensed to a startup acquired for $25 million, and became a co-inventor on multiple U.S. patents. He also serves as a voting member of the Intellectual Property Owners Association’s Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies Committee, helping shape the future of AI and IP law.

Gary C. Ma focuses on patent and trade secret litigation, ITC investigations, PTAB proceedings, patent licensing, and strategic portfolio development. Recognized by IAM as a leading practitioner in litigation, transactions, and IP strategy, Gary advises multinational corporations and emerging companies across a broad range of technologies. Recent achievements include securing favorable settlements for MediaTek and TSMC in high-stakes semiconductor and telecommunications disputes, obtaining institution of key inter partes review proceedings, and achieving successful resolutions in ITC and district court litigation.

Maeve O’Flynn is a distinguished European and UK patent attorney recognized for her strategic counsel to innovative companies across the chemical, pharmaceutical, and life sciences sectors. With more than a decade of in-house intellectual property experience at major multinational corporations, she brings a unique blend of commercial insight and technical expertise to global patent portfolio management, patent transactions, oppositions, and IP strategy. Maeve is highly regarded for helping clients develop commercially focused intellectual property strategies that drive business value. Her practice encompasses global patent portfolio development, trade secret counseling, freedom-to-operate analyses, licensing and collaboration agreements, due diligence, and European Patent Office (EPO) opposition and appeal proceedings. She regularly advises clients ranging from startups to multinational companies in technologies including pharmaceuticals, sustainable chemistry, catalysis, cosmetics, and emerging technologies.

Jason L. Romrell is a recognized leader in patent litigation, appeals, and IP strategy. He represents clients before federal district courts, the PTAB, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, handling complex disputes across a wide range of technologies. Drawing on his experience as a former Federal Circuit law clerk and district court law clerk, Jason helps clients develop effective litigation and appellate strategies in high-stakes matters. Recent highlights include helping secure a $240 million jury verdict for Promptu in a patent infringement case against Comcast involving voice-recognition technology, as well as leading significant Federal Circuit appeals and PTAB proceedings for innovative companies.

Anand K. Sharma is Finnegan’s former chair and managing partner. A first-chair trial lawyer and former NASA software engineer, Anand represents clients in patent litigation, ITC investigations, PTAB proceedings, and strategic patent portfolio management across a broad range of technologies, including software, telecommunications, medical devices, automotive systems, and consumer electronics. He is widely recognized for combining technical depth with practical business judgment to help clients navigate complex intellectual property challenges. Anand has been recognized by Lawdragon 500 as a Leading Litigator and Leading Global IP Lawyer, praise from IAM as an “accomplished trial lawyer,” and honors from India Business Law Journal and Legal Era for his contributions to the global IP profession. 

Charles H. Suh is the managing partner of Finnegan’s Seoul office and a recognized leader in cross-border patent litigation and IP strategy. With more than two decades of experience handling contentious and non-contentious patent matters, he has built a distinguished reputation representing global technology companies in high-stakes patent disputes, portfolio management, and cross-border intellectual property strategy. Charles is widely recognized for guiding Korean companies through complex U.S. intellectual property matters. His practice spans patent litigation before U.S. district courts and the ITC, as well as PTAB proceedings, including inter partes reviews and reexaminations. He regularly serves as lead counsel on strategically significant matters involving semiconductors, electronics, software, communications technologies, and design patents, providing clients with seamless coordination across jurisdictions and legal forums.

Anthony C. Tridico, Ph.D., former managing partner of Finnegan’s London office, is a distinguished intellectual property strategist and trial practitioner whose practice spans high-stakes patent proceedings, global portfolio management, and cross-border life sciences counseling. A former managing partner of Finnegan’s London office and former member of the firm’s management committee, he has spent much of his career working across the United States and Europe, developing deep knowledge of the European Patent Convention and international patent systems. With more than 20 years of experience, Anthony is widely recognized for his work in patent office trials and appeals before both the U.S. PTAB and the European Patent Office (EPO). He has successfully represented patent owners and challengers in inter partes reviews, appeals, oppositions, and reexaminations, helping clients protect critical innovations and clear the path to freedom to operate. His practice also includes international patent prosecution, due diligence, freedom-to-operate analyses, patent term extensions, Orange Book matters, and strategic counseling for global life sciences companies.

Christina Ji-Hye Yang’s practice focuses on patent litigation for clients in the semiconductor, software, and pharmaceutical industries. She represents clients in U.S. district courts, ITC Section 337 investigations, and PTAB proceedings, with experience spanning all phases of patent disputes, from pre-litigation strategy through trial. Drawing on her background as a patent translator and her extensive litigation experience, Christina is known for managing complex discovery, claim construction, witness examinations, and high-stakes patent matters. She is recognized for her leadership within the intellectual property community, serving in leadership roles with the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) and Finnegan’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Affinity Group.

Naoki Yoshida is a recognized leader in international IP strategy, patent licensing, and cross-border litigation. He advises multinational corporations on complex patent disputes, portfolio management, and licensing matters, particularly those involving Japanese companies. His notable representations include successful licensing negotiations for a major Japanese semiconductor company, favorable summary judgment for a major Japanese automotive company in U.S. patent litigation, and a favorable trial judgment for a Fortune 500 company in a patent infringement dispute involving HVAC technology. Recognized by IAM as a Global Leader and Top IP Strategist and by Managing Intellectual Property as an IP Star, Naoki is known for helping clients achieve successful outcomes in high-stakes patent litigation and technology licensing matters worldwide. 

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.