How I Made It: 'Stay Engaged in Projects That Are Personally Meaningful to You,' Says Patrick Coyne of Finnegan
March 21, 2022
Law.com
Law.com interviewed Finnegan partner Patrick Coyne to discuss his career as an intellectual property (IP) law attorney and the steps that led him to serve in multiple leadership positions.
Patrick discussed some of the surprises he faced once he assumed leadership positions in professional organizations:
“[There were] challenges in maintaining continuity of policy between successive “administrations” in volunteer bar associations; picking up and managing orphaned, yet, important projects; and maintaining engagement and interest in certain projects undertaken by all three organizations.”
He also discussed his greatest influences in propelling him to assume his leadership roles:
“Howard Markey, chief judge, Federal Circuit, encouraged me to be involved in bar associations at the beginning of my career; Edward S. Smith, circuit judge, Federal Circuit, for whom I clerked and who encouraged me to be involved in bar associations at the beginning of my career; Bill Scott, managing partner at Collier, Shannon, Rill & Scott, where I worked for 19 years, who supported my involvement in bar association activities; Don Dunner, who supported and encouraged my involvement in bar association activities after I rejoined Finnegan in 2003; and George Hutchinson, former Federal Circuit clerk of court, former executive director of both the Federal Circuit Bar Association and Federal Circuit Historical Society, who steadfastly supported both organizations and encouraged my deeper involvement in each.”
Patrick also provided tips for fellow leaders to motivate their teams during unprecedented times. He stated that leaders should “keep communication open and be consistent and coherent with humility and transparency. [Also] discuss the challenges and risks we are all facing and how we can work together to meet them.”