IAM Recognizes Six Finnegan Partners in its 2026 Global Leaders Guide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2025

WASHINGTON, DC— Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) released its 2026 Global Leaders Guide, an annual publication that highlights the world’s top private practice experts in patent law, recognizing six Finnegan partners. Inclusion in the IAM Global Leaders Guide is reserved for the most accomplished professionals in the patent field. Candidates must first earn a Gold Tier ranking in the IAM Patent 1000, the publication’s comprehensive annual survey of top patent professionals and firms worldwide. From this elite group, IAM conducts a rigorous selection process to identify individuals who exemplify exceptional technical expertise, strategic insight, and innovative thinking, along with a proven commitment to delivering outstanding value to clients and their organizations.

Finnegan is proud to announce the following partners as 2026 IAM Global Leaders:

Erika Harmon Arner, chair of Finnegan and former managing partner, is a leading authority on patent law and post-grant proceedings, with extensive experience representing clients before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Federal Circuit. She is widely recognized for her strategic counsel in complex intellectual property matters, particularly in high-stakes litigation and appeals. Erika’s work spans diverse technologies, and she is known for her ability to craft innovative IP strategies that align with business objectives.

Virginia L. Carron, a partner in Finnegan’s Atlanta office, focuses on patent and trademark litigation and counseling for clients across diverse industries, including chemicals, consumer products, and food and beverage. She has first-chair experience in U.S. district court trials, International Trade Commission (ITC) investigations, and Federal Circuit appeals, and advises Fortune 500 companies on IP licensing and transactional matters. Virginia is also recognized as one of WIPR’s Top 100 Most Influential Women in IP. She is noted for her leadership in trademark enforcement and anti-counterfeiting litigation.

J. Michael Jakes concentrates on patent litigation and appellate advocacy, serving as lead counsel in federal courts, ITC proceedings, and arbitration panels. He has argued more than 50 appeals before the Federal Circuit and coauthored a leading treatise on its practice. Mike’s work spans technologies such as software, semiconductors, and medical devices. A former clerk to Judge Giles S. Rich, he is recognized nationally as a top patent litigator, with accolades from Best Lawyers and Managing IP for his strategic insight and litigation success.

Mark D. Sweet advises clients on patent portfolio management, due diligence, and post-grant proceedings, including inter partes and post-grant reviews. His technical expertise covers pharmaceuticals, chemicals, polymers, and renewable energy technologies. A former USPTO examiner, Mark is known for guiding global patent strategies and managing complex portfolios for leading manufacturers and clean energy companies. He praised for his strategic planning and responsiveness in high-stakes IP matters.

Ningling Wang, managing partner of Finnegan’s Shanghai office, brings over two decades of experience in patent prosecution, litigation, licensing, and portfolio management. She advises multinational and Chinese companies on IP enforcement strategies in both the U.S. and China, including ITC and district court cases. Ningling is a frequent speaker and educator on U.S. IP law and has been named a top IP strategist in the IAM Strategy 300 for her experience in maximizing IP value.

Naoki Yoshida, managing partner of Finnegan’s Tokyo office, handles complex IP matters including litigation, licensing, and global portfolio management. Fluent in Japanese and experienced in cross-border negotiations, Naoki counsels clients on U.S. and Japanese IP issues and has participated in proceedings before Japanese courts related to U.S. patent disputes. He is widely recognized as a top IP strategist, with honors from Legal 500 Asia Pacific and Benchmark Litigation for his leadership in patent transactions and litigation.

Recognition by IAM as a Global Leader reflects each of their abilities to combine technical expertise with legal acumen to help clients protect and maximize the value of their innovations in today’s competitive global marketplace. Learn more information about IAM’s Global Leaders Guide and its methodology here.

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. We are located in Atlanta, Boston, London, Munich, Palo Alto, Reston, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo and Washington, DC. From high-stakes litigation to cutting-edge patent strategy and innovative brand management, we deliver unmatched depth, agility, and results. If it is IP, it is 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.