Six Finnegan Partners Named to IAM 2027 Global Leaders Guide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2026

WASHINGTON, DC—Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) has named six Finnegan partners to its 2027 Global Leaders Guide, an annual publication recognizing leading private-practice patent professionals worldwide. Selection is reserved for highly accomplished practitioners who have first earned a Gold Tier ranking in the IAM Patent 1000, the publication’s annual guide to leading patent professionals and firms. From this distinguished group, IAM identifies individuals who demonstrate exceptional technical knowledge, strategic insight, innovative thinking, and a strong commitment to delivering value to clients and their organizations.

Erika Harmon Arner is a leading authority on patent law and post-grant proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, representing some of the largest technology companies in the world. She represents clients before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Federal Circuit and provides strategic counsel in complex, high-stakes intellectual property litigation and appeals. Working across a range of technologies, Erika develops innovative IP strategies aligned with clients’ business objectives. She has been named by Managing IP as one of the “Top 250 Women in IP.”

Virginia L. Carron focuses on patent and trademark litigation and counseling across industries including chemicals, consumer products, and food and beverage. She has first-chair experience in U.S. district court trials, International Trade Commission investigations, and Federal Circuit appeals, and she advises Fortune 500 companies on IP licensing and transactions. Recognized among WIPR’s Top 100 Most Influential Women in IP, Virginia is also 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, International Trade Commission proceedings, and arbitrations. He has argued more than 50 appeals before the Federal Circuit and coauthored a leading treatise on Federal Circuit practice. His work spans technologies including software, semiconductors, and medical devices. A former clerk to Judge Giles S. Rich, Mike is nationally recognized for his strategic insight and litigation success, with honors from Best Lawyers and Managing IP.

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

Ningling Wang, managing partner of Finnegan’s Shanghai office, brings more than two decades of experience in patent prosecution, litigation, licensing, and portfolio management. She advises multinational and Chinese companies on IP enforcement strategies in the United States and China, including International Trade Commission and district court matters. A frequent speaker and educator on U.S. IP law, Ningling has also been recognized in the IAM Strategy 300 for her skill in maximizing IP value.

Naoki Yoshida handles complex IP matters involving 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 Japanese court proceedings related to U.S. patent disputes. He is widely recognized as a leading IP strategist, with honors from Legal 500 Asia Pacific and Benchmark Litigation for his work in patent transactions and litigation.

Learn more about the IAM 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 legal team to protect them. Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, a premier intellectual property law firm, is trusted by global leaders to protect and advance what sets them apart. With 13 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 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.