Finnegan Partner Erika Arner Appointed President-Elect of the Newly Launched PTAB Bar Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2016 

WASHINGTON, DC—On Friday, September 16, 2016, the newly formed Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Bar Association officially launched. Finnegan is pleased to announce that Erika H. Arner has been appointed President-Elect of the Association. The creation of the PTAB Bar Association has involved collegial collaboration among more than 45 law firms, including Finnegan, over the past several months. The Association’s mission is to promote the highest professional and ethical standards among lawyers and stakeholders who appear before the PTAB; to help establish best practices for the unique practice and skills required before the PTAB; and to foster communication among its various stakeholders.

It has been more than 30 years since a national bar association of this scope has been formed. The PTAB Bar Association will provide a forum for communications between the legal community and PTAB officials and its Administrative Patent Judges (APJs), particularly to share best practices and stay abreast of the rule making, procedure, and jurisprudence emanating from the PTAB.

"The PTAB is an integral part of our practice at Finnegan and we are honored to have been involved with creating such an important organization," said Finnegan managing partner Mark D. Sweet. "We are extremely proud of Erika’s accomplishments both before the PTAB and with the Association, and expect great things from her as President-Elect."

In addition to providing a forum for communications between the PTAB and practitioners, the Association also will coordinate many other important functions, such as PTAB-centric continuing legal education, networking opportunities for young lawyers and agents, career enhancement, and collaboration with other bar associations interested in PTAB practice.

The Inaugural Annual Conference of the PTAB Bar Association will take place March 1 & 2, 2017 in Washington, D.C. To become a member of the PTAB Bar Association, and for more details on its events and functions, please visit www.PTABBar.org.

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.