The National Law Journal Names Finnegan the Top Intellectual Property Law Department in DC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 24, 2013

Contact:    Barbara C. McCurdy, 202.408.4047

                    Managing Partner

The National Law Journal Names Finnegan the Top Intellectual Property Law Department in DC

WASHINGTON, DC - In a special report, The National Law Journal (NLJ) selected Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP as Washington, DC’s Legal Department of the Year for intellectual property. Editors at NLJ reviewed data on headcounts, revenues, wins and losses to evaluate and rate the top law firm litigation practices.

NLJ singled out Finnegan’s technical depth, noting its IP lawyers “know just how even the smallest detail—one atom on a chemical compound, for instance—can make or break a case worth billions of dollars to a client.” 200 attorneys in the DC office have scientific degrees, including more than 40 with doctorates and 50 with Master’s degrees. NLJ reported that “Finnegan has used its litigators’ technical expertise to build the infrastructure that’s made it a powerhouse in IP litigation, and the firm is prepared for any future developments in the law.”

NLJ recognized Finnegan litigation wins in a variety of venues. In May 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a pharmaceutical patent for Finnegan client Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., and in August 2012, the Federal Circuit reversed its existing rules on induced infringement in favor of Finnegan client Akamai Technologies, Inc. At the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Finnegan has been at the front lines before the new Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Earlier this month, the board ruled in favor of Finnegan client SAP in the first decision in a post-grant review proceeding. Finnegan also represented BlackBerry before the U.S. International Trade Commission, “secur[ing] a complete victory” that invalidated rival Kodak’s patent for electronic cameras.  

Finnegan partner J. Michael Jakes pointed to Finnegan’s IP focus as a key to the firm’s achievement: “Finnegan has been successful by focusing on what it does well—intellectual property law—and remaining committed to all aspects of that practice, from the Patent Office to the courts and the ITC. With so many attorneys all focused on IP law, there is always someone at the firm who has faced the same or a similar issue.”

About Finnegan

With more than 375 intellectual property lawyers, Finnegan is one of the largest IP law firms in the world. From offices in Washington, DC; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston, Massachusetts; Palo Alto, California; Reston, Virginia; Brussels, Belgium; Shanghai, China; Taipei, Taiwan; and Tokyo, Japan, 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 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.

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