WASHINGTON, DC—Finnegan is pleased to announce the elevation of six new partners and welcomes two partners to the newly opened Munich office. Their practices cover the intellectual property law spectrum, worldwide. This includes patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret litigation before U.S. federal district courts; investigations at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC); appellate litigation before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; proceedings before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); German patent litigation including both infringement and invalidation matters and appeals; proceedings before the European Patent Office (EPO); global strategic counseling; patent prosecution; patent portfolio management; trademark prosecution; copyright; and false advertising. Their technical expertise spans multiple industries, including electrical and computer technology, telecommunications, automotive and industrial manufacturing, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, sports and fitness, consumer products, and video gaming technologies.
“We are extremely proud to welcome our colleagues into the partnership. We look forward to continuing to support these future leaders of the firm,” said Anand Sharma, Finnegan’s managing partner.
New Partners in Alphabetical Order:
Dr. Dr. Jochen Herr, LL.M. (Munich, Germany) is one of the few attorneys in Germany with a triple qualification as a European patent attorney, German patent attorney, and attorney at law. With more than 15 years of patent litigation experience, Jochen has represented clients in all major technical fields, including mechanics, electronics, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, chemistry, and biotechnology. Named as an “IP Star in Germany” by Managing Intellectual Property for intellectual property law, he is admitted to practice before all German courts, the Federal Patent Court, and the German and European Patent Office. Jochen received his LL.M. from the University of California School of Law, Davis (2006); Dr. jur. from Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität (2005); Zweites Staatsexamen from Oberlandesgericht Frankfurt am Main (2005); Dr. Humanbiologie from Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (2002); Erstes Staatsexamen from Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität (2001); and Diploma Maschinenbau from Technische Universität Darmstadt (1996).
Forrest A. Jones (Washington, DC) focuses on patent litigation, including in district courts, at the ITC, in inter partes review (IPR) proceedings before the PTAB, and appeals before the Federal Circuit. He has technical and legal experience in various areas of electrical and computer engineering, including video games, computer software, signal processing, wireless networking, power electronics, power generation, gambling technologies, and consumer electronics. His litigation experience encompasses the full litigation lifecycle, and he has experience representing clients in international arbitration. In addition to his litigation practice, Forrest has experience with advising clients in other patent matters, including prosecuting new patents and analyzing IP impacts of company acquisitions. Forrest co-leads the Finnegan gaming working group and devotes time to pro bono, representing clients in several civil matters. Forrest received a B.S. in electrical engineering (2009), magna cum laude, from Texas Tech University and a J.D. (2012) from Duke University School of Law.
Dr. Moritz Meckel (Munich, Germany) focuses on patent litigation and appeals with the German courts, as well as the German and the European Patent Office. He holds a Ph.D. in physics and is one of purportedly only 14 attorneys in Germany admitted both as attorney-at-law and patent attorney. Moritz is experienced in handling all stages of patent infringement and patent nullity actions as well as oppositions, from pre-suit analyses to the enforcement of final rulings. His technical expertise covers a wide range of technologies such as optics, materials science, electronics, medical devices, automotive and mechanics. Moritz received his Zweites Staatsexamen from Oberlandesgericht Frankfurt am Main (2015); Erstes Staatsexamen from Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität (2012); Ph.D. in Physics from Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität (2011), summa cum laude; and Diplom (M.Sc.) in Physics with highest distinction from Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität (2006).
Yelena Morozova (London, United Kingdom) is an experienced patent attorney with technical expertise across different fields of engineering, most particularly in information technology and software, telecommunications. wireless networking, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Being qualified as a patent attorney in the United States and in Europe, Yelena practices in both jurisdictions, focusing on patent procurement and portfolio development for a diverse range of global clients. Using her knowledges of the legal approaches employed on both sides of the Atlantic, Yelena provides pragmatic advice and develops creative solutions enabling businesses to meet their commercial objectives. Yelena is a fellow of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) and an immediate past co-chair the AIPLA IP Practice in Europe Committee. She also acts as a European liaison for the annual AIPLA Women in IP Global Networking Event and is an active member of the Women in IP Group of the IP Inclusive Task Force. Yelena received an M.S. in applied mathematics (computer science) (1996) from Moscow State University; a J.D./LL.M. (2007), magna cum laude, from Franklin Pierce Law Center; and an LL.M. (2013), Law, distinction, from University College London.
Daniel F. Roland (Washington, DC) focuses on litigation before the district courts, representing clients in both patent and trade secrets cases. His experience covers all aspects of litigation, including conducting pre-suit investigations; developing case strategies; managing discovery; taking and defending depositions; presenting oral arguments; and drafting pleadings, motions, and pre- and post-trial briefing. Although Dan concentrates his practice on litigation, he also has extensive experience before the USPTO prosecuting patent applications and participating in post-grant proceedings. With an emphasis on mechanical and electro-mechanical technologies, Dan’s technical background spans a wide array of subjects. He has represented clients in several technical areas, including pharmaceutical, vehicular, industrial manufacturing, consumer goods, electronics, computer software, and sports and fitness. Dan received a B.S. in mechanical engineering (2005) from the University of Maryland and a J.D. (2013), with high honors, from the George Washington University Law School.
Benjamin A. Saidman (Atlanta, GA) works with clients innovating in areas involving mechanical, electrical, computer, and medical device technologies. A former Federal Circuit law clerk, Ben focuses on PTAB post-grant proceedings, district court patent litigation, and Federal Circuit appeals. He has been involved with more than 50 PTAB proceedings, serving as backup counsel in over 40 cases. At the trial level, his experience includes pre-suit investigation, complex fact and expert discovery, claim construction, motions practice, and trial preparation. At the appellate level, Ben has experience arguing before the Federal Circuit, preparing appeal briefs, and providing strategic advice regarding appeals. Ben received a B.S. in mechanical engineering (2008) from Rice University and a J.D. (2012), with honors, from Emory University School of Law.
Morgan E. Smith (Palo Alto, CA) focuses on trademark, copyright, and false advertising litigation. She litigates cases and manages enforcement efforts for some of the world’s most renowned brands, representing clients in a diverse range of industries, including sports equipment, apparel, food and beverage, travel, consumer electronics, personal healthcare, video games, pet products and services, automotive, and telecommunications. Morgan’s comprehensive practice includes handling federal district court cases and cancellation and opposition proceedings before the TTAB. Morgan has worked on winning requests for injunctive relief, requests for seizures of counterfeit goods and related assets, class certification briefs, and summary judgment briefs. Morgan counsels clients with large international portfolios on enforcement of trademark rights in the United States and abroad. Additionally, Morgan maintains an active pro bono practice, which includes representing clients in Silicon Valley in landlord/tenant disputes. She was named a Rising Star by Managing Intellectual Property and was recognized as a “Working Mother of the Year” by Seramount (formerly Working Mother). Morgan received a B.A. in political science (2010), magna cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a J.D. (2013) from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.
Kara A. Specht (Atlanta, GA) focuses on patent litigation before district courts and before the ITC. Her practice covers a wide range of electronic and electrical technology areas related to computers, consumer electronics, and computer-implemented business methods. Kara has experience from both plaintiff and defendant perspectives, ranging from pre-filing planning and strategy, discovery management, motion practice, offensive and defensive depositions, claim construction, and summary judgment. She also has experience before the PTAB in IPR proceedings. She has first-hand insight into corporate litigation procedures, having seconded at a leading multi-national technology company. Beyond trial level litigations, Kara also has experience before the Federal Circuit, preparing appeal briefs and amicus briefs. She also practices patent prosecution before the USPTO as well as several international patent offices. Her experience includes general prosecution as well as appeals to the PTAB. World Intellectual Property Review recognized Kara as a Trailblazer. Kara received a B.S. in electrical engineering (2010) from Georgia Institute of Technology and a J.D. (2013), summa cum laude, from Michigan State University College of Law.
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, Munich, Palo Alto, Reston, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo, and Washington, DC, the firm practices all aspects of patent, trademark, and copyright law, including counseling, prosecution, licensing, and litigation. Finnegan also represents clients on IP issues related to advertising, trade secret law, 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.
