12 attorneys elevated to Finnegan partnership

Published January 8, 2025

WASHINGTON, DC — Finnegan is delighted to welcome 12 new attorneys to the partnership. Spanning varied practices, this year’s class deepens the bench of the firm’s diverse intellectual property capabilities. Their experience includes counseling and oppositions and appeals before the European Patent Office (EPO), filings before the newly established Unified Patent Court (UPC), patent and trade secret litigation in federal district courts and, before the US International Trade Commission (ITC), including biosimilar litigation arising under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA) and Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) litigation under Hatch-Waxman Act, as well as appeals before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; trial proceedings before the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), including inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR); trade secret misappropriation counseling; international IP portfolio management; IP and tech licensing; and patent drafting and prosecution.

Their technical expertise crosses multiple industries, including electrical and computer technology, telecommunications, chemicals, industrial manufacturing, medical devices, robotics, pharmaceuticals, biologics, and consumer products.

“The 12 remarkable attorneys joining our partnership reflect the broad spectrum of talent and dedication that defines our firm,” said Finnegan managing partner Erika Harmon Arner. “Their diverse backgrounds and exceptional abilities uphold the high standards and values we champion at Finnegan. We are confident these new partners will reinforce our leadership in the intellectual property field.”

New partners

Matthew C Berntsen (Boston) is an intellectual property litigator with extensive experience representing individuals and companies of all sizes, particularly in complex patent disputes. Berntsen has successfully litigated cases involving a wide range of subject matter, including computer- and Internet-based technologies; wireless and optical data transmission; light-emitting diodes (LEDs); semiconductor lithography; industrial automation; pharmaceuticals; and sporting equipment. He represents clients before federal district courts, the PTAB, and the ITC, as well as at the Federal Circuit. He maintains an active pro bono practice fighting for civil rights and disadvantaged individuals. Berntsen received a B.S. in computer science, cum laude with Honors, from Bucknell University (2005) and a J.D., cum laude, from Boston University School of Law (2010).

Alexander M Boyer (Reston) focuses on patent litigation, post-grant proceedings, and appeals to the Federal Circuit. He has successfully litigated cases across a broad range of technologies, including disputes involving medical devices, automotive technologies, acoustics, and computer-based technologies. Boyer is experienced in all stages of district court litigation, including successfully litigating cases from discovery through trial. Boyer has also represented petitioners and patent owners in dozens of post-grant proceedings before the PTAB. Committed to pro bono work, Boyer advocates for veterans in appeals to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University (2005), an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University (2009), and a J.D. from Temple University School of Law School (2016).

Drew D Christie (Washington, DC) focuses on complex patent disputes and strategic client counseling in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. His experience spans all phases of district court litigation, from pre-suit analysis through trial, as well as numerous successful IPR proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Christie also devotes significant time to pro bono, including criminal defense, landlord-tenant disputes, and asylum proceedings, earning him recognition on the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll for five consecutive years. He holds a B.S. in biology from the University of Connecticut (2011) and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University (2016).

Emily R Gabranski (Boston and Washington, DC) focuses her practice on complex patent and trade secret litigation, primarily in the biotechnology, biologics, and pharmaceutical fields. She has served as trial counsel in bench trials for Hatch-Waxman cases and jury trials in brand-on-brand litigation. Gabranski has significant experience in all phases of pre-litigation and litigation, as well as counseling and diligence matters, in a wide range of technologies including small molecule pharmaceuticals, therapeutic antibodies, inorganic chemistry, semiconductors, and gene therapies. As part of her pro bono practice, she has successfully represented clients in custody disputes, post-conviction relief under the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA), and asylum proceedings. Gabranski was named to the Best Lawyers One to Watch list in 2023 and 2024. Gabranski received a B.A. in neuroscience, with honors, from Bowdoin College (2009), and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University (2015).

Robert K High (Atlanta), a former law clerk at the Federal Circuit, focuses on patent litigation, post-grant proceedings, and appeals. High represents clients in intellectual property disputes involving mechanical, aerospace, medical device, electrical, and computer technologies. His experience includes proceedings involving image and video processing, telecommunications, data storage, drones, medical devices, construction equipment, and various other mechanical, electrical, and computer technologies. High has helped develop and execute litigation strategy at all stages of patent litigation, including taking and defending fact and expert depositions, drafting claim construction briefs and dispositive motions, arguing in district court, and taking trial testimony. High also litigates before the PTAB in IPRs and PGRs, appearing in more than forty post-grant proceedings. High has participated in several appeals to the Federal Circuit on decisions from the PTAB, with experience drafting briefs for both petitioners and respondents. Additionally, High represents disabled veterans in pro bono cases before the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. High received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Central Florida (2013), and a J.D., with high honors, from Emory University (2016).

Matthew J Hlinka (Washington, DC) focuses on patent and trade secret litigation, primarily in the areas of pharmaceuticals and chemical products. He has successfully represented several branded pharmaceutical companies in ANDA litigations arising under the Hatch-Waxman Act in US district courts, as well as in international arbitration proceedings, Section 337 proceedings before the ITC, and post-grant proceedings before the PTAB. Hlinka has also been recognized on the D.C. Bar’s Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll for his advocacy on behalf of disabled veterans appearing before the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Hlinka received a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Kentucky (2010), and a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Kentucky College of Law (2015).

Malcolm T Meeks (Washington, DC) has over 24 years of experience in all phases of patent law, including complex litigation, portfolio management, and licensing. Through living in Europe and serving as in-house patent counsel for German and French corporations, Meeks has exceptional insights into the international implications of intellectual property strategy as well as an understanding of IP’s impact on corporate risk planning, product development, and overall business strategy. He works with a wide range of technologies related to telecommunications, semiconductors, aerospace, cybersecurity, energy, consumer goods, and automotive. Meeks received a B.S. in electrical engineering from Clemson University (1995), a J.D. from Cornell Law School (1999), and an M.B.A. in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (2010).

Gracie K Mills (Washington, DC) is experienced in district court patent litigation, post-grant proceedings at the PTAB, and appeals at the Federal Circuit. She works with clients across electrical and electronic technologies and has significant experience working with semiconductors, consumer electronics, and telecommunications. Mills represents both petitioners and patent owners across post-grant proceedings. Having litigated numerous reviews from filing to resolution, she has experience developing validity strategies, crafting effective briefings, deposing expert witnesses, and participating in oral hearings, including as arguing counsel. Mills is also experienced in all stages of district court litigation, including identifying validity and infringement strategies, taking and defending depositions, drafting dispositive briefings, and developing claim construction positions. Several cases have involved co-pending district court litigation and post-grant proceedings, and Mills regularly aids clients in navigating the interplay between these forums. Mills has participated in several appeals to the Federal Circuit on decisions from both the PTAB and, as part of her pro bono practice, the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). Her pro bono practice involves representing veterans before the CAVC and individuals in civil suits before the District of Columbia Superior Court. Gracie received a B.S. in electrical engineering from Northwestern University (2009), and a J.D., magna cum laude, from Notre Dame Law School (2015).

Victoria A Randall, Ph.D. (London) is a chartered UK patent attorney, a European patent attorney, and a representative before the UPC. She has more than 15 years of experience with a focus on patent portfolio prosecution and EPO oppositions. With a background in biomedical sciences, she works with a diverse portfolio of clients, including global pharmaceuticals and startup biotechnology companies. She has acquired extensive experience in a broad range of life sciences subject matter. Her areas of interest include personal medicine, antibody technologies, antisense therapeutics, blood products, vaccines, gene manipulation, and stem cell culture methods. Randall received a BSc. in biomedical sciences, 1st Class Honours from the University of Sheffield (2004), a Ph.D. in genes and disease from University College London (2008), and a certificate in intellectual property law from Queen Mary University London (2011).

Jeanette M Roorda (Washington, DC) provides a wide range of counseling services to clients and her litigation practice focuses on complex patent and trade secret litigation related to the pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotechnology fields. Roorda has experience with patent portfolio analysis, client counseling, patent licensing, and appellate work, and she has represented pharmaceutical innovators in Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) and 505(b)(2) Application litigations arising under the Hatch-Waxman Act. She has also been listed on the D.C. Bar’s Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll for her pro bono work. Roorda received a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Florida (2002), and a J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law (2016).

Louis M Troilo (Washington, DC) focuses his practice on prosecution, portfolio management, diligence, licensing, and opinions. As a material scientist, Troilo’s technical experience encompasses diverse technologies across many industries including chemical, nanotechnology, oil and gas, textiles, and electronic vehicles. Troilo is a former US patent examiner and an active instructor for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In that capacity, Troilo presents courses to international patent practitioners in developing countries on Patent Drafting, Procurement, and Prosecution. Troilo represented pro bono a foster mother in a multi-party, contested adoption case in the D.C. Superior Court. He acted as lead counsel in a four-day trial, which involved termination of parental rights and the successful adoption of nine children. Troilo received a B.S. in material science and engineering from the Pennsylvania State University (1990); an M.S. in material science from Pennsylvania State University (1991), and a J.D. from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law (1998).

Yi Yu, Ph.D. (Reston) practices all aspects of patent law, including post-grant PTAB proceedings, patent litigation, patent prosecution, and patent portfolio development. Yu has significant experience in numerous aspects of litigation, including developing infringement and validity strategies, managing discovery, working with technical experts, preparing expert reports, and drafting motions and legal briefs. Her patent office practice includes representing clients in post-grant review proceedings before the PTAB, and drafting and prosecuting US and foreign patent applications. Yu has handled post-grant proceedings involving electrical and computer technologies and practiced all stages of cases before the PTAB including initial prior art searching and invalidity strategy and development, petition drafting, motion practice, depositions and discovery, and oral hearing. Yu’s diverse technological experience encompasses all aspects of electrical and computer technologies, including telecommunications, computer networks, image and video processing, medical devices, unmanned aerial systems, software, and business methods. Yu has substantial experience in Standard Essential Patent (SEP) related cases, including cases involving 4G and 5G technologies. Yu received a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Texas A&M University (2006), and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center, cum laude (2016).