Finnegan announces six new partners to strengthen global IP leadership

WASHINGTON, DC, January 5, 2026 — Finnegan celebrates the elevation of six attorneys to the partnership. These additions reflect the firm’s sophisticated global practice capabilities and commitment to exceptional client service. The new class brings an added depth of experience, including comprehensive litigation strategies both in the United States and Europe, including at the Unified Patent Court (UPC); pre-litigation due diligence and proceedings before federal district courts and the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); trial proceedings involving Section 337 cases at the US International Trade Commission (ITC); trial proceedings before the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), including inter partes reviews (IPR) and reexaminations; design rights; patent drafting and prosecution; and strategic IP portfolio management.

Their technical expertise crosses multiple industries, including artificial intelligence, biologics, chemicals, consumer products, cybersecurity, electrical and computer technology, industrial manufacturing, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, robotics, telecommunications, wearables, and virtual and augmented reality (AR/VR).

“We are pleased to welcome these six outstanding attorneys to the partnership,” said Finnegan’s managing partner, James Barney. “This achievement reflects not only their hard work and commitment, but also our shared vision for continued growth and excellence in serving clients and spurring innovation globally.”   

New partners in alphabetical order: 

James G. Bell is both a European and US patent attorney. He focuses on patent prosecution, portfolio development and management, application drafting, client counseling, and oppositions and appeals before the European Patent Office (EPO). Bell predominantly handles subject matter in the fields of electronics and mechanical engineering and has extensive experience in dealing with the nuances of prosecuting computer-implemented inventions in both Europe and the United States. With more than 18 years of intellectual property experience, Bell has a wide spectrum of technical expertise, particularly in the fields of telecommunications, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cryptography, cybersecurity, automotive, medical devices, and renewable energy. His experience extends to advising and managing worldwide filing programs for a range of entities, from large international corporations to small family-owned businesses. Bell received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University and a J.D., with honors, from George Washington University Law School.

Ben A. Ingel has a broad patent practice, with a focus on strategically developing intellectual property protection for companies and managing patent portfolios across diverse industries. He concentrates on cutting-edge technologies, such as AI, AR/VR, cybersecurity, wearables, image processing systems, medical devices, software, and more. With more than a decade of experience in patent law, Ingel demonstrates a keen understanding of the intricacies of patent protection. His practice extends beyond mere prosecution of utility and design patents and encompasses the strategic development of patent portfolios tailored to meet the evolving needs of dynamic industries. Ingel provides comprehensive legal support, offering valuable insights into infringement and invalidity analysis. His multifaceted skill set positions him as a valuable resource for companies navigating complex IP challenges. Ingel received a B.A. in physics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an M.A. in law from the University of Haifa.

Yoonjin Lee, Ph.D., focuses on pre-litigation due diligence and contentious proceedings before federal district courts and the PTAB in the biotechnology, biologics, and pharmaceutical fields. She is involved in all phases of litigation, including claim construction, fact discovery, expert discovery, pre-trial, trial, and post-trial briefing. Lee has a wide range of technical experience, including the areas of inorganic chemistry, chemical biology, drug discovery, molecular and cellular biology, gene therapy, antibody development and therapies, diagnostic markers, and therapies for metabolic diseases. She holds a B.S., summa cum laude in chemistry from Ewha Womans University, a Ph.D. in chemistry and chemical biology from Harvard University, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

Daniel F. Seitz is admitted as an attorney at law in Germany and advises clients in patent litigation before national German courts and the Unified Patent Court (UPC). His work focuses on mechanics and electronics with vast experience related to semiconductors, computers, and communication technology. Seitz represents clients in all patent-related disputes, including preliminary injunction proceedings and patent infringement proceedings before German civil courts, nullity proceedings before the German Federal Patent Court and the German Federal Court of Justice, as well as patent litigation before the UPC. He has experience in a wide range of technologies such as consumer electronics, semiconductors, communication technology, computers, software, automotive, mechanical, consumer goods, and sport goods, and has defended clients in patent litigation proceedings involving SEPs in the field of 3G and 4G technology and video compression. Seitz also advises clients on licensing and transfer of intellectual property rights as well as agreements regarding research and development. He holds the first state bar exam (Erstes Staatsexamen Rechtswissenschaften) from Universität Regensburg and the second state bar exam (Zweites Staatsexamen Rechtswissenschaften) from Oberlandesgericht Nürnberg.

Christina Ji-Hye Yang is a patent litigator who advises clients across a wide range of technologies, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, semiconductors, mobile devices, software, gaming technologies, and oil and gas. She has significant experience representing clients in high-stakes matters before the US International Trade Commission in Section 337 investigations, in federal district courts—including the Eastern District of Texas—and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Ji-Hye Yang counsels clients at every stage of a dispute, from pre-litigation diligence and strategy through trial and appeal. She earned her B.S. in Genes, Genetics, and Biotechnology, with high distinction, from the University of Toronto, and her J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.

Chen Zang, Ph.D., maintains a comprehensive patent practice, advising clients on all aspects of patent law. He frequently litigates before US district courts and the International Trade Commission (ITC). In addition, Chen has an active practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), encompassing patent drafting, prosecution, and post-grant proceedings. He also provides strategic counseling on a broad range of IP matters, including patent portfolio development and management, due diligence investigations, and opinion work. Drawing on his academic training in physics, Zang is well-versed in technologies across the electrical and mechanical arts. He received a B.S. in physics from the University of Science and Technology of China, a Ph.D. in physics from The Ohio State University, and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.

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