Managing Partner, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP
Erika Arner joined Finnegan in 1999 as a summer associate and spent her entire career with the firm before being named Managing Partner in 2022. She previously led the firm’s largest practice group—electrical and computer technology—and has been lead counsel in over 200 Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) proceedings.
Erika is a longstanding champion for women in IP. She was a co-founder of the PTAB Bar Association and served as the organization’s first female president. Erika helped co-found, with others, Finnegan’s women’s business initiative, Finnegan FORWARD, to create and support initiatives to address issues impacting women attorneys in intellectual property. She also co-founded the Washington, DC chapter of The Women in IP Network (WIN) and serves in leadership roles on the women’s committees of the Intellectual Property Owner’s Association (IPO) and the PTAB Bar Association. Read more about Finnegan's diversity efforts here.
Joined LCLD 2014
Highlights of LCLD Participation
Fellows Program
Fellows nominated:
2022: Karthik Kumar; 2021: Aaron Clay, 2020: Danielle Duszczyszyn; 2019: Clara Jimenez; 2018: Aliza G. Carrano; 2017: Cecilia Sanabria; 2016: Naresh Kilaru; 2015: Li Feng; 2014: Mareesa A. Frederick
Pathfinder Program
Pathfinders selected:
2022: Christina Ji-Hye Yang, Carlos Duarte-Guevara; 2021: Connie Lee, Sydney English; 2020: Kara Specht; 2019: Aaron Clay, Shawn Chang; 2018: Mindy Ehrenfried, Samhitha Medatia; 2017: Clara Jimenez, Yanbin Xu
1L LCLD Scholars Program
Scholars hosted: Dara Emami
Success in Law School Mentoring Program
Mentors provided: 2021, 2020, 2018, 2016
Attendance
Annual Meeting (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2016, 2014)
Members: Erika Arner, Anand Sharma
Diversity Professional: Adrienne Hamilton
