Patrick J. Finnan

Patrick Finnan is a founding Member of Edell, Shapiro & Finnan and has been involved in the intellectual property field for over 18 years.  With an advanced degree in Electrical Engineering and related practical work experience, Patrick brings a wealth of experience in patent counseling, procurement, prosecution, and licensing in a wide range of electrical and communication technologies, including semiconductor technologies, electronic circuitry, wireless and network communications, optical networks and devices, navigation systems, optical and laser devices, imaging and display technologies, power filtration and management, computer hardware and software, hazardous substance detection, as well as e-commerce and financial services and mechanical systems and devices.  Patrick currently manages a team of attorneys in connection with patent prosecution and related services for several large domestic and foreign corporations as well as smaller emerging technology companies.  

Patrick's practice encompasses counseling in all aspects of patent and trademark legal matters including developing and implementing domestic and foreign patent application prosecution strategies and portfolio management; preparing patent clearance, patentability, invalidity and non-infringement opinions; managing patent prosecution, post-issuance procedures (e.g., reissue and reexamination), and licensing and enforcement matters.  Patrick specializes in handling complex inter partes reexamination matters and has extensive experience in providing patent-related due diligence services in connection with licensing, mergers, and acquisitions.  

Patrick began his career in intellectual property at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office working as a Patent Examiner and Classifier in the arts of encryption, spread-spectrum communications, radar, and display technologies.  After leaving the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Patrick joined the Sughrue Mion law firm, where he was involved in a wide range of patent matters including patent prosecution and litigation, invalidity and non-infringement opinion writing, licensing, and reissue, reexamination, and interference proceedings.  

Before embarking on a career in intellectual property, Patrick gained several years of practical engineering experience as a radar systems engineer for Westinghouse Electric Corporation.  While employed at Westinghouse, he was responsible for the design, simulation, and implementation of airborne radar tracking systems for the F-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter and the Longbow Hellfire missile seeker for the Apache helicopter.   

Patrick Finnan received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Notre Dame, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering, High Honors, from the Johns Hopkins University, and a J.D., Magna Cum Laude, from the Georgetown University Law Center.