Erika Harmon Arner is the chair of Finnegan and a nationally recognized authority in patent litigation, particularly before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. A former managing partner, Erika has led over 200 PTAB trials—most as lead counsel—and consistently ranks among the top female attorneys in this field. She was named PTAB Litigator of the Year by Managing Intellectual Property and has argued and won numerous landmark cases for both patent challengers and owners.
Her practice centers on patent office trials, litigation, and client counseling, with a focus on electronic technologies and software. Erika has also successfully argued appeals involving novel legal issues at the Federal Circuit and defended district court decisions.
A recognized thought leader in patent-eligibility law, Erika represented the petitioners in the landmark Bilski v. Kappos case before the U.S. Supreme Court and continues to advise on patentable subject matter across courts and agencies. She also counsels clients on patent strategy and portfolio management.
Erika is a champion for diversity in IP law. She co-founded the DC chapter of the Women in IP Network (WIN), serves as a trustee for the Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law, and sits on the board of the Intellectual Property Owner’s Education Foundation. She frequently writes and lectures on patent strategy and PTAB practice and is a member of Managing IP’s Editorial Board. Her accolades include recognition by The Legal 500 U.S., induction into the Patent Prosecution Hall of Fame, and repeated listings as a “Top 250 Women in IP” and “Patent Star” by Managing IP.
Updated Dec 2025
Successfully represented petitioner Google in inter partes reviews (IPRs) involving a patent relating to media recommendations based on geographic location. After the initial petitions were denied institution on Fintiv grounds, Finnegan filed a request for rehearing, leading to both petitions being instituted. After oral argument, all challenged patent claims were found unpatentable and cancelled.
Represented petitioner SharkNinja in district court litigation and related inter partes reviews related to robot vacuum cleaner technology. Successfully cancelled all claims iRobot asserted in the district court litigation at the PTAB.
- Represented appellees Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. and Shure Incorporated in an appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). In a precedential decision, the Federal Circuit unanimously upheld the validity of Shure’s substitute claims and rejected ClearOne’s procedural challenges to the Board’s ruling. The underlying inter partes review (IPR) was one of the first to utilize the Board’s Motion to Amend Pilot Program.
- Appellate
- Intellectual Property
- Technology and telecommunications
- Other
- J.D., cum laude - Washington and Lee University (1999)
- B.S., Computer Science - College of William & Mary (1993)
- Intellectual Property Owners Association
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- PTAB Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (2005)
- District of Columbia (2000)
- Virginia (1999)
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit (2008)
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- Supreme Court of the United States (1999)