Kara Specht

Kara Specht is a patent litigation attorney at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, practicing from the firm's Atlanta office, where she is a partner. Her practice spans U.S. district courts, the International Trade Commission (ITC), the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Specht specializes in complex patent disputes within electrical and mechanical arts, covering a broad range of technologies including automotive, financial systems, global positioning systems (GPS), semiconductor devices, wireless communications, consumer electronics, computers, and computer-implemented business methods, including software and AI inventions. While she has experience representing both patentees and accused infringers in district court and ITC matters, her tracked appearances show a focus on defendant-side representation.

Her notable case experience includes securing a covenant-not-to-sue and a zero-dollar walkaway for BMW Group in a declaratory judgment action against Arigna, which followed an ITC victory and dismissal of parallel district court litigation. Specht also achieved a comprehensive victory for Innoscience in a high-profile ITC patent dispute concerning semiconductor devices against Infineon. She represented ASSA ABLOY in patent litigation against NPE Liberty Access, obtaining a favorable dismissal after filing inter partes reviews (IPRs). Additionally, she was counsel for Apple in the Proxense, LLC v. Apple litigation, which is currently stayed pending a Federal Circuit appeal concerning PTAB decisions.

Specht possesses extensive experience with PTAB proceedings, representing both petitioners and patent owners, and is particularly proficient in counseling petitioners to craft invalidity challenges. She has been involved in significant IPRs, including those for BMW of North America, LLC. Her PTAB expertise extends to appeals, having successfully argued at the Federal Circuit on behalf of an appellee from a PTAB proceeding. She is an active member of the PTAB Bar Association, serving as co-chair of the Trials Committee and a non-officer director.

Kara Specht holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. While her specific bar admissions are not explicitly detailed on her firm profile, her role as a partner in Finnegan's Atlanta office and her leadership position as Chair of the Intellectual Property Section of the Atlanta Bar Association strongly indicate admission to the Georgia Bar.