Beltway-headquartered intellectual property specialist Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner has elected as firmwide managing partner a woman who started her career at the firm as a summer associate over 20 years ago.

Erika Harmon Arner will serve as managing partner of Finnegan’s 11 offices, effective July 1, for a three year term. Arner joined the firm in 1999 and was an associate for ten years before making partner in 2010. She presently leads the firm’s largest practice group—electrical and computer technology of over 100 patent professionals.