John Harrity is the Co-Managing Partner and founder of Harrity & Harrity, LLP. For more than 25 years, he has helped shape the firm’s strategic direction, with a focus on innovation in patent practice, operational excellence, and the continued evolution of high-quality patent services. Today, John spends much of his time helping ensure that the firm remains at the forefront of the patent field and leads the profession through the ongoing AI transformation.
John’s work is centered on strategic patent counseling and on guiding the firm’s continued development of a modern, technology-enabled approach to patent preparation and prosecution. He has played a key leadership role in building systems, processes, and AI-driven tools that enhance quality, consistency, and efficiency while supporting the high standards clients expect. Under the firm’s leadership, Harrity & Harrity has become widely recognized for serving many of the world’s most innovative companies and for helping shape the future of patent practice.
Before founding Harrity & Harrity, John served as a Primary Patent Examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, where he examined patent applications in computer hardware and software. He also previously worked as an electrical engineer, giving him a strong technical foundation that continues to inform his leadership and strategic perspective.
John is also the Chairperson of Patent Pathways®, a nonprofit organization focused on expanding access and opportunity in the patent profession. He also helped establish the Harrity Academy, an initiative designed to support the development of patent professionals. Inspired in part by his experience as a heart attack survivor, John has spent nearly a decade supporting the American Heart Association in a variety of leadership roles, including serving on the Executive Leadership Team, chairing Lawyers Have Heart for five years, serving on the Board of Directors for the Greater Washington Region, and speaking at numerous events. Through these efforts, he has remained committed to strengthening both the patent profession and the broader community.
