About Harold John
Harold John McElhinny is a licensed attorney admitted to practice law in the State of California. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1976. His license is currently in active status. Mr. McElhinny is a partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP, a full-service law firm located in San Francisco, California. He has been practicing law for over four decades, serving clients throughout the state.
Mr. McElhinny earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, where he graduated in 1975. Prior to law school, he completed his undergraduate education at Santa Clara University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970. During his time at Berkeley Law, he was involved in various legal activities, laying the foundation for his future career in law.
Mr. McElhinny concentrates his practice in the areas of intellectual property law, including patent, copyright, and trade secret litigation. He represents clients in significant matters involving all aspects of intellectual property disputes, serving both plaintiffs and defendants. His practice encompasses all stages of litigation, including initial case evaluation, discovery, mediation, settlement negotiations, and trial proceedings in both state and federal courts.
Throughout his career, Mr. McElhinny has handled cases in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Francisco, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He has also appeared before the California Court of Appeal on multiple occasions. Prior to joining Morrison & Foerster, he worked as an associate at a mid-size litigation firm in San Francisco for several years.
Mr. McElhinny is an active member of the State Bar of California and the American Bar Association. He was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2007, recognizing his significant trial experience and contributions to the legal profession. He is also a member of the Federal Circuit Bar Association. Mr. McElhinny is fluent in English and has a working knowledge of Spanish, allowing him to serve a diverse clientele effectively.
