Susan E. Farley

Susan E. Farley is a nationally recognized intellectual property litigator with extensive experience in design patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. As a partner at the firm, she leads complex enforcement actions, defends clients facing infringement claims, and develops advanced strategies to prevent unlawful knock-offs. Susan has served as lead counsel in hundreds of matters, including precedent-setting design law cases, and is known for her thorough preparation, clear advocacy, and strong command of IP litigation.

Susan earned her J.D., cum laude, from Albany Law School, where she was inducted into the Justinian Honor Society. She also holds a B.S. in Chemistry, summa cum laude, from Union College, along with a second major in German. Her academic background includes studies at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

Throughout her career, Susan has shaped the development of design law through trial work, appeals, and authoritative scholarship. She has argued in federal courts across the country, co-authored briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court, and helped craft the first comprehensive jury instructions for design patent cases, now widely used in federal courts. Her achievements have earned recognition from Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers®, Martindale-Hubbell®, and the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums, reflecting her skill in high-stakes litigation.

At the firm, Susan E. Farley serves on the Management Committee and is a trusted leader within the litigation practice. She provides clients with practical, market-focused strategies that integrate utility patents, design patents, trademarks, and copyrights for effective protection and enforcement. Her clients value her strategic insight, attention to detail, and commitment to securing the strongest possible outcomes.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C.
• Member, NYS Bar Association
• Member, Capital District Women’s Bar Association
• Member, Northern District of New York Federal Court Bar Association
• Chairman of the IP and Innovation, American Inn of Court, Platinum Designation
• Life Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• Life Member, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• Top Trial Lawyers in America

Licensed State

• New York
• Maine

Education

• Albany Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Union College
  BS in Chemistry with Summa Cum Laude

Awards & Badges