Mr. Forman brings over 15 years of combined experience at key government agencies
WASHINGTON, D.C., January 26, 2026 – Knobbe Martens is pleased to announce that former U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) associate solicitor Michael Forman has joined the firm, strengthening the firm’s position as a leader in litigating complex patent disputes for clients across the country. Mr. Forman, who joins in an of counsel role, will be based in Knobbe Martens’ Washington, D.C. office.
Mr. Forman served as an associate solicitor at the USPTO for more than a decade, where he argued over 40 appeals before the Federal Circuit and handled a wide range of matters involving patentability and administrative law. Prior to his time at the USPTO, he served as an attorney advisor in the Office of Administrative Law Judges at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), counseling on the full lifecycle of Section 337 investigations.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Forman was in private practice, where he worked on patent litigation and related commercial disputes. With a background in electrical engineering and proficiency across a range of technologies, Mr. Forman will apply his deep public sector experience to counsel Knobbe Martens clients across a suite of highly technical industries and disputes.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mike to the firm,” said Steven Nataupsky, Managing Partner of Knobbe Martens. “His experience at the USPTO and the ITC, combined with his technical background, offers a rare combination of insight, technical skill, and government perspective that will be enormously beneficial to our clients.”
Speaking on his new role with the firm, Mr. Forman said, “As a preeminent IP and technology-focused law firm, Knobbe Martens offers an ideal platform for my practice. I look forward to leveraging my government and patent law experience on behalf of the firm’s clients while collaborating with a top-tier IP litigation team.”
Learn more about Mr. Forman’s practice and career background here.
Mr. Forman’s arrival is the latest development for the firm’s growing Washington, D.C. office. Earlier this month, Christopher Lewis, who is based in the office, was among six lawyers promoted to partner across the firm. Last fall, the firm completed a significant expansion of the office, adding state of the art conference facilities and offices. Opened in 2007, the Washington, D.C. office is now home to more than two dozen lawyers and staff.
About Knobbe Martens’ Litigation Practice
Knobbe Martens delivers resourceful, creative solutions for our clients that enable them to secure compensation when competitors tread on their IP rights or falsely allege infringement. Our litigators protect and enforce IP rights in state, federal and appellate courts across the country, before the ITC, PTAB and TTAB, through mediation, arbitration and out-of-court settlements, and internationally. Our team consistently delivers favorable results to protect the world’s most well-known brands, fast-growth companies and entrepreneurs. While aggressively defending our clients’ rights, we take a practical approach to problem solving, work diligently to identify potential risks and opportunities, and develop winning strategies.
About Knobbe Martens
Knobbe Martens protects the ideas that drive innovation and propel our world forward. As a leading intellectual property and technology law firm, clients worldwide rely on us to safeguard their products, brands, and technologies through strategic counsel and high-impact litigation. With offices across the U.S., our lawyers and technology specialists collaborate to deliver tailored solutions for clients ranging from multinational corporations to start-ups and emerging companies at every stage. Discover more at www.knobbe.com.
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