About Us

Knobbe Martens is an agent of innovation, providing clients worldwide with forward-focused intellectual property and technology law service and representation. We are one of the largest IP law firms in the U.S., with close to 300 lawyers and scientists representing the complete spectrum of technologies and IP practice areas.

We combine unmatched technical and litigation expertise to deliver superior results in both transactional and contested matters, for both cutting-edge start-ups and established Fortune 500 companies. Our work spans fields ranging from physics to pharmaceuticals and entertainment to engineering.

But perhaps more impressive than our scope is our skill. We are established leaders in our fields—scientists, engineers and thinkers who blend deep educational and technical knowledge with a strategic focus gleaned from our real-world business experience.

We know your issues. Your pressures. And should the need arise, we know how to aggressively protect the assets that give your business its competitive edge—with extensive experience and intimate knowledge of domestic and international judicial systems.

Whatever our role, our goal is simple: to advance and protect those whose innovations propel the world forward.

Principles and Values

Integrity. Honesty. Passion. To us, these are more than mere words. They’re a promise, a pledge we make to always provide the highest level of professional, ethical representation. To never cut a corner nor accept a compromise. Our clients demand—and deserve—no less.

A Culture of Collaboration

We love competition, just not with each other. We foster a collegial, cooperative atmosphere where every attorney works for the good of the firm, and by extension, for each of our clients. Our attorneys are not compensated to “own” clients, rather, they’re motivated to match clients with an attorney/scientist team custom-built to deliver success. It’s a model that puts our clients’ interests above our own. Which is exactly where they belong.

Strength Through Stability

Since 2000, our firm-wide attrition rate has been approximately 10%. This helps us create and maintain lasting relationships with each client, as well as a deep institutional understanding of their business. Our clients trust the people they called on yesterday will be here tomorrow. There’s no learning curve or revolving door, just a strong, stable team they can count on at any time…all the time.

People First

Our unique culture and corporate structure allow us to attract and retain some of the world’s top IP attorneys. Instead of reserving partnerships for a privileged few, we take a different approach: actively training our associates to assume leadership roles, and providing an environment where their abilities are fully utilized in the best interests of our clients.

Diversity and Inclusion

"Our diversity inspires intellectual creativity"

- Steve J. Nataupsky, Managing Partner

We believe that true innovation comes from celebrating what's different and unique. That's why we embrace diversity at every level of our firm. By drawing upon a variety of perspectives and experiences, we can bring cutting edge approaches and strategic solutions to our clients.

Led by our Diversity and Inclusion Committee, our mission is to sustain an environment where diversity is supported and central to the success of the firm. We actively seek to hire, retain and promote attorneys with diverse backgrounds, keeping the firm at the cutting edge of law. Visit our careers page to learn about the diversity and inclusion policies at Knobbe Martens.

View our firm brochure for more information:

We’ve found that if you focus on excellence, accolades usually follow. We’re proud to be so recognized by pundits and peers alike.

Firm Rankings & Recognition

Named “Trademark Disputes Firm of the Year” and “Trademark Disputes Firm of the Year (West)” at 2023 Managing IP Awards
April 27, 2023 | Trademark Contentious | National | Regional | Managing Intellectual Property (MIP)

Ranked Tier 1 Nationally and in California in Benchmark Litigation's 2023 U.S. Guide
October 10, 2022 | Litigation | National | Regional | Benchmark Litigation

Named the "Inter-Partes Review Firm of the Year" by Legal Media Group (LMG)
September 8, 2022 | National | Legal Media Group (LMG)

Ranked #4 "Most Diverse Equity Partnership" based on Firm Size
July 26, 2022 | Diversity | National | Law360

Named “Best US IP Patent Firm” at 2022 International Legal Alliance Summit & Awards (ILASA)
June 1, 2022 | Patent Prosecution | National | Leaders League

Ranked Top 20 for Overall Diversity Nationwide in The American Lawyer's "Diversity Scorecard"
May 24, 2021 | Diversity | National | The American Lawyer

Named the "Patent Strategy and Management Firm of the Year" by Legal Media Group (LMG)
September 18, 2019 | National | Legal Media Group (LMG)

Ranked #1 "Best Law Firm for Minority Attorneys" based on Firm Size
July 22, 2019 | Diversity | National | Law360

Ranked Among Top 10 Law Firms to Secure the Most Utility Patents in 2018
February 21, 2019 | National | Harrity & Harrity Patent Analytics Team, as published by Law360

Named a 2018 "Top IP Boutique Law Firm" in California by the Daily Journal
October 24, 2018 | Regional | The Daily Journal

Ranked a Top 50 IPR Firm in Patexia's 2018 IPR Intelligence Report
September 1, 2018 | Inter Partes Review (IPR) | National | Patexia

Ranked #3 Largest IP Boutique Firm in 2017 by Law360
April 15, 2018 | National | Law360

Winner of the 2018 "Law Firm of the Year" Award by the Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel (AMEC)
January 26, 2018 | Trademarks | National | Regional | Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel (AMEC)

Ranked Among "Top 100 Verdicts of 2016" by the National Law Journal - Among Top 10 for IP Verdicts
April 25, 2017 | National | The National Law Journal (NLJ)

Named a Top Patent Prosecution and Trademark Firm in Managing IP's (MIP) 2017 "North America Awards"
March 24, 2017 | Prosecution | Trademark Contentious | Regional | Managing Intellectual Property (MIP)

Attorney Recognitons

Jessica Sganga Named Among "Top 100 Lawyers" by Los Angeles Business Journal
May 22, 2023 | Attorneys: Sganga (Jessica) | Regional | Los Angeles Business Journal

Christy Lea and Wendy Peterson Named "Inspirational Women" by the Los Angeles Times
May 19, 2023 | Attorneys: Lea, Peterson | Regional | Los Angeles Times

Joseph Re Named “Litigator of the Year (California)” at 2023 Managing IP Awards
April 27, 2023 | Litigation | Attorney: Re | Regional | Managing Intellectual Property (MIP)

Three Attorneys Recognized in 2023 "Global Leaders" Guide
November 29, 2022 | Attorneys: Anderson, Re, Uribe | Intellectual Asset Management (IAM)

Maria Stout Named Among "Top 50 Influential Veteran Business Leaders" by San Diego Business Journal
November 7, 2022 | Attorney: Stout | Regional | San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ)

Kimberly Miller, Ph.D. Named Among "Leaders in Law" by San Diego Business Journal
October 24, 2022 | Attorney: Miller | Regional | San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ)

Six Knobbe Martens Attorneys Included in Euromoney's 2022 Expert Guides
October 18, 2022 | Attorneys: Halpern, Holland, Natland, Re, Sganga (Jessica), Zadra-Symes | Euromoney

Eight Knobbe Martens Attorneys Recognized in the Benchmark Litigation 2023 U.S. Guide
October 10, 2022 | Attorneys: Bouris, Cassidy Selvaggio, Heideman, Lea, Mayer, Re, Sganga (John), Zadra-Symes | Benchmark Litigation

Fourteen Knobbe Martens Attorneys Recognized as "Life Science Stars" by LMG Life Sciences
September 26, 2022 | Hatch-Waxman Litigation (Generic) | Patent Litigation | Patent Prosecution | Patent Strategy & Management | Attorneys: Altman, Fuller, Lea, Lee (Sabing), Mallon, Merani, Miller, Razai, Re, Reisman, Sganga (John), Swaroop, von Hoffmann, Zimmerman | National | Legal Media Group (LMG)

Four Attorneys Named Among World’s Leading IP Strategists
September 19, 2022 | Attorneys: Altman, Anderson, Cowan, Lateef | National | Intellectual Asset Management (IAM)

Twenty-One Knobbe Martens Attorneys Named The World's Leading Patent Professionals in the 2022 "IAM Patent 1000" Guide
July 6, 2022 | Prosecution | Transactions | Litigation | Attorneys: Akhtar, Altman, Anderson, Fuller, Furman, Gurka, Jardine, King, Lateef, Loots, Merani, Miller, Pitzel Cruz, Re, Reisman, Seelig, Sganga (John), Taylor, Uribe, von Hoffmann, Zimmerman | Regional | Intellectual Asset Management (IAM)

Fourteen Knobbe Martens Partners Recognized in The Legal 500 "United States 2022"
June 17, 2021 | Attorneys: Gersting, Helm, Lee, Merani, Nataupsky, Pitzel Cruz, Razai, Re, Reisman, Sganga (John), Smith, Tullis, Zadra-Symes, Zimmerman | The Legal 500

Salima Merani Recognized as “Top 250 Women in IP” by Managing IP (MIP)
June 1, 2022 | Attorney: Merani | Managing Intellectual Property (MIP)

Seven Knobbe Martens Partners Named "World IP Leaders" by World IP Review (WIPR)
May 23, 2022 | Attorneys: Bellinger, Halpern, Hyman, Natland, Re, Sganga (Jessica), Summers | World IP Review (WIPR)

John Sganga and Mauricio Uribe Named 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America©
August 19, 2021 | Attorneys: Sganga, Uribe | National | Best Lawyers®

Kimberly Miller Named to San Diego Business Journal's "Women of Influence in Law 2021" List
June 28, 2021 | National | Attorney: Miller | San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ)

Salima Merani Recognized as “Top 250 Women in IP” by Managing IP (MIP)
June 25, 2021 | Attorney: Merani | Managing Intellectual Property (MIP)

Four Knobbe Martens Partners Named "World IP Leaders" by World IP Review (WIPR)
June 21, 2021 | Attorneys: Halpern, Natland, Re, Sganga (Jessica) | World IP Review (WIPR)

Christy Lea Recognized as the "Attorney of the Year" by the Orange County Women Lawyers Association (OCWLA)
March 5, 2021 | Diversity | Attorney: Lea | Regional | Orange County Women Lawyers Association (OCWLA)

Nine Knobbe Martens Attorneys Recognized as The World's Leading Trademark Professionals in 2021 "WTR 1000"
February 18, 2021 | Litigation | Prosecution | Trademarks | Attorneys: Friedland, Halpern, Holland, Hyman, Natland, Razai, Reed, Van Hoosear, Zadra-Symes | National | World Trademark Review (WTR)

Christy Lea, Joseph Re, and John Sganga Recognized as "Litigation Stars" in the Benchmark Litigation 2021 California Guide
October 21, 2020 | Attorneys: Lea, Re, Sganga | Benchmark Litigation

Joseph Reisman and Benjamin Anger Named 2020 "San Diego Super Lawyer and Rising Stars"
March 22, 2020 | Litigation | Patents | Regional | Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Susan Natland Recognized by World IP Review (WIPR) as one of the 80 Most Influential Women in IP worldwide in 2019
May 7, 2019 | Attorney: Natland | WIPR Influential Women in IP

Michael Fuller Named to San Diego Business Journal's "SD500" List
January 7, 2019 | National | San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ)

Salima Merani Honored "Patent Strategy & Management Attorney of the Year" for Life Sciences in California
September 13, 2018 | Life Sciences | Regional | Legal Media Group (LMG)

Brian Horne Recognized in the 2018 BTI "Client Service All-Stars" Report
March 30, 2018 | Litigation | BTI Consulting Group

Susan Natland Recognized as the Exclusive Winner of the 2018 "Client Choice Award" in the IP: Trademarks, California category
February 16, 2018 | Attorney: Natland | International Law Office (ILO)

Steven Nataupsky Named to Orange County Business Journal's "OC500" List
January 5, 2018 | National | Orange County Business Journal (OCBJ)

Brian Horne Recognized as "Leaders in Law" by the Los Angeles Business Journal
October 30, 2017 | Attorney: Horne | Los Angeles Business Journal (LABJ)

Douglas Muehlhauser Recognized as a "Giant Slayer" by The Recorder
September 15, 2017 | Attorney: Muehlhauser | The Recorder

David Weiss Recognized as one of "The Most Influential IP Attorneys" in the LA Region
August 14, 2017 | Attorney: Weiss | Regional | Los Angeles Business Journal

Christy Lea Recognized as a "Woman to Watch" by the AIPLA Women in IP Committee
July 10, 2017 | Diversity | Attorney: Lea | National | American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)