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:

Rankings & Recognition

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

Chambers 2023Best Law Firms 2024 JD Supra​​ Top 100 Patent Firms MIP Awards 2023

Firm Rankings & Recognition

Ranked Tier 1 Nationally for Intellectual Property Litigation, Patent Law and Trademark Law and Recognized for Patent Litigation, Technology Law and Information Technology Law in the 2024 edition of Best Law Firms® by Best Lawyers
November 2, 2023 | Litigation - Patent | Litigation - Intellectual Property | Patents | Trademarks | Information Technology Law | Technology Law | National | Best Lawyers

Ranked Tier 1 Nationally and in California in Benchmark Litigation's 2024 U.S. Guide
October 5, 2023 | Litigation | National | Regional | Benchmark Litigation

Recognized in Legal Media Group's (LMG) "Life Sciences Survey"
September 21, 2023 | Hatch-Waxman Litigation (Generic) | Patent Litigation | Patent Prosecution | Patent Strategy & Management | National | Legal Media Group (LMG)

Ranked Among the Top 10 Best Performing PTAB Firms in Patexia's 2023 PTAB Intelligence Report
September 18, 2023 | PTAB Litigation | National | Patexia

Recognized by the Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law (OCCDL) as one of the Top 10 Legal Organizations for DEI in Orange County
August 31, 2023 | Diversity | Regional | Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law (OCCDL)

Ranked Among Top 5 Most Diverse Midsize Law Firms and Fourth for Representation of Minorities Among Equity Partners based on Firm Size
August 1, 2023 | Diversity | National | Law360

Recognized Nationally and Regionally in Managing IP's 2023 "IP Stars" Handbook
July 5, 2023 | Life Sciences | Trademark Contentious | Trademark Prosecution | Patent Prosecution | Patent Contentious | Copyrights | Litigation | PTAB Litigation | National | Regional | Managing Intellectual Property (MIP)

Ranked Nationally and Regionally in California and Seattle as a Leading Law Firm for Patent Prosecution, Transactions and Litigation in "IAM Patent 1000" Guide
June 26, 2023 | Prosecution | Transactions | Litigation | National | Regional | Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Magazine

Ranked in The Legal 500 "United States 2023"
June 7, 2023 | Patent Licensing | Patent Litigation | Patent Prosecution | Trademarks (Litigation) | Trademarks (Non-Contentious) | National | The Legal 500

Ranked a Top Law Firm in California for Patent Prosecution and Recognized for Patent Litigation, Life Sciences and Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets in California, and Intellectual Property in Washington State in "Chambers USA 2023"
June 1, 2023 | Patent Prosecution | Life Sciences | Patent Litigation | Trademarks | Copyrights | Trade Secrets | Regional | Chambers & Partners

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)

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

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

Recognized as a Gold Tier Trademark Law Firm in California for Trademark Prosecution and Trademark Enforcement in 2022 "World Trademark Review 1000"
March 7, 2022 | Litigation | Prosecution | Trademarks | National | Regional | World Trademark Review (WTR)

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

Jane Dai, Ph.D. and Nathanael Luman, Ph.D. Named "Leaders in Law" by San Diego Business Journal
October 17, 2023 | Attorneys: Dai, Luman | Regional | San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ)

Lynda Zadra-Symes Named Among “Most Influential Women in IP” by World IP Review (WIPR)
October 17, 2023 | Attorney: Zadra-Symes | World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR)

Baraa Kahf, Steven Nataupsky and Sheila Swaroop Named "Orange County Visionaries" by the Los Angeles Times
October 16, 2023 | Attorneys: Kahf, Nataupsky, Swaroop | Regional | Los Angeles Times

Twelve Knobbe Martens Attorneys Recognized in the Benchmark Litigation 2024 U.S. Guide
October 5, 2023 | Attorneys: Bellinger, Bouris, Cassidy Selvaggio, Heideman, Lea, Loebbaka, Mayer, Nataupsky, Re, Sganga (John), Smith, Zadra-Symes | Benchmark Litigation

Nine Attorneys Recognized as Among World’s Leading IP Strategists
October 3, 2023 | Attorneys: Altman, Anderson, Cowan, Kesler, Lateef, Roby, Shukla, Teplitskiy, Uribe | National | Intellectual Asset Management (IAM)

Joseph Gerber Named a New York Metro “Rising Star” for Intellectual Property by Super Lawyers
September 28, 2023 | Intellectual Property | Attorney: Gerber | Regional | Super Lawyers Magazine

Fifteen Knobbe Martens Attorneys Recognized as "Life Sciences Stars" by LMG Life Sciences
September 21, 2023 | 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), Stowell, Swaroop, von Hoffmann, Zimmerman | National | Legal Media Group (LMG)

Tom Cowan and Harnik Shukla Recognized as "Rising Stars" by LMG Life Sciences
September 21, 2023 | Patent Prosecution | Patent Strategy & Management | Attorneys: Cowan, Shukla | National | Legal Media Group (LMG)

Ten Knobbe Martens Partners Included in Who’s Who Legal: IP 2023 Guide
September 19, 2023 | Patent | Trademark | Attorneys: Altman, Halpern, Holland, Hyman, Natland, Re, Summers, Van Hoosear, Zadra-Symes, Zimmerman | National | Who’s Who Legal: IP

Eight Knobbe Martens Partners Recognized as Top Performers in Patexia's 2023 PTAB Intelligence Report
September 18, 2023 | PTAB Litigation | Attorneys: Claassen, Heideman, Helm, Kesler, Larson, Luman, Peterson (Jacob), Re | National | Patexia

Ten Knobbe Martens Partners Named Leading Litigators in America
September 8, 2023 | Copyright | Hatch-Waxman | Patent | Litigation | Trademark | Attorneys: Akhtar, Pitzel Cruz, Dai, Horne, Lea, Nataupsky, Razai, Re, Summers, Zadra-Symes | National | Lawdragon

Charlene Azema named a “Top 10 DEI Champion of Orange County” and Bita Kianian named a “Top 10 Young Lawyer of OC” by the Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law (OCCDL)
August 31, 2023 | Diversity | Regional | Attorneys: Azema, Kianian | Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law (OCCDL)

Christy Lea Recognized in Orange County Business Journal Women in Business Awards
August 21, 2023 | Diversity | Regional | Attorney: Lea | Orange County Business Journal (OCBJ)

Seventeen Knobbe Martens Attorneys Recognized Among The Best Lawyers in America© 2024
August 17, 2023 | Appellate | Litigation | Patents | Trademarks | Copyrights | Trade Secrets | Information Technology | Technology | Attorneys: Anderson, Bellinger, Grover, Gurka, Heideman, Jennings, Miller, Nataupsky, Pitzel Cruz, Re, Reisman, Seelig, Sganga (John), Summers, Swaroop, Uribe, Zimmerman | National | Best Lawyers®

Twenty-Three Knobbe Martens Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers© "Ones To Watch" 2024
August 17, 2023 | Antitrust | Health Care Law | Litigation | Patents | Technology | Attorneys: Achtsam, Anger, Azema, Cheek, Choi, Cowan, Dai, Davis, Gillett, Gottdank, Howard, Law, Lim, Marsden, Matthaei, Mayer, McWhorter, Peterson, Powell, Reeves, Rosenbaum, Shukla, Swartz | National | Best Lawyers®

Joseph Re, John Sganga and Mauricio Uribe Named 2024 "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America©
August 17, 2023 | Appellate | Litigation | Information Technology | Attorneys: Re, Sganga, Uribe | National | Best Lawyers®

Nineteen Knobbe Martens Partners Recognized as "World IP Leaders" by World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR)
July 7, 2023 | Attorneys: Achtsam, Azema, Bellinger, Halpern, Horne, Hyman, Lam, Laquer, Lea, Lee, Merani, Miller, Natland, Re, Sganga (Jessica), Summers, Swaroop, Van Hoosear, Zimmerman | National | World IP Review (WIPR)

Salima Merani Named a “Life Sciences Trailblazer” by The National Law Journal
July 5, 2023 | Attorney: Merani | National | The National Law Journal

Fifteen Knobbe Martens Attorneys Recognized as Top "IP STARS" by Managing IP (MIP)
June 27, 2023 | Patents | Trademarks | Transactions | Attorneys: Anderson (Maria), Gurka, Jensen, Lea, Lee, Merani, Natland, Pitzel Cruz, Razai, Re, Roby, Sganga (John), von Hoffmann, Zadra-Symes, Zimmerman | National | Managing Intellectual Property (MIP)

Twenty-Three Knobbe Martens Attorneys Named The World's Leading Patent Professionals in the 2023 "IAM Patent 1000" Guide
June 26, 2023 | Prosecution | Transactions | Litigation | Attorneys: Akhtar, Altman, Anderson, Fuller, Furman, Gurka, Heideman, Jardine, King, Lateef, Lee, Loots, Merani, Miller, Pitzel Cruz, Re, Reisman, Seelig, Sganga (John), Swaroop, Uribe, von Hoffmann, Zimmerman | Regional | Intellectual Asset Management (IAM)

Hans Mayer Named 2023 "Rising Star" by Law360
June 20, 2023 | Intellectual Property | Attorney: Mayer | National | Law360

Thirty Knobbe Martens Partners Recognized in The Legal 500 "United States 2023"
June 7, 2023 | Attorneys: Adams, Anderson, Bellinger, Everton, Friedland (Michael), Gersting, Horne, Jardine, Katzenellenbogen (Lauren), Lam, Lee, Mayer, Merani, Miller, Nataupsky, Natland, Pitzel Cruz, Razai, Re, Reisman, Rosenbaum (Jacob), Sganga (Jessica), Shukla, Stout, Swaroop, Tullis, Van Hoosear, Wang, Zadra-Symes, Zimmerman | The Legal 500

Six Attorneys Named 2023 "Southern California Rising Stars" by Super Lawyers
June 7, 2023 | Litigation | Patents | Attorneys: Achtsam, Gillett, Mayer, McMorrow, Menkes, Sganga (Jessica) | Regional | Super Lawyers Magazine

Maria Anderson, Salima Merani, Joseph Re and Lynda Zadra-Symes Recognized in "Chambers USA Guide 2023"
June 1, 2023 | Patent Prosecution | Life Sciences | Patent Litigation | Trademarks | Copyrights | Trade Secrets | Attorneys: Anderson, Merani, Re, Zadra-Symes | Regional | Chambers & Partners

Jessica Sganga Named Among "Top 100 Lawyers" by Los Angeles Business Journal
May 22, 2023 | Attorney: 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

Three Knobbe Martens Attorneys Named Among "Top IP Lawyers in California"
May 17, 2023 | Attorneys: Merani, Natland, Re | Litigation | Patents | Regional | Daily Journal

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

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)

Maria Anderson, Salima Merani and Joseph Re Recognized in "Chambers USA Guide 2022"
June 1, 2022 | Patent Prosecution | Life Sciences | Patents | Attorneys: Anderson, Merani, Re | Regional | Chambers & Partners

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

Eight Knobbe Martens Attorneys Recognized as The World's Leading Trademark Professionals in 2021 "WTR 1000"
March 7, 2022 | Litigation | Prosecution | Trademarks | Attorneys: Friedland, Halpern, Holland, Hyman, Natland, Razai, Van Hoosear, Zadra-Symes | National | World Trademark Review (WTR)

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)

Salima Merani and Joseph Re Recognized in "Chambers USA Guide 2021"
May 21, 2021 | Patent Prosecution | Life Sciences | Patents | Attorneys: Merani, Re | Regional | Chambers & Partners

Bill Zimmerman Named 2021 "Washington D.C. Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyers
April 27, 2021 | Litigation | Patents | Attorney: Zimmerman | Regional | Super Lawyers Magazine

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)

Thirteen Knobbe Martens Attorneys Named 2021 "Southern California Super Lawyers"
January 21, 2021 | Litigation | Patents | Trademarks | Attorneys: Friedland, Horne, Hyman, Jennings, Jensen, Lateef, Nataupsky, Re, Sganga (John), Stewart, Summers, Swaroop, Zadra-Symes | Regional | Super Lawyers

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

Three Attorneys Named 2020 "Washington D.C. Rising Star" by Super Lawyers
April 24, 2020 | Litigation | Patents | Attorneys: Bachand, Cheek, Metzke | Regional | Super Lawyers Magazine

Four Knobbe Martens Attorneys Named Among "Top IP Lawyers in California"
April 23, 2020 | Attorneys: Merani, Lea, Re, Sganga (John) | Litigation | Patents | Regional | Daily Journal

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)