Knobbe Martens Expands Despite Current Economic Downturn

While the current state of the economy is putting pressure on many firms to downsize, Knobbe Martens has steadily grown over the past three years to keep pace with an increase in business. As one of the top-ranked intellectual property law firms, the firm has continued to grow in response to an increasing demand domestically and internationally for intellectual property expertise across a number of industry sectors, including healthcare, high-tech, and retail.

"In the current economic climate, the firm is pleased to be having a successful year. By continuing to offer the highest quality legal services, our client base continues to grow. In order to serve our clients needs, we have added the largest associate class in our firm's history as well as opened offices in Washington, D.C., and Seattle," said Steven Nataupsky, the firm's managing partner.

The firm opened the Washington, D.C., office in November of 2007 and the Seattle, Wash. office in February of this year.

This fall will mark the addition of 45 new associates in the firm's Orange County, San Diego, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Riverside, and Seattle offices, bringing the total attorney and scientist count to 265. Knobbe Martens has maintained steady growth with an acceptance rate at or above 90 percent each year by their summer associates who are offered positions.

The new associates come from prestigious law schools across the United States including Harvard, New York University, Stanford, Duke, Georgetown, George Washington University, University of Chicago, University of Virginia, and University of California, Los Angeles. In addition to their law degrees, many hold advanced degrees including Ph.D. and M.D. degrees.