Knobbe Martens Founder Don Martens to Receive American Bar Association’s Mark T. Banner Award

Knobbe Martens is pleased to announce that Founding Partner Don Martens will receive the American Bar Association (ABA)’s 2017 Mark T. Banner Award.

The award recognizes individuals who have made a significant impact on the field of intellectual property law, advancing its practice, profession or substance through legislation, the judiciary, teaching, scholarship, innovation, or other noteworthy contributions. Mark T. Banner, who served as Chair of the ABA IP Law Section from 2002 to 2003, was one of the nation’s top trial attorneys and a dedicated teacher. This year, Mr. Martens will receive the award along with the Honorary Lucy H. Koh, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, and Dr. Kate Darling, MIT Media Lab Research Specialist, Harvard Berkman Center Fellow, Robot Ethics Expert.

Mr. Martens has been repeatedly recognized as one of the world’s top patent lawyers, and has traveled the globe to share his expertise with students and leaders of the developing world. He joined Knobbe Martens in 1965, helping to grow the firm from just a handful of lawyers into Orange County’s largest, with about 300 attorneys. Over the years, Mr. Martens has played a vital role in developing IP law through various leadership positions, including President of the American Intellectual Property Law Association; Chair of the ABA IP Law Section; President of the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation; President of the Orange County Bar Association; and President of the Orange County Intellectual Property Law Association (OCIPLA). Mr. Martens recently received the OCIPLA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, adding to the numerous honors bestowed during his distinguished career. He retired in 2016 after more than 50 years with Knobbe Martens.

The award will be presented at the Mark T. Banner Award Luncheon on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 in Arlington, Virginia.