Overview
Innovators trust Knobbe Martens’ patent litigators to protect and defend critical technologies when the stakes are highest. We represent clients in complex patent infringement disputes in federal district courts across the United States, including frequent appearances in the Northern District of California, the Central District of California, the Eastern District of Texas, and the District of Delaware. Our litigators also handle appeals to the Federal Circuit and parallel proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and have significant experience with cross-border disputes and matters before the International Trade Commission.
Whether enforcing patent rights or defending against infringement claims, we tailor each case to our client’s business, from trial advocacy to strategic counseling, to preserve market position and reduce risk. From early assessment through trial and appeal, our patent litigators combine deep technical knowledge with seasoned courtroom experience to resolve high‑stakes patent disputes efficiently and effectively.
Who We Represent in Patent Litigation
We represent a broad range of clients—from emerging technology companies to established global leaders—across industries where innovation drives value. Our patent litigators routinely represent clients in the life sciences, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, software, electronics, consumer products, and advanced manufacturing sectors, among others. These clients rely on us to protect core technologies, respond to competitive threats, and navigate cross‑border and multi‑forum disputes involving complex patent portfolios.
Whether assisting a company with enforcing patents against infringers or defending against allegations brought by competitors or non‑practicing entities (NPEs), we represent clients facing sophisticated patent challenges that require coordinated strategy, technical precision, and trial‑ready execution.
Our Patent Litigation Services
Knobbe Martens provides complete patent litigation services, beginning with pre‑litigation counseling and risk assessment and extending through trial, parallel Patent Office proceedings, and appeal. Our team conducts detailed patent infringement and validity analyses to inform strategic decision‑making, prepares and responds to cease‑and‑desist communications, and develops litigation strategies designed to achieve leverage early while preserving the option for resolution or trial.
Once litigation is underway, we manage all aspects of court proceedings, including discovery, expert witness services, claim construction, courtroom advocacy, and settlement negotiations. Our litigators are deeply experienced in patent trials and regularly coordinate district court litigation with inter partes reviews and other PTAB proceedings, ensuring consistency across venues while maximizing strategic advantage.
We also represent clients in appeals to the Federal Circuit, integrating trial‑level advocacy with appellate strategy from the outset. For clients facing international competition, we handle cross‑border and multi‑jurisdictional disputes, including Section 337 investigations before the International Trade Commission, where exclusion orders and fast‑paced proceedings can be critical enforcement tools.
Throughout every stage, our focus remains on clear strategy, disciplined execution, and outcomes that advance the client’s business goals—whether through trial, appeal, or a negotiated resolution.
Patent Enforcement and Defense
Unlike many law firms that focus primarily on one side of the docket, Knobbe Martens has extensive experience with both patent enforcement and defense. We have successfully asserted patents on behalf of innovators seeking to protect market share, and effectively defended clients against infringement claims that threaten products, revenue, and reputation.
ITC and Global Cases
Knobbe Martens has longstanding experience representing clients before the International Trade Commission in Section 337 investigations involving patent infringement and unfair trade practices. We regularly pursue and defend exclusion orders and cease‑and‑desist relief in fast‑moving proceedings that often run parallel to district court litigation.
We also handle coordinated international and cross‑border patent disputes, aligning U.S. litigation with actions in foreign jurisdictions through cohesive, business‑driven strategies that account for global enforcement and competitive realities.
Why Work With Knobbe Martens’ Patent Litigation Team
Clients choose Knobbe Martens for a patent litigation practice that combines trial‑ready advocacy with practical judgment. We represent clients in high‑stakes intellectual property disputes before district courts, the PTAB, the International Trade Commission, and on appeal to the Federal Circuit, with a focus on protecting innovation while managing risk. Our litigators are business‑minded advocates who bring clarity, technical insight, and disciplined execution to every phase of a patent dispute.
Our litigation team also benefits from the firm’s renowned patent prosecution and strategy practice, giving us a deep understanding of how patents are drafted, examined, and challenged. That perspective informs our approach to infringement, validity, and claim construction, and allows us to anticipate arguments before they arise. Our team includes attorneys with backgrounds as engineers, computer scientists, Ph.D. scientists, former patent office examiners, and judicial law clerks at both the district court and appellate levels, strengthening our ability to litigate complex patent disputes grounded in sophisticated technology.
Representative Experience
In re Certain Light-Based Physiological Measurement Devices and Components Thereof, Inv.; Masimo Corp. et al. v. Apple Inc. “The Apple Watch” case
Represented a medical device company in parallel ITC and district court litigation against Apple involving pulse oximetry and health monitoring technologies used in wearable devices. The matters involved patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation claims relating to blood oxygen sensing functionality. Knobbe Martens secured a $634 million jury verdict in California federal court and an exclusion order at the U.S. International Trade Commission that banned importation of infringing Apple Watch models. In related proceedings, the firm achieved favorable trial outcomes reinforcing the client’s intellectual property position and competitive standing in the wearable health technology market.
Apple Inc. v. Masimo Corp.
Represented a medical technology company in a patent infringement action brought by Apple concerning wearable health monitoring technologies. Apple asserted multiple patents and sought to restrict the client’s competing product offerings. Knobbe Martens secured a jury verdict of noninfringement and invalidity, defeating Apple’s claims in full and preserving the client’s ability to continue operating in the competitive wearable device market.
Carl Zeiss X-Ray Microscopy, Inc. v. Sigray, Inc.
Represented a developer of advanced X-ray imaging systems in a patent infringement and trade secret dispute involving high-resolution microscopy technologies. The plaintiff sought substantial damages and findings of willful misconduct. Following trial, the jury returned a complete defense verdict, rejecting more than $12 million in sought damages and finding no willful infringement or misappropriation. The result preserved the client’s freedom to operate and supported its continued innovation in advanced imaging technologies.
Aortic Innovations LLC v. Edwards Lifesciences Corp.
Represented a medical device company in a patent dispute involving prosthetic heart valve technologies. Knobbe Martens secured a precedential Federal Circuit decision affirming a judgment of noninfringement and rejecting the appeal. This outcome preserved the client’s competitive position and clarified claim scope in a critical area of cardiovascular technology.
Inari Medical v. Imperative Care, Inc.
Knobbe Martens represents a medical device innovator in parallel district court patent litigation and multiple inter partes review proceedings challenging a competitor’s patents. The team successfully defeated a motion for preliminary injunction, secured a stay of the district court case, and obtained final written decisions invalidating asserted patent claims, while also overcoming all discretionary denial efforts at the Patent Office. Knobbe Martens continues to advance additional challenges to the asserted patents in active IPRs alongside its ongoing defense in the litigation.
Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH v. Ellodi Pharmaceuticals, L.P.
Represented Dr. Falk Pharma in IPRs challenging patents related to pharmaceutical formulations of orally disintegrating tablets for treating eosinophilic esophagitis. Obtained final adverse judgments against Patent Owner for all challenged claims.
