Knobbe Martens partners Christy Lea, Salima Merani, Ph.D., Joseph Re, and John Sganga have been named to the Daily Journal’s annual list of “Top IP Lawyers” in California. The four, all of whom are repeat winners, are among just 76 intellectual property attorneys statewide to be recognized for their exceptional achievements and contributions to the field in 2020.
Christy Lea is an experienced patent and trade secret lawyer who successfully resolves high-stakes disputes. For two decades, she has worked with leading clients in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries to establish and protect their intellectual property, and regularly serves as lead counsel before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Lea’s top achievements include co-leadership of the trial team that won a $70 million jury verdict with $21 in enhanced damages for client CardiAQ against former vendor Neovasc Inc., one of 2016’s biggest IP law verdicts. This is her second year appearing on the list.
Salima Merani, Ph.D. works closely with life sciences companies to build and defend strong patent portfolios, while providing strategic counsel to venture capitalists and other investors. In her nearly 20 years of practice, she has become a recognized leader in high-stakes financings, mergers and acquisitions, advising on multi-billion dollar deals and other actions involving trademark and patent portfolios, licensing, IPOs, acquisitions, infringement analysis and more. This is Merani’s fourth year as a California “Top IP Lawyer.”
Joseph Re, who has represented high-stakes technology clients in federal courts for more than thirty years, is recognized nationally for his skills as a trial and appellate attorney. Among his many success stories, Re led the Knobbe Martens team protecting client Masimo Corp.’s patient-monitoring technology from rivals Nellcor and Philips in two separate jury trials, obtaining verdicts totaling $600 million. Re has also handled dozens of appellate cases before the United States Court of Appeals of the Federal Circuit. This is Re’s fourth appearance on the list.
John Sganga is a prominent trial lawyer with more than three decades’ experience litigating intellectual property and technology disputes. He is a passionate advocate for clients whose brand or technology has been wrongfully appropriated, or those falsely accused of IP theft. As an effective and persuasive advocate, Sganga excels in high-stakes situations, working diligently to obtain victories of more than $100 million for both plaintiffs and defendants. He litigates before courts nationwide, arbitration panels internationally, and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Sganga has also been named to the list for the fourth time.
The Daily Journal list is compiled annually by editors who draw on hundreds of nominations and editorial staff recommendations to select attorneys whose intellectual property work has had the biggest impact.
