New partner class strengthens Knobbe Martens’ position as a leader in IP Law
IRVINE, Calif., January 5, 2026 – Knobbe Martens, a leading intellectual property and technology law firm, is very pleased to announce the elevation of six lawyers to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2026. Located in the firm’s Orange County, Calif., New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and San Francisco offices, these partners represent the firm’s commitment to developing top-tier practitioners in intellectual property law.
“We are proud to announce the addition of this distinguished group of lawyers to our partnership,” said Steven Nataupsky, Managing Partner of Knobbe Martens. “Each of them has demonstrated a strong dedication to delivering exceptional client service and has significantly contributed to the firm’s culture and success. We look forward to their continued leadership as they help guide the firm to advance and protect our clients’ innovations in the years ahead.”
The new partners include:
Based in Knobbe Martens’ Orange County office, Brian C. Barnes focuses his practice on patent litigation, representing clients in a range of technology areas including medical devices, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. He has represented clients before U.S. federal district courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Mr. Barnes clerked at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for the Honorable Judge Todd M. Hughes. He received his J.D. from Duke University School of Law, where he served as an editor of the Duke Law Journal, and his B.S. in biochemistry & molecular biology from University of Nevada – Reno.
Joseph A. R. Gerber, who is based in Knobbe Martens’ New York City office, is a member of the firm’s Trademark and Brand Protection group. He advises on all aspects of trademark protection and enforcement for emerging, well-established, and famous brands in the U.S. and abroad. Mr. Gerber’s clients span across all industries, but he regularly represents industry leaders in entertainment, sports, technology, food and beverage, luxury and consumer goods, consulting, and hospitality. Mr. Gerber received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law with honors, and is a co-chair of the Entertainment, Sports, and Social Media Committee at the New York Intellectual Property Law Association.
In Washington, D.C., Christopher L. Lewis provides strategic counseling to clients to enhance their IP portfolio, with a focus on patent prosecution, including patent portfolio management and development, licensing, and due diligence. Equipped with a background in electrical engineering and mathematics, Mr. Lewis offers experience in a range of complex hardware and software technologies, including robotics, medical devices, and artificial intelligence. He earned his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law, and a B.S. in electrical engineering from Clemson University.
Inzer C. Ni, based in the firm’s New York office, focuses on intellectual property litigation with an emphasis on life sciences and consumer products. Mr. Ni has represented clients in a wide range of technologies including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biological sample collection, footwear, electronic eyewear, and hydration products. He holds a J.D. from New York University School of Law, as well as an M.S. in engineering management and a B.S. in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University.
Based in Los Angeles, Ben K. Shiroma represents clients in high-stakes intellectual property disputes, with a focus on patent and trade secret litigation. Last year, Mr. Shiroma prepared portions of the trial presentation in two successful jury trials, including Knobbe Martens’ $634 million win for Masimo against Apple. He advises clients in disputes involving medical devices, computing, and electronics, as well as copyright and trademark litigation matters. Mr. Shiroma is an active bar member and serves on the board of the Los Angeles Intellectual Property Association. He earned his B.S. in electrical engineering summa cum laude from the University of Southern California and his J.D. from Harvard Law School, cum laude, where he served as an editor of the Journal of Law and Technology.
In the firm’s San Francisco office, Makoto (“Mak”) Tsunozaki, Ph.D. counsels clients around the world on building, protecting, and deploying their intellectual property assets with a global perspective. His practice includes global intellectual property portfolio management, patent prosecution, IP due diligence, and licensing. He has experience in a wide range of technologies and industries, including biopharmaceuticals, biotechnology, bioinformatics, diagnostics, personalized medicine, medical devices, microelectromagnetic systems, and computer software. Dr. Tsunozaki received his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. He holds a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of California, San Francisco.
About Knobbe Martens
Knobbe Martens protects the ideas that drive innovation and propel our world forward. As a leading intellectual property and technology law firm, clients worldwide rely on us to safeguard their products, brands, and technologies through strategic counsel and high-impact litigation. With offices across the U.S., our lawyers and technology specialists collaborate to deliver tailored solutions for clients ranging from multinational corporations to start-ups and emerging companies at every stage. Discover more at www.knobbe.com.
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