Knobbe Martens, one of the leading intellectual property law firms in the United States, announced today it will open an office in New York City. The new office is the firm’s eighth, joining offices in Washington, D.C., Seattle, and throughout California.
“Many of our clients are based in the Tri-State area, and we’re experiencing increased demand for intellectual property services there,” said firm-wide Managing Partner Steven Nataupsky. “We’re looking forward to enhancing our current relationships by having an office in close proximity, as well as expanding our footprint in the region.”
Knobbe Martens, which celebrates its 55th anniversary this year, has grown to more than 300 attorneys, five of whom are relocating to New York. The region’s medical device, tech, media and entertainment, fashion and luxury goods, and pharma industries, along with its thriving start-up innovation environment, are a perfect fit with Knobbe Martens’ intellectual property and technology law practices.
Opening an office in New York allows Knobbe Martens to better recruit highly-qualified candidates with advanced technical and law degrees graduating from top universities in the state as well as the Northeast Corridor by offering a new location many candidates seek. The firm will welcome its first New York summer associate class in 2018 and, true to its longstanding business model and culture, plans to grow the office organically to meet demand.
“We are witnessing a decrease in graduating law students with degrees in STEM fields – which are held by more than 96% of our attorneys firm-wide– and this is heating up competition for new recruits,” said partner Robb Roby. Roby, who attended New York University School of Law, will relocate from Orange County to lead the new office as Managing Partner of the New York office. “While we see many East Coast law school grads in our West Coast summer associate programs, having an office in New York will significantly expand the pool of young attorneys prepared to join the firm and take on high-level IP work.”
Roby, who joined Knobbe Martens out of law school in 1997, represents clients in diverse technology areas and in various stages, from start-up companies to well-established multi-national companies. He has deep expertise in a wide range of industries from medical device to media and entertainment, and he advises clients regarding offensive and defensive competitive strategies, prelitigation strategies, infringement studies, invalidity and noninfringement opinions, strategic transactions, and complex patent prosecution.
The attorneys joining Roby in the New York office include:
- Tom Yee, a partner who focuses on optimizing the commercial value of the intellectual property of his clients, from sole inventors and medium-size companies to large multi-national corporations. Tom counsels clients on strategic actions for patent portfolio development, intellectual property transactions and licensing, and trademark portfolio procurement. Tom holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University.
- Dan Fischer, an associate who assists clients with preparing and managing their patent portfolios in various technological fields including metals/alloys, medical devices, semiconductors, oil pipes, polymers, composites, catalytic converters, and vehicle accessories/components. Dan holds a J.D. from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois.
- Zach Hong, an associate who focuses on intellectual property portfolio development for clients of varying sizes, from start-up companies to large multi-national corporations. Zach advises clients on strategies for U.S. and foreign patent and trademark procurement, intellectual property transactions, due diligence, and licensing in the medical device, healthcare IT, and software fields, among others. Zach holds a J.D. from Cornell Law School and a B.S. in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University.
- Mitchell Hadley, an associate who assists clients in all aspects of the preparation and prosecution of patent applications. Mitch holds a J.D. from Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School and a B.S in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University.
Knobbe Martens has a significant record of achievement, having recently been named the “Litigation Department of the Year” for intellectual property by the American Lawyer Media publication The Recorder; ranked among the top 15 firms nationwide in The National Law Journal’s “Intellectual Property Hot List;” named Intellectual Property Firm of the Year by Lawyer Monthly Magazine; and ranked a “Top 10 Law Firm for Diversity and Business” in the Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s “Do Good, Do Well List,” among other honors.
About Knobbe Martens
With over 300 lawyers and scientists nationwide, Knobbe Martens dedicates its practice to all aspects of intellectual property and technology law including litigation. Consistently ranked among the top intellectual property firms worldwide, Knobbe Martens serves a diverse group of clients from multinational corporations to emerging businesses of all stages. Headquartered in Orange County, California, Knobbe Martens also has offices in Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Silicon Valley, and Washington, D.C. More information about the firm can be found at www.knobbe.com.
