Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP partner Salima Merani, Ph.D. has been featured in the Minority Corporate Counsel Association‘s (MCCA) November/December issue of Diversity & the Bar’s list of 2014 “Rainmakers”. The annual list profiles diverse lawyers who are leaders in their field and have an established record of developing business. Merani was selected from a pool of nominees recommended by leading firms across the country, and was acknowledged for her business development acumen, legal versatility and emphasis on providing superior service to her clients.
When asked to describe her secret to success with clients, Merani responded, “I am passionate about my work. I love the strategy at the complex intersection between technology and intellectual property law. I also strive to understand the clients’ big picture business goals, as opposed to providing legal services with tunnel vision. Most of all, I work with an experienced, smart and dedicated team of lawyers and staff at Knobbe Martens that help me daily in making clients happy – they are invaluable to my success.”
Merani, with a doctorate degree in neuroscience, has nearly fifteen years of experience in building patent portfolios for life sciences and medical device companies. She also has extensive experience in conducting patent due diligence for venture capital firms. In addition to representing venture capital clients, she also works with companies and investors on U.S. and foreign patent and trademark portfolio management, licensing, gaining a strategic offensive patent position, and managing global patent risk.
Additionally, Merani is past Vice Chair of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) USPTO Inter Partes Patent Proceedings Committee, which oversees the interference, reexamination and derivation subcommittees. In 2011, she was also appointed to the AIPLA’s Special Task Force on America Invents Act rulemaking. She is a founding member of the Firm’s USPTO Trials and Post Grant Proceedings Committee, and has represented clients in multiple patent disputes before the USPTO and international patent and trademark offices.
With over 275 lawyers and scientists nationwide, Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP dedicates its practice to all aspects of intellectual property 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 San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Seattle and Washington, D.C. More information about the firm can be found at www.knobbe.com.
