Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP and partners Maria Anderson, Mark Benedict, John Carson, Jon Gurka, Dan Hart, Ned Israelsen, John King, Irfan Lateef, Salima Merani, Joseph Re, Art Rose, Ron Schoenbaum, Melanie Seelig, Mauricio Uribe and William Zimmerman have been recognized in this year’s edition of the IAM 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners 2014.
The IAM Patent 1000, from the publishers of Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine, is a unique guide that identifies the top patent practitioners and firms in 40 countries around the globe. The IAM Patent 1000 consolidates the publication’s previous IAM Patent Litigation 250 and IAM Licensing 250, and also includes top litigators, licensing advisers and patent prosecutors.
Knobbe Martens was one of just 16 firms recognized for patent prosecution work in the United States and was among only four firms recognized in all three categories (prosecution, litigation and transactions) in California.
As one of the largest intellectual property firms in the U.S., Knobbe Martens was extensively lauded for its technical bandwidth, having every scientific discipline covered and ability to operate across all phases of patent procurement. The firm was also noted for its strong patent prosecution practice and unmatched capability to build commercially valuable patent portfolios.
Sixteen partners in the firm were specifically honored for their prosecution, licensing and litigation practices. Maria Anderson was acknowledged as a “detail-oriented software whizz” who is “laser focused” on getting the best coverage possible for her clients. “She manages her associates with an assured hand and consistently delivers top quality work.” Mark Benedict was recognized for providing strategic advice to mid-cap entities and handling transactional matters for universities. John Carson is a popular choice among European and Asian companies. Jon Gurka was described as an “invaluable member of the squad” and has tried numerous important cases to verdict. Dan Hart was roundly praised for his intent focus on quality and ability to exploit new USPTO initiatives in order to get patents issued quickly. Ned Israelsen was recognized for advising start-ups and establishing companies on worldwide protection strategies. John King, chair of the firm’s patent prosecution committee, was noted for his intuitive handling of cutting-edge technologies. Irfan Lateef was acknowledged for defending companies from attacks by non-practicing entities. Salima Merani was recognized as being a trusted partner for start-ups seeking to raise funds, as well as venture capitalists looking to make acquisitions—a duality that enables her to identify the key value drivers in any deal. Joseph Re was described as an “outstanding attorney who keeps getting better and better.” “He is a tremendous advocate with excellent written and oral presentation skills, but what separates him from the pack is his instinctive feel for how different judges think.” Art Rose won praise for “cutting through the nonsense to get to the heart of matters” and “providing creative solutions that work.” Ron Schoenbaum “makes in-house counsel look good, because he can work with executives effectively and in a way that is appreciable of their time.” Melanie Seelig was recognized for her “uncanny ability to see what is coming around the corner” and was described as “one of the most thoughtful lawyers around.” Mauricio Uribe was described as an “extremely thoughtful licensing and prosecution practitioner who identifies the key issues quickly before taking the most commercially appropriate action.” William Zimmerman was described as someone who “digs into the technical details but never gets lost in the technology” and was commended for his ability to distil complex concepts for a judge or jury.
The IAM Patent 1000 rankings are based on five-months of extensive research and nearly 1,000 telephone interviews with attorneys at law, patent attorneys and in-house counsel to identify individuals recognized by market sources for their exceptional skill sets and profound insights. The IAM Patent 1000 also identifies the leading law firms in the market based on the depth of expertise, market presence and the level of work on which they are typically engaged. For additional information and to view the full guide, visit Intellectual Asset Management magazine at www.iam-magazine.com.
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.
