
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution
USA Guide 2026 : California
Rankings

Ranked Individuals
Ranked Individuals
About
Provided by 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.
Clients (42)
- Masimo Corporation
- Monster Energy Company
- Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
- Sound United
- Cercacor Laboratories
- Sigray, Inc
- Imperative Care, Inc
- Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH
- Clearplay Inc
- PIPStek, LLC
- HTC
- VIZIO Inc
- Alpheus Medical
- Gynesonics, Inc.
- Cala Health
- Signet Healthcare Partners, LLC
- World View
- Celebrity Cruises
- Evident Vascular
- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
- CathWorks
- Contec Space Optics
- Conformal Medical, Inc.
- Hongene Biotech Corporation
- Kandu Health, Inc.
- Lpoxy Therapeutics
- Pacira BioSciences, Inc.
- Relief Cardiovascular, Inc.
- First American
- SoftBank Group Corp.
- Olaplex, Inc.
- AECOM
- BW Essentials LLC
- Razor USA LLC
- Home Instead Inc. / Honor Inc.
- Passy-Muir
- National Resilience
- Veracyte
- Paragonix
- St. John Knits
- Miss Me
- Mana Up Hawaii
Industries (24)
- Aerospace & Space Technology
- Automotive, Transportation & Power Sports
- Biosimilars
- Biotechnology
- Communications Technology
- Construction & Home Improvement
- Electronics & Semiconductors
- Fashion & Beauty
- Financial Services & Business Methods
- Food & Beverage
- Healthcare Information Technology
- Medical Devices & Procedures
- Pharmaceuticals
- Restaurant & Hospitality
- Software & Information Technology
- Sporting Goods & Recreation
- Advertising, Media & Entertainment
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Chemical, Industrial & Materials
- Clean Technology
- Consumer Products & Services
- Defense & National Security
- Energy
- Life Sciences
Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Work Highlights
Provided by Chambers
Knobbe Martens served as lead IP counsel to Alpheus Medical, filing over 100 international patents and trademarks and advising on IP diligence for a $52 million venture capital raise in May 2025.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
All the attorneys I have worked with at Knobbe Martens are rockstars and always on point. Their responsiveness is also excellent.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSAKnobbe Martens really has everything: talented engineers, scientists, and attorneys. They quickly grasp complexity and can extract key strategic decisions from it.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSAThe lawyers at Knobbe Martens are able to successfully manage challenges to multiple patent families at once. They are creative in finding appropriate ways to further existing patents, and especially skilled at working with founders whose initial patents may be less descriptive than the final product, to obtain additional intellectual property protection.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSAKnobbe Martens is excellent and very diligent. I’ve worked with them for many years, and they’ve developed a strong understanding of the appropriate scope of projects and customize scope accordingly, so their approach is not generic.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSAKnobbe Martens has the smartest people in the room.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSA
Notable Practitioners
Provided by Chambers
Band 2 
Band 2 
Joseph R Re
Joseph Re is experienced in representing both holders and alleged infringers of patents at trial and on appeal across a range of venues throughout the US. Koe Re is a trial lawyer and mechanical engineer who gets juries to fall in love with him. He is excellent at making sure that everything you do in a jury trial improves your chances of winning in the court of appeals.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSAJoseph Re leads matters with skill and success.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSAJoe Re is an extremely talented advocate with a deep understanding of relevant jurisprudence and tactical procedural rules of court. Joe presents himself with confidence, legal and factual accuracy and enough humor where appropriate to make it entertaining to watch him win.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSA
Band 2 
Band 2 
Salima Merani, PhD
Salima Merani frequently represents both emerging companies and their investors in a range of functions, including patent strategy, licensing and transactions. Salima is a pragmatic, client‑centric problem-solver whose strategic insight, technical knowledge and leadership drive pioneering life science innovations.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSASalima Melani is an incredible lawyer. She is an exceptional IP strategist who brings clarity, rigor and foresight to every matter she touches.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSASalima Merani is a trusted partner, strategist and collaborator across multiple areas that influence my company's current and future value, as well as our position in the marketplace. I trust her implicitly, and I am truly thankful that she is part of our team. Her contributions continue to elevate our work and reinforce the strength of our partnership.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSASalima’s deep technical, business and case‑law knowledge make her an invaluable IP partner at every stage of a company, from investment diligence and formation to ongoing IP strategy.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSAFor over a decade, Salima Merani’s intellect, insight, and innovation have advanced numerous patent families in the medical device space across several quite disparate technologies. She fully understands that, in the end, my companies are developing commercial products intended to help patients, and she brings this framework to the patenting process, ensuring that the results are both comprehensive and defensible.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSA
Band 4 
Band 4 
Lynda Zadra-Symes
Lynda Zadra-Symes co-chairs the firm's trademark and copyright litigation groups and is frequently called upon to handle complex IP disputes for clients from a wide array of industries. Lynda Zadra-Symes is solid, knowledgeable, pragmatic and deeply invested in understanding our business and needs.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSALynda is effective, responsive and skilled at protecting our service marks.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSA
Up and Coming 
Up and Coming 
Tom Cowan
Tom Cowan co‑chairs the Mechanical Engineering Practice Group at Knobbe Martens and is regularly retained for his counsel on prosecution and IP diligence in the aerospace, mechanical and medical device fields.
Tom Cowan is always quick to respond and provides valuable insight into our strategic options.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSAHe is an experienced attorney.
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution respondentUSA
Ranked Individuals at Knobbe Martens (4)
Members
Provided by Knobbe Martens

Steven J. Nataupsky
Head of Department

Joseph R Re
View profile of Joseph R Re
Salima Merani, PhD
View profile of Salima Merani, PhD
Lynda Zadra-Symes
View profile of Lynda Zadra-Symes
Tom Cowan
View profile of Tom Cowan
Knobbe Martens has rankings in the following guides
Band 3 USA 2026
Practice area: Intellectual Property
Location: Washington
View department profile for USA 2026
What success is built on
Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.