Carol Pitzel Cruz

Advertising, Media & Entertainment Practice

Litigation

Trademark & Brand Protection

Carol is the Managing Partner of Knobbe Martens’ Seattle office and co-chair of the firm’s Hatch-Waxman Litigation practice. Carol is an accomplished intellectual property litigator and registered patent attorney who represents clients in all aspects of intellectual property litigation, including patent, trademark and trade dress cases. Carol has represented pharmaceutical and medical device clients in patent litigation in district courts, the ITC and on appeal at the Federal Circuit. Carol has also represented beverage companies in trademark and trade dress infringement disputes in the district court.

While she handles cases in a wide array of technologies, Carol offers a particularly deep experience in pharmaceutical matters. Carol has represented generics in dozens of ANDA litigations under the Hatch-Waxman Act involving some of the best-selling drugs in the world.

Carol is passionate about each client’s distinct needs. Carol is known for being diplomatic, smart, hard-working and respectful when positioning her client favorably before decision makers and judges. She is valued for her consistent ability to devise the most efficient path forward without losing sight of realizing the best strategic result.

Carol understands the risks and opportunities facing her clients when it comes to safeguarding their investment. Whether she is called upon to enforce a patent or trademark or defend against a claim of infringement, Carol is committed to protecting her client’s valuable IP and business interests.

Carol is recognized as a leading intellectual property litigator by numerous industry publications. She is listed among The Best Lawyers in America in patent litigation and intellectual property litigation, in the “World’s Leading Patent Professionals” of the “Patent 1000” guide by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine, and in Super Lawyers magazine as a “Rising Star” and among the “Top Women Attorneys in Washington.”

Prior to the law, Carol worked in the biotechnology industry in Seattle, focusing on quality control, high-throughput drug screening and lab automation.

American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)

Washington State Patent Law Association (WSPLA)