Knobbe Martens
Firm overview:
“Excellent firm” Knobbe Martens is well resourced to provide the full spectrum of patent services, from advising to litigating. The firm has an expansive life sciences practice with over 100 attorneys and scientists across the firm, including 70 representing biotech clients. Knobbe Martens is particularly knowledgeable on Hatch-Waxman litigation and advises the world’s largest generic companies on bringing their versions of well-known drugs to market.
One satisfied client praises the firm’s “deep technical expertise”, noting that the Knobbe team “doesn’t shy away from going the extra mile”—whether that’s by expediting or broadening the scope of patent filings or offering advice on filing strategies.
Team overview:
Salima Merani is “an expert negotiator with one of the best long-term visions we have ever seen”, says a client. Merani co-chairs the firm’s Medical Device Group and has over two decades of experience building patent portfolios for life sciences companies.
Maria Anderson has over three decades of IP experience, and co-founded the firm’s Seattle office. Her practice encompasses patents and trademarks, across a variety of industries including consumer electronics, medical devices, Internet, and artificial intelligence (AI). Anderson has assisted clients on patentability and infringement matters, and crafted complete IP protection programmes for individual inventors up to global conglomerates.
Lance Smemoe also comes highly recommended by a client and is adept at managing global patent portfolios across a range of industries. Smemoe stays up-to-date with developments in cutting-edge technology and brings a personable approach to his IP practice.
Patent scientist Mani Hossein-Zadeh has a strong background in physics, electrical engineering, physical sensors, and biosensors. Hossein-Zadeh lends his two decades of research experience to drafting and prosecuting patents for clients relating to complex innovations.
Key matters:
● Masimo v Apple
Knobbe Martens represented Masimo and Cercacor in a patent infringement suit against Apple regarding the Apple Watches, Series 6 and up. In January 2023 a US International Trade Commission (ITC) law judge found that the Apple Watch infringed Masimo patents on technology for measuring oxygen in the blood.
In October 2023 the ITC issued a limited exclusion order and cease and desist order against the Apple devices at issue. In January 2024 the federal circuit denied Apple’s motion to stay the import ban of the infringing Apple Watch models while its appeal is pending.
A Delaware jury found in October 2024 that certain Masimo smartwatches infringed Apple’s patents but awarded the tech giant just $250. Masimo said the decision applied to a “discontinued module and charger”.
● Knobbe Martens represented Amazon when it was sued by Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute (RPI) and CF Dynamic Advances over alleged infringement of a patent related to natural language processing through its Alexa devices. In March 2024, a judge held the patent invalid and granted Amazon’s request for summary judgment. The Knobbe Martens team included Colin Heideman, Joseph Re, Jeremy Anapol, Nathan Reeves and Yanna Bouris.
- Intel et al v Katherine Vidal, case number 23-135, US Supreme Court.
In January 2025, the US Supreme Court denied a bid by Intel and Edwards Lifesciences to revive part of a suit challenging the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s policy of denying reviews of patents based on factors including whether a related court case is at an advanced stage. Intel and Edwards had challenged the rule along with Apple, Google and Cisco in federal court in California. Knobbe Martens’ Christy Lea is on the team representing Edwards Lifesciences.
Clients:
Amazon, Augmedics, AVITA Medical, Cipla, Edwards Lifesciences, Evident Vascular, HealthpointCapital, Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, which is part of the Temple University Health System, LimFlow SA, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Luxottica, Masimo, Padagis Israel Pharmaceuticals, Paragonix Technologies, Relievant Medsystems, Signet Healthcare Partners, Spectrum Solutions, Tokyo Ohka Kogyo, ViiV Healthcare Company, VIZIO, Zentalis Pharmaceuticals.
