Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear

Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear: Professional Summary

Date: 2026-05-02

Firm Overview:
Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear LLP is a prominent intellectual property boutique firm headquartered in Irvine, California. Founded in 1962, it is one of the largest IP-focused firms in the United States, with approximately 275 to 300 lawyers and scientists. The firm operates additional offices in Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. While not a "BigLaw" general practice firm, Knobbe Martens is recognized within the Am Law 200 rankings, indicating its significant revenue and scale within the legal market. The firm is consistently ranked in the top tiers for patent litigation and prosecution by major legal directories like Chambers & Partners and Managing IP.

IP Litigation Specialty:
Knobbe Martens litigates across a wide spectrum of technologies, with a particular reputation in the life sciences, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, software, and electronics sectors. The firm's litigators are supported by a deep bench of professionals with technical degrees, including many with Ph.D.s or M.D.s, enabling them to handle complex technologies ranging from biotechnology to semiconductors. The firm's practice covers disputes in U.S. district courts nationwide, the International Trade Commission (ITC), and appeals before the Federal Circuit.

Litigation Practice and Notable Cases:
The firm represents a diverse clientele, including multinational corporations and emerging companies, and handles both enforcement and defense work. The provided data shows a recent appearance on the defendant side for LG Electronics in a case brought by Multimedia Technologies Pte Ltd. In that matter, Multimedia Technologies Pte Ltd v. LG Electronics Inc., Knobbe Martens partner Joseph S. Cianfrani was listed as lead counsel. Public records indicate that LG Electronics ultimately prevailed in a jury trial in May 2025, where the patents were found not infringed and invalid. Another significant, publicly reported success was the firm's representation of Masimo Corporation in a patent infringement suit against Apple concerning its Apple Watches, resulting in an ITC exclusion order. The firm's approach is to tailor its litigation strategy to client business objectives, whether that requires aggressive trial tactics or a focus on efficient resolution.

PTAB / IPR Practice:
Knobbe Martens has a highly active and well-regarded practice before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The firm is frequently recognized for its volume and success in inter partes review (IPR) and other post-grant proceedings, leveraging its technical depth to challenge and defend patents. Legal directories consistently give the firm high national rankings for its PTAB litigation work.

Key Partners:
The firm's litigation practice is led by a team of recognized partners. Joseph S. Cianfrani, listed as lead counsel in the tracked case, is a former Chair of the firm's Litigation Department and has extensive experience in trial and appellate matters, including a significant PTAB and Federal Circuit practice. Though he has since co-founded a new firm, his long tenure and leadership role were notable. Other key litigation partners frequently cited in legal directories include Joseph R. Re, known for his work in high-stakes technology cases, particularly for client Masimo Corp., and Sheila Swaroop, the current litigation practice co-chair with experience across district court, ITC, and PTAB matters. Stephen C. Stout, another attorney listed in the provided data, could not be definitively identified as a current IP litigator at the firm through public searches, which show multiple professionals with the same name in other fields.