Oct. 16, 2014
Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear LLP
See more on Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear LLPIrvine, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Palo Alto, Washington, D.C. | Intellectual property law
Over the years, that has never wavered, said Steven Nataupsky , who serves as firmwide managing partner.
"The firm was founded to be a top-notch IP firm and we have held very true to those values," he added. "We have never considered branching out into other areas."
Knobbe was at the right place at the right time, Nataupsky said.
"We started in Orange County," he added. "There were some very established companies here and an enormous need for IP attorneys."
Then, biotech and pharmaceutical companies began booming in San Diego and the firm opened its second office there in 1984.
"It's what we've done with all of our offices," Nataupsky said. "They are driven by client need."
In addition to Irvine and San Diego, Knobbe now has offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Palo Alto and Washington, D.C., with 147 partners, 120 associates, three patent counsel and one in-house counsel, along with numerous scientists and engineers.
"We went through the Great Recession without a single layoff," Nataupsky said. "We continue to see increasing demand from our clients."
While the firm continues to grow, Nataupsky said, it does so by hiring newly minted attorneys with scientific, medical, computer or engineering pedigrees, as well as those in the trademark and copyright spheres.
"We hire very few laterals," he said.
One reason is that Knobbe has adhered to a pay system based on seniority, rather than rewarding individual lawyers for the rain they make or the number of trials they handle in a given year.
This means that work is allocated to lawyers based on expertise, which, in turn, provides better service for clients, Nataupsky said.
"We don't pay more when you're up or less when you're down," he added. "It's hard for some people to adjust if they grew up in a different 'eat what you kill' system."
There is another reason Knobbe prefers to hire new talent right out of law schools.
"We get to instill our value system in young attorneys," Nataupsky said. "Those things are important to us."
But, these days, there is a downside to that approach, he added.
"Law school admissions are really down and there are not as many applicants in the pool with science backgrounds," Nataupsky said. "But we are not willing to reduce our standards."
Knobbe is not only competing with other law firms for these highly credentialed graduates, but also with the Googles and eBays of the world, Nataupsky said, adding, "Those people are in significant demand."
But, while the talent pool is waning, client demand remains strong, he said.
"It's the biggest challenge the firm has," Nataupsky added. "Finding great talent is very important to the growth of the firm."
Meanwhile, Knobbe continues to be an attractive merger target for suitors, who continue to come a-calling.
"We get approached all the time by mega firms that want to strengthen their positions on the West Coast or IP in general," Nataupsky said.
But he added, Knobbe has no interest in merging with any other law firm and will continue to chart its own course.
"I am optimistic about the future," Nataupsky said. "It's an amazing time in our history with the biggest technology explosion since the Industrial Revolution. It's an incredible time to be an IP practitioner."
- Pat Broderick
For reprint rights or to order a copy of your photo:
Email
jeremy@reprintpros.com
for prices.
Direct dial: 949-702-5390
Send a letter to the editor:
Email: letters@dailyjournal.com