Knobbe Martens named California Legal Awards finalist for tech litigation

Knobbe Martens was named a finalist for Tech Industry Litigation Department of the Year at the 2026 California Legal Awards in Los Angeles, with litigation partner Brian Horne also a finalist for Intellectual Property Attorney of the Year. The recognition follows a year of major IP wins, including more than $1 billion in jury awards and a $634 million patent verdict for Masimo against Apple.

Why it matters: - The finalist nod reflects how high-stakes IP litigation can shape competition in tech, medical devices and life sciences. - Knobbe Martens said its recent wins helped protect innovation and secure outcomes for clients facing some of the industry’s largest companies. - The firm’s results included verdicts and defenses with major financial and market implications.

What happened: - Knobbe Martens was honored as a finalist for “Tech Industry Litigation Department of the Year” at the 2026 California Legal Awards. - The awards were held June 24 in Los Angeles and are presented annually by The Recorder. - Litigation partner Brian Horne was also a finalist for “Intellectual Property Attorney of the Year.” - The Recorder published Q&As with Knobbe Martens Litigation Practice Chair Sheila Swaroop and Horne about the firm’s litigation wins and strategy. - The firm’s complete Tech Industry Litigation Department of the Year Finalist Q&A was made available for readers to learn more.

The details: - Sheila Swaroop said the litigation team used deep technical expertise and trial experience to secure more than $1 billion in jury awards in high-stakes disputes. - A jury awarded Masimo $634 million in a patent infringement case against Apple. - The Masimo verdict was the largest patent infringement award in California in 2025 and among the largest ever in the medical device sector. - Applied Medical won a $381 million antitrust verdict against Medtronic. - The Applied Medical result was described as reinforcing fair competition in lifesaving surgical markets. - Knobbe Martens won a patent infringement dispute for Edwards Lifesciences involving its transcatheter aortic heart valve product. - The firm also won Hatch-Waxman cases for Lupin, Ltd. and Padagis Pharmaceuticals tied to treatment options for kidney disease and glaucoma. - Knobbe Martens secured a defense victory for Sigray, defeating claims of willful patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation. - Horne led the trial team for Sigray. - Horne said representing the father-daughter founders of Sigray was one of the proudest moments of his career. - Horne told The Recorder that new IP attorneys should master the law, issues and facts well enough to explain them simply.

Between the lines: - The recognition signals that top-tier patent, antitrust and trade secret litigation remains a core competitive advantage for IP firms. - The firm’s highlighted wins span medical devices, pharmaceuticals and x-ray technology, showing a broader litigation footprint than a single industry. - The finalist honor also underscores how trial outcomes can influence access to products, competition and company valuation.

What’s next: - Knobbe Martens is likely to keep leaning on trial-heavy IP work as it represents innovators in complex disputes. - The firm’s public emphasis on technical depth and courtroom results suggests more client pitches will center on litigation performance. - Readers can expect the awards to continue spotlighting firms and lawyers with major California litigation records.

The bottom line: - Knobbe Martens turned a year of marquee courtroom wins into recognition at one of California’s biggest legal awards shows.