Overview
Greg is a trusted advisor to clients on domestic and international trademark matters, providing comprehensive support in trademark clearance searches, registration, enforcement, and licensing. His approach to client service is rooted in active listening, collaboration, and a commitment to understanding each client’s unique business goals. He strives to maximize the value of intellectual property rights by delivering practical, business-focused solutions and maintaining open, responsive communication.
Greg is Co-Chair of the firm’s Trademark and Brand Protection Group. He regularly represents clients before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board in opposition and cancellation proceedings. His expertise also extends to copyright registration, enforcement, and licensing, as well as due diligence for intellectual property transactions. He represents clients across a diverse range of industries, including:
- Automotive
- Pharmaceuticals
- Medical devices
- Executive placement services
- Fashion and apparel
- Entertainment
- Sporting goods
- Restaurant services
In addition to his legal practice, Greg is actively engaged in the professional community. He attends the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas and the International Trademark Association (INTA) annual meeting each year. As the past co-chair of the Orange County Bar Association’s Entertainment, Sports & Marketing Section, Greg has presented to non-profit organizations on intellectual property topics. He is an Executive Committee Board Member for local ProVisors and UCLA Bruin Professionals groups, contributing to the broader legal and business community.
Education
- Loyola Law School (J.D., 2007), cum laude, Order of the Coif, St. Thomas More Law Honor Society, Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review
- University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA) (B.A. History, 1991)
Recognition
- Trademark Strategies for New Brands; webinar panelist discussing the challenges of trademark clearance in the contemporary global landscape (March 2025)
- AI in the World of IP; presentation to Orange County Paralegal Association (OCPA) regarding the advantages and risks of using artificial intelligence software to create intellectual property (September 2024)
- A Discussion with Amazon Counterfeit Crimes Unit’s Joe Wheatley: How Amazon Finds Bad Actors and Removes Counterfeit Products; podcast with Joe Wheatley, Senior Counsel, Amazon Counterfeit Crimes Unit, about how the Counterfeit Crimes Unit searches the Amazon platform to uncover bad actors and counterfeit products (January 2024)
- Knobbe Office Hours – Trademarks and Copyrights; presentation to Octane OC with Jason Enos, Vice President, Production at Intellivision, discussing advantages of trademark and copyright clearance and registration (December 2021)
- U.S. TM Filings – Reliance on Foreign Registration; webinar presentation regarding the advantages and risks of filing trademark applications in the U.S. based on a foreign registration (November 2020)
Awards & Honors
- Recognized in the World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000 as a “Leading Trademark Lawyer” from 2015 to 2018. In 2017, he was described as having “wide-ranging trademark experience, with a knack for prosecution and counselling.” In the 2018 WTR 1000 guide, editors commented that “his sweeping practice and pithy advice are a boon to any trademark owner hoping to gain a foothold in an increasingly competitive marketplace”.
- Named a 2016 and 2017 “Southern California Rising Star” by Super Lawyers magazine for his work in intellectual property law.
Affiliations
- Orange County Bar Association (OCBA)
- Past Co-Chair (2014), Entertainment, Sports and Marketing Division
- Member, Intellectual Property Division
- International Trademark Association (INTA)
- Past Member (2012-2015), U.S. Subcommittee of the Famous & Well-Known Marks Committee
- American Bar Association (ABA)
- Bruin Professionals, a UCLA Alumni Network
- ProVisors, a network of trusted professional advisors
News & Insights
Articles
Greg Phillips and Priyanka Menon, No URLs, No Liability: Court Finds Online Marketplace Not Liable for Contributory Infringement | Knobbe Martens, October 3, 2025
Greg Phillips and Priyanka Menon, Demonstrating a Connection Between the Mark and the Services Claimed in a Trademark Application | Knobbe Martens, June 10, 2025
Steven J. Nataupsky and Greg Phillips, Protecting Your Athlete’s Intellectual Property Rights, in Law of Professional and Amateur Sports, Ch. 28, (Gary Uberstine ed., 2006; revised 2025)
Indecent Content on Satellite Radio: Should the FCC Step In, Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review, Vol. 26 No. 2 (2005-2006)
Speeches & Seminars
Slurs, Student-Athletes and Tattoos: Key Intellectual Property Battles in Sports and Their Implications, Chapman University School of Law 2015 Entertainment & Sports Law Symposium (February 2015)
Protection for Your Copyrights, Trademarks and Domain Names, Public Law Center and OneOC, Seminar for non-profit organizations (August 2014)
Understanding Trade Secrets and Trade Secret Misappropriation, IP Impact San Diego – Trademark Seminar (July 2013)
Understanding Trade Secrets and Trade Secret Misappropriation, IP Impact Silicon Valley – Trademark Seminar (July 2013)
