Friedland Cianfrani Adds Litigator Matt Pham to Growing IP Boutique 

(June 16, 2025) Intellectual property boutique Friedland Cianfrani LLP announced today that IP litigator Matt Pham is joining the firm as an associate as of Monday, June 16th. Pham was most recently an associate at Knobbe Martens—also the original firm of Friedland Cianfrani’s four other attorneys.

Pham has a diverse background in law and engineering, having worked for Mondelez International, the international food conglomerate that makes Oreo cookies, Ritz crackers, Halls cough drops, and many other brands. 

“I really loved working at Knobbe,” Pham says. “I was not looking to change jobs. But I’ve known Mike (Friedland) well and have come to respect and admire his law practice since I started at Knobbe in 2021. I’m old-school, and I like to practice law the way Friedland Cianfrani does—with personal connection and real face time, not overly relying on technology.”

Pham began his professional journey studying engineering at the University of Toronto, not far from his hometown of Markham, Ontario. He obtained his degree in Materials Science and Engineering. “I was fascinated by its breadth. It brings together physics, chemistry, and engineering. And it’s very practical. You’re looking to use and develop materials to solve real-world problems.” 

Pham’s engineering journey brought him to food giant Mondelez International. He worked at Mondelez’s Cadbury chocolate factory in Toronto, where he designed, researched, and developed food packaging, including for Oreos, Chips Ahoy!, and Sour Patch Kids. 

“In packaging, where I spent most of my time, we got orders from marketing and sales on new plans for the company’s various brands,” he said. “We executed on those plans; sometimes it was new branding, sometimes a change in the material or size of a container. There were some challenging projects, and for a while, I thought I would stay—but then law got in the way.”

“My boss at Mondelez used to talk about the company’s intellectual property system,” Pham continues. “He encouraged me to write down my ideas and enter them into the company’s invention disclosure system.”

“I invented some packaging ideas and solutions. One we called the ‘Moby Tray,’ because it was a paperboard tray structured and folded to resemble a Mobius strip. Interacting with Mondelez’ patent counsel, I came to appreciate what IP was all about, and I realized that I wanted to make law my future.”

He proceeded to the University of Illinois College of Law and hasn’t ever looked back.

“Matt’s exactly the type of lawyer we want as our patent litigation practice continues to expand,” Friedland said. “He is a brilliant lawyer and engineer, and he’s also an extraordinarily nice person. People love working with him.” 

Cianfrani also made a mark on Pham at their former firm, both remembered.

Pham recalls that Cianfrani gave a talk to younger lawyers that really stood out, since “most advice for new attorneys would just be ‘bill, bill, bill.’” 

Cianfrani had different advice: “He told us, ‘Get in the car and drive to the courthouse. Take the time to go see what’s happening. Watch a hearing or trial intently, like a movie. Study the lawyers and the judge. See how the game is played.’ I took that advice very seriously. And that’s a big part of what drew me here.”

“I had no idea I’d made such an impact on Matt,” Cianfrani says, “but I’m delighted that I did. He’s going to connect beautifully with our clients, and his engineering background will get a workout here. It’ll be fun.”

In his leisure time, Pham said, “I’m very artsy. I like to play a mix of Spanish and jazz guitar—think of artists like Chet Atkins, John Williams, and Wes Montgomery. I also have some sewing projects—I study the dress shirt. A lot. And of course, I get out and hike, swim, all that good stuff Southern California has to offer.”

He also is a youth mentor in the Orange County Big Brothers program, spending time with his little/mentee about every two weeks. The commitment began a year ago, when the young man was 12, and will continue for another five years, Pham says.

Friedland Cianfrani represents clients in patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright litigation and related transactions and counseling in nearly every industry, from medical devices, to software, semiconductors, electric vehicles, consumer products, apparel, accessories, sporting goods, beauty products, furniture, and food and beverages.