Mika Mayer , JD

Partner
Morrison & Foerster
Palo Alto, CA

When it comes to understanding the patent landscape in the medical device and drug delivery fields, there are very few patent lawyers more experienced than Mika Mayer. She has become one of the most sought after patent lawyers in these fields, which include areas such as cardiovascular, spine, and obesity, because she has either prosecuted or studied all the fields' critical patents and can quickly assess a client's situation. In addition to preparing and prosecuting patent applications, she provides strategic patent portfolio analysis for her clients. She works extensively in performing both investor side and company side IP due diligence reviews. The potential investments she has overseen range in size from small seed investments to multi-billion dollar acquisitions in the medical device, drug delivery and pharmaceutical fields. Mika is often relied upon to assist with some of the firm's litigation matters involving technologies within her areas of expertise. Mika develops IP strategies and prosecutes patents with a laser focus on protecting her clients' interests and maximizing the likelihood of their valuation and commercial success. Her prosecution and due diligence engagements for TranS1 and Hansen Medical, helped both companies shore up their patent portfolios and raise capital to further develop their respective technologies. Both companies are now successful and publicly traded. She also led the IP due diligence for Volcano Corporation's successful IPO in 2006, which raised more than $80 million for the company, and Mentor Corporation's $1 billion sale to Johnson & Johnson. In all, Mika has participated in or led more than 400 IP due diligences for some of the most sophisticated health care companies and investors in the world. Mika is consistently called upon by top decision makers in the medical device and drug delivery communities for her ability to translate IP risks into business risks, and provide strategic guidance and oversight in this regard. As these industries have gone global, so has her practice with companies in countries such as Ireland and Israel now utilizing on her expertise. In 2011, The American Lawyer lists Ms. Mayer as one of their ?45 Under 45,? identifying the best of the best among young women lawyers in The Am Law 200. In 2010, The Daily Journal honored Ms. Mayer as one of "Top 20 Under 40" attorneys in California, and she earned a place on the Law360 list of "Top 10 IP attorneys under 40 in the U.S." Ms. Mayer is the only patent prosecutor on all three lists. She is also recommended as a leading lawyer by Legal 500 US. In 2009 and 2010, Ms. Mayer was named a 'Rising Star' by Super Lawyers.