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Mike Fuller is a technology enthusiast and widely regarded for his expertise in obtaining, licensing, and managing due diligence on patents involving molecular biology and computer science. Sought after for his creativity and unique ability to obtain highly valuable IP, Mike is devoted to protecting his client’s innovations. Combined scientific and high-technology backgrounds give Mike a deep understanding of complex technologies, including machine learning/AI systems, bioinformatics, next generation sequencing and medical diagnostic systems and software. Collaborating with clients to develop strong, enforceable, IP portfolios in technologies as diverse as autonomous driving, lithium ion batteries, medical diagnostics, web systems and services, DNA sequencing, gene amplification, pharmaceutical proteins and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies is the hallmark of Mike’s practice. In addition to developing these and other highly valued IP portfolios, Mike represents his clients in high stakes contentious matters in front of the USPTO, including inter partes reviews (IPRs) and ex parte patent re-examinations. Dedication to meaningful client collaboration, while coming to the table with the requisite science and technology knowledge, allows Mike to offer tangible efficiencies in every area of his practice
He is managing partner of the Knobbe Martens office in San Diego, a member of the Executive Committee, and Chair of the firm’s Biotechnology Practice Group. He speaks internationally on a variety of intellectual property topics, and has been actively engaged in national debates over IP issues through his many years of service with the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO). He is also involved as a mentor and advocate for Southern California startups as a Board Member of San Diego Tech Coast Angels.
Some accolades include recognition as one of the San Diego Business Journal’s most influential business leaders in San Diego from 2017 - 2020, a San Diego Super Lawyer for 2015-2018, and one of the “World's Leading Patent Professionals" in the 2018 Patent 1000 guide by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine. A full list of Mike’s accomplishments can be found in the Awards & Honors section.
As a graduate student, Mike worked on software and biologic analyses of cholesterol-carrying apolipoproteins to advance the understanding of atherosclerosis and heart disease. Following graduate school he co-founded several high-technology startups that designed and fabricated personal computer motherboards, and created custom software and services for a variety of businesses.
Mike has received multiple awards and has been honored in both national and international forums for his legal accomplishments:
- Named one of the "World's Leading Patent Professionals" in the Patent 1000 guide for transactions (2018) and for both transactions and prosecution (2019-2022) by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine. In 2018, Mike was recognized for "taking charge of [the firm's] biotech section, doing deals with big pharmaceutical companies, and never losing his passion for the underlying technology in the closing stages of year-long negotiations". He was also commended for being "exceptionally creative in overcoming roadblocks without handing away his clients' advantages".
- Recognized in The Legal 500 "United States" 2019 and 2015 as being an outstanding practitioner. In 2015, he was noted for overseeing a number of inter partes reviews and ex parte patent re-examinations.
- Named to the San Diego Business Journal's (SDBJ) SD 500 list from 2017 - 2019 as one of the most "influential business leaders in San Diego".
- Named a 2018 and 2022 "Life Science Star" for Patent Strategy & Management in the Legal Media Group's (LMG) "LMG Life Sciences" Guide. Mike was recognized for providing outstanding work to his life sciences clients in the areas of portfolio management, due diligence, and licensing agreements. He was praised by a client for "knowing the field and [being] great at communicating".
- Selected for inclusion in the 2015-2018 San Diego Super Lawyers lists where he was recognized for his work in intellectual property law.
- Recognized among the world's leading practitioners of patent law in Who's Who Legal's 2016 edition of the international "Who's Who Legal: Patents" list.
- Named to the Daily Journal's list of Top Intellectual Property Attorneys of 2014, where he was recognized among the Top 25 Portfolio Managers & Patent Prosecutors of Intellectual Property.
- Selected as a "Top Attorney" in 2010 by The San Diego Transcript in the area of Intellectual Property Transactional work. Top attorneys were selected based on a survey of peers in the legal community.
- Selected as one of America's top 250 patent and licensing practitioners for 2010 by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) in their IAM Licensing 250: The World's Leading Patent and Technology Licensing Practitioners guide.
Trade Secrets Or Patents? Life Science Leader (May 2020)
Editor and contributor, Knobbe Martens Biotechnology Blog
Can we patent products found in nature? It's complicated. An update on Australia's Myriad decision..., JD Supra Legal Perspectives (October 2015)
Contributor, Knobbe Martens Section 101 Blog
Protecting Your Client’s Trade Secrets, Attorney Journal San Diego (December 2015)
Can we patent products found in nature? It's complicated. An update on Australia's Myriad decision..., JD Supra Legal Perspectives (October 2015)
The PTAB May be Taking a More Balanced Approach in Biotech and Pharmaceutical IPRs, Bloomberg BNA Pharmaceutical Law and Industry Report (March 2015)
Inter Partes Reviews: A Powerful New Weapon on the Pharmaceutical Litigation Battlefield, Daily Journal - Biotech Supplement (August 2014)
Speeches & Seminars
"Intellectual Property Strategies that Increase the Value of your Technology". Presented at GTC 5th Oncology Partnering & Deal-making Conference, San Francisco, CA (November 9, 2016)
"Strategic Decision-making in Dual PTAB/District Court Patent Litigation and Other Special Considerations for Pharmaceutical Patentees". Presented at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) General Counsels Committee Conference, San Diego, CA (November 2, 2016)
"Panel Discussion on Section 101 Patent Eligibility for Biotechnology Inventions." Presented at Intellectual Property Owners Association PTO Summit meeting, Washington, DC (March 15, 2016)
“Creative Intellectual Property Strategies: Enhancing the Value of Your Technology.” Presented at GTC 4th Oncology Partnering & Deal-making conference, San Francisco, CA (November 17, 2015)
“Strategies for Patenting at the Intersection of Biotech, Informatics & Healthcare.” Presented at CincyBio 2015, Cincinnati, OH (April 21, 2015)
"Panel Discussion on Section 101 Patent Eligibility." Presented at San Diego Intellectual Property Law Association (SDIPLA) dinner meeting, San Diego, CA (November 20, 2014)
"Inter Partes Reviews of Pharmaceutical Patents: Understanding How IPRs are Changing the Landscape of Innovator/Generic Litigation." Presented in webinar hosted by IPO's Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Issues Committee (July 23, 2014)