Mikle Jew headshot.

Mikle S. Jew

Senior Counsel

Mikle (pronounced “Michael”) Jew brings a practical, business-focused perspective to counseling clients and managing matters at both the pre-litigation and litigation stages. He has extensive experience representing clients in complex disputes before California state and federal courts, as well as in private arbitration and mediation. His practice spans a broad range of business litigation, including commercial contract, business tort, unfair competition, intellectual property, employment, financial, and real estate disputes.

Mikle has particular depth in litigating contract disputes and related business torts, with a focus on employment and confidentiality agreements involving covenants not to compete, non-solicitation agreements, and nondisclosure obligations. He also routinely represents global manufacturers in the automobile and boat industries in California lemon law and related warranty disputes. He advises and defends clients across diverse industries, including healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, biotechnology, real estate, and information technology. In addition, Mikle has a strong understanding of bankruptcy law and its implications on litigation, enabling him to guide clients through disputes that intersect with insolvency and restructuring issues.

Mikle began his legal career as a summer associate in Foley’s San Diego office and is currently a senior counsel working primarily out of the San Diego and Los Angeles offices. He is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation, Labor & Employment, Bankruptcy, and IP Litigation Practices. He is also a member of the firm’s Innovative Technology team, a cross-disciplinary team of Foley attorneys and professionals that understands the impact of innovative technology and helps clients develop future-proof legal strategies for their businesses.

In addition to his litigation practice, Mikle is a proud steward of the firm. He serves as an important voice on the Associates Committee, where he helps shape firm policies and initiatives impacting associates and senior counsel across the firm. As an active member of the Recruiting Committee since 2019, Mikle plays a central role in the firm’s recruitment efforts at both the law school and lateral levels. He also served as the San Diego office’s Summer Program Coordinator for Foley’s 2019, 2021, and 2022 summer associate classes. Mikle is additionally the San Diego office liaison for, and a founding member of, Foley’s Racial Justice and Equity Practice Group.

Outside of the office and courtroom, Mikle enjoys spending his personal time exercising, golfing, reading, traveling, and making memories with his family and friends.

Representative Experience

  • Represented clients in disputes involving non-compete/non-solicitation agreements and breach of non- disclosure obligations under California law.
  • Secured multiple client victories in both state and federal court by way of a special motion to strike pursuant to California’s anti-SLAPP statute, a powerful legal tool that can result in complete dismissal of a lawsuit and recovery of attorneys’ fees and costs.
  • Represented clients in business tort litigation including allegations of fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition, tortious interference, and RICO violations.
  • Represented clients in various intellectual property disputes including litigation over patents, copyrights, and trade secrets.
  • Successfully secured and defended against temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions in state courts across various industries.
  • Obtained an order dismissing with prejudice a federal California noncompete case on behalf of a large international shipping industry client, helping to define the scope of California’s newly amended noncompete laws under Business & Professions Code §§ 16600 et seq.
  • Settled a contentious multi-million dollar COVID-related supply chain dispute for an award-winning Hong Kong-based toy manufacturer.
  • Successfully defended a national solar energy client in Delaware Chancery Court against a competitor’s attempts to enjoin competition in connection with employee noncompete disputes.
  • Obtained receivers in multiple related high-profile California real estate actions on an emergency basis and defeated the developer’s attempt to undermine those receiverships and state court proceedings by securing dismissal of the developer’s bankruptcy case on bad faith grounds

Awards and Recognition

  • Selected by San Diego Business Journal as one of the 2025 40 Under 40 Next Top Business Leaders of Influence, 2025
  • Selected by San Diego Business Journal as one of the Asian Pacific Islanders Leaders of Influence, 2024

Affiliations

  • LCLD San Diego Alumni City Lead (2024 – present)
  • LCLD Pathfinder, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (2022)
  • Member of the American Bar Association Litigation Section
  • Member of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
  • Member of the San Diego County Bar Association
  • Member of the Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego

Community Involvement

  • Represented individual plaintiff before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in civil action challenging the constitutionality of California Vehicle Code § 27001, which regulates the use of a vehicle horn as a form of expressive conduct.
  • Represented adolescent asylum-seekers from Latin America.
July 18, 2025 Honors and Awards

Mikle Jew Named 40 Under 40 Business Leader of Influence by San Diego Business Journal

Foley & Lardner LLP senior counsel Mikle Jew is recognized by San Diego Business Journal as among the 2025 40 Under 40 Next Top Business Leaders of Influence.
The California state flag waves in front of the California State Capitol building under a clear blue sky, embodying the spirit upheld by any leading corporate law office.
November 11, 2024 Labor & Employment Law Perspectives

Recent California Federal Court Decision Indicates That Determining Whether an Employment Agreement Illegally Restrains Lawful Employment Can Be a Fact-Intensive Inquiry Requiring Discovery

In a recent decision issued by the United States District Court for the Central District of California, a federal court in California was tasked with determining whether dismissal of a cause of action for tortious interference with contract at the outset of a case is appropriate where the underlying contract arguably contained restrictive covenants in violation of California Business & Professions Code section 16600.
August 27, 2024 Pro Bono

Foley Secures Landmark Victory for Pro Bono Client in Federal and State Cases

Foley & Lardner LLP is proud to announce a series of significant pro bono victories on behalf of the San Francisco Zen Center, culminating in a clean sweep across both federal and state courts.
June 28, 2024 The Path & The Practice

Podcast Episode 111: Mikle Jew, Senior Counsel

This episode of The Path & The Practice features a conversation with Mikle Jew. Mikle is a senior counsel in the San Diego office focused on litigation.
May 30, 2024 Honors and Awards

Mikle Jew Named Asian Pacific Islander Leader of Influence by San Diego Business Journal

Foley & Lardner LLP senior counsel Mikle Jew is named a 2024 Asian Pacific Islander Leader of Influence by San Diego Business Journal for his leadership and contributions to the San Diego
The California state flag waves in front of the California State Capitol building under a clear blue sky, embodying the spirit upheld by any leading corporate law office.
October 2, 2023 Labor & Employment Law Perspectives

New Legislation Extends California Noncompete Ban to Agreements Signed Outside the Golden State and May Impose Notice Obligations that Apply Retroactively

As we’ve previously written, California already takes a strong position against employee noncompete agreements.