Mikle S. Jew
Conseiller principal
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.
Expérience des représentants
- 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
Prix et reconnaissance
- 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
Engagement communautaire
- 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.
Mikle Jew est nommé "40 Under 40 Business Leader of Influence" par le San Diego Business Journal
Une décision récente de la Cour fédérale de Californie indique que déterminer si un contrat de travail restreint illégalement l'emploi légal peut être une enquête approfondie nécessitant la divulgation de preuves.
Foley Secures Landmark Victory for Pro Bono Client in Federal and State Cases
Podcast Episode 111: Mikle Jew, Senior Counsel
Mikle Jew nommé leader influent d'origine asiatique et insulaire du Pacifique par le San Diego Business Journal