Mikle Jew headshot.

Mikle S. Jew

Senior Counsel

Mikle (pronounced “Michael”) Jew prides himself in his practical, business-minded approach to counseling clients and managing his matters, both at the pre-litigation and litigation phases. He has significant experience successfully representing clients in complex litigation in both California state and federal courts, as well as in private arbitration and mediation. His practice focuses on a wide variety of business litigation disputes, including commercial contract, business tort, unfair competition, intellectual property, and employment. Mikle regularly litigates contract disputes and related business torts, particularly with respect to employment and confidentiality agreements concerning covenants not to compete, non-solicitation agreements, and nondisclosure obligations across various industry sectors, including healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, biotechnology, and information technology.

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 Business Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Labor & Employment, 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. As an active member of the firm’s Recruiting Committee since 2019, Mikle plays an active role in the firm’s recruitment efforts both at 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 also 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.

Awards and Recognition

  • Selected by San Diego Business Journal as one of the Asian Pacific Islanders Leaders of Influence, 2024

Affiliations

  • 2022 LCLD Pathfinder, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
  • 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.
11 November 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.
27 August 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.
28 June 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.
30 May 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
02 October 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.
29 June 2023 Deals and Wins

Foley Wins Dismissal of Lawsuit Against Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation

Foley & Lardner LLP is pleased to announce it has secured dismissal of a lawsuit against its client The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Inc.