On May 21, 2026, Wilson Sonsini partner Michael Hostetler was recognized in the Daily Journal’s special report "Top Intellectual Property Lawyers 2026," an annual list honoring California's top lawyers specializing in patent litigation, trademark, and copyright. Michael has over 25 years of experience specializing in patent law for life sciences companies, particularly in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

The accompanying profile details how Michael has guided numerous start-ups and public companies through the complex journey from lab innovation to market, helping design IP strategies for 13 FDA-approved drugs and 60 active clinical trials. A key career milestone was advising Pharmacyclics during its acquisition by AbbVie for over $20 billion, where he learned critical skills in client communication and patent diligence. Recently, Michael has worked on major transactions including Verdiva Bio’s $410 million Series A financing, Lila Biologics’ collaboration with Eli Lilly, and Solve Therapeutics’ $120 million funding round. He credits Wilson Sonsini’s managing partner Doug Clark as a key mentor, noting that Doug shaped his approach to leadership and his commitment to practicing with fairness and compassion toward clients.

Michael emphasizes the increasing pace of biotech innovation and the growing importance of robust, timely patent strategies amid global competition and advances like AI in drug discovery. "The world of biotech innovation is moving faster than ever, with the rise of the Chinese biotech industry and the impact of artificial intelligence in drug discovery," he said. "It has become even more important than ever before to have in place a sound patent strategy and to promptly execute that strategy."

Click here to read Michael's full profile in the Daily Journal’s "Top Intellectual Property Lawyers" special report.