WSGR logoWSGR logo
WSGR logo
  • Experience
  • People
  • Insights
  • About Us
  • Careers

  • Practice Areas
  • Industries

  • Corporate
  • Intellectual Property
  • Litigation
  • Patents and Innovations
  • Regulatory
  • Technology Transactions

  • Capital Markets
  • Corporate Governance
  • Corporate Life Sciences
  • Derivatives
  • Emerging Companies and Venture Capital
  • Employee Benefits and Compensation
  • Energy and Climate Solutions
  • Executive Advisory Program
  • Finance and Structured Finance
  • Fund Formation
  • Greater China
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Private Equity
  • Public Company Representation
  • Real Estate
  • Restructuring
  • Shareholder Engagement and Activism
  • Tax
  • U.S. Expansion

  • Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs)

  • Environmental, Social, and Governance

  • AI and Data Center Infrastructure
  • Energy Regulation and Competition
  • Project Development and M&A
  • Project Finance and Tax Credit Transactions
  • Sustainability and Decarbonization
  • Transportation Electrification

  • U.S. Expansion Library and Resources

  • Post-Grant Review
  • Trademark and Advertising

  • Antitrust Litigation
  • Arbitration
  • Board and Internal Investigations
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Consumer Litigation
  • Corporate Governance Litigation
  • Employment Litigation
  • Government Investigations
  • Internet Strategy and Litigation
  • Patent Litigation
  • Securities Litigation
  • State Attorneys General
  • Supreme Court and Appellate Practice
  • Trade Secret Litigation
  • Trademark and Copyright Litigation
  • Trial
  • White Collar Crime

  • Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing
  • Antitrust and Competition
  • Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS)
  • Communications
  • Data, Privacy, and Cybersecurity
  • Export Control and Sanctions
  • FCPA and Anti-Corruption
  • Federal Trade Commission
  • Fintech and Financial Services
  • Government Contracts
  • Healthcare and FDA Regulatory
  • National Security and Trade
  • Payments
  • State Attorneys General
  • Strategic Risk and Crisis Management
  • Tariffs, Customs, and Import Compliance

  • Antitrust and Intellectual Property
  • Antitrust Civil Enforcement
  • Antitrust Compliance and Business Strategy
  • Antitrust Criminal Enforcement
  • Antitrust Litigation
  • Antitrust Merger Clearance
  • European Competition Law
  • Third-Party Merger and Non-Merger Antitrust Representation

  • FDA Regulatory and Compliance

  • Anti-Money Laundering
  • Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI)
  • Team Telecom

  • AI in Healthcare
  • Animal Health
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Aviation
  • Biotech
  • Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
  • Clean Energy
  • Climate and Clean Technologies
  • Communications and Networking
  • Consumer Products and Services
  • Data Storage and Cloud
  • Defense Tech
  • Diagnostics, Life Science Tools, and Deep Tech
  • Digital Health
  • Digital Media and Entertainment
  • Electronic Gaming
  • Fintech and Financial Services
  • FoodTech and AgTech
  • Global Generics
  • Internet
  • Life Sciences
  • Medical Devices
  • Mobile Devices
  • Mobility
  • NewSpace
  • Quantum Computing
  • Semiconductors
  • Software

  • Offices
  • Country Desks
  • Events
  • Community
  • Our Diversity
  • Sustainability
  • Our Values
  • Board of Directors
  • Management Team

  • Austin
  • Boston
  • Boulder
  • Brussels
  • Century City
  • Hong Kong
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • New York
  • Palo Alto
  • Salt Lake City
  • San Diego
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Shanghai
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Wilmington, DE

  • Law Students
  • Judicial Clerks
  • Experienced Attorneys
  • Patent Agents
  • Business Professionals
  • Alternative Legal Careers
  • Contact Recruiting
Michael Hostetler
Partner
Patents and Innovations
San Francisco
San Diego
mhostetler@wsgr.com

D415-947-2471

Download vCard
Open PDF
  • Designed and implemented IP strategy for 13 FDA-approved drugs and 60 active clinical trials

Erleada, Imbruvica, Lesinurad, Maralixibat, neffy, Otiprio, Palsonify, Talazoparib, TEPEZZA, Tyrvaya, VIZZ, Widaplik, and Xiidra

  • Extensive experience representing clients on both sell-side and buy-side M&As, with eight over $1 billion

Abide Therapeutics, Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Aragon Pharmaceuticals, Ardea Biosciences, Horizon Therapeutics, Lengo Therapeutics, Pharmacyclics, RayzeBio, Seragon Pharmaceuticals, Synthorx, and Vividion Therapeutics, each leading to an acquisition by a major pharmaceutical company.

  • Extensive experience representing underwriters, investors, and companies in financings

    Avalon BioVentures, AXA Investment Managers, Foresite Capital, Frazier Healthcare Partners, General Atlantic Service Company, Novo Holdings, OrbiMed, RA Capital Management, SR One Capital Management, venBio Partners, Vida Ventures, and other venture and investment funds, in IP diligence matters.

    Have supported more than 500 clients undergoing IP diligence for a venture round of investment

    Ambrx, ARS Pharma, Avidity Biosciences, Boundless Bio, Centessa Pharmaceuticals, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Denali Therapeutics, Design Therapeutics, Erasca, Harpoon Therapeutics, Janux Therapeutics, Kinnate Biopharma, LENZ Therapeutics, MBX Biosciences, ORIC Pharmaceuticals, Synthorx, and TCR2, all on IP matters related to their IPOs.

  • Connects Life Sciences Community

    Co-creator of Wilson Sonsini’s Healthcare Investment Initiative, which includes the Healthcare Investment Forum and the Innovator’s Edge Series. Also on the board of directors for LaunchBio, and co-creator and host of the NextGen VC Podcast.

Experience
  • Designed and implemented IP strategy for 13 FDA-approved drugs and 60 active clinical trials

Erleada, Imbruvica, Lesinurad, Maralixibat, neffy, Otiprio, Palsonify, Talazoparib, TEPEZZA, Tyrvaya, VIZZ, Widaplik, and Xiidra

  • Extensive experience representing clients on both sell-side and buy-side M&As, with eight over $1 billion

Abide Therapeutics, Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Aragon Pharmaceuticals, Ardea Biosciences, Horizon Therapeutics, Lengo Therapeutics, Pharmacyclics, RayzeBio, Seragon Pharmaceuticals, Synthorx, and Vividion Therapeutics, each leading to an acquisition by a major pharmaceutical company.

  • Extensive experience representing underwriters, investors, and companies in financings

    Avalon BioVentures, AXA Investment Managers, Foresite Capital, Frazier Healthcare Partners, General Atlantic Service Company, Novo Holdings, OrbiMed, RA Capital Management, SR One Capital Management, venBio Partners, Vida Ventures, and other venture and investment funds, in IP diligence matters.

    Have supported more than 500 clients undergoing IP diligence for a venture round of investment

    Ambrx, ARS Pharma, Avidity Biosciences, Boundless Bio, Centessa Pharmaceuticals, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Denali Therapeutics, Design Therapeutics, Erasca, Harpoon Therapeutics, Janux Therapeutics, Kinnate Biopharma, LENZ Therapeutics, MBX Biosciences, ORIC Pharmaceuticals, Synthorx, and TCR2, all on IP matters related to their IPOs.

  • Connects Life Sciences Community

    Co-creator of Wilson Sonsini’s Healthcare Investment Initiative, which includes the Healthcare Investment Forum and the Innovator’s Edge Series. Also on the board of directors for LaunchBio, and co-creator and host of the NextGen VC Podcast.

Education
  • J.D., Duke University School of Law, 2001Order of the Coif; Summa Cum Laude; Grand Prize Winner, Duke Business Plan Competition
  • Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, 1992
  • B.S., Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1987
Honors
  • Recognized in the 2026 edition of Chambers USA for Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution
  • Named among the 2026 “Top Intellectual Property Lawyers” by the Daily Journal
  • Named a finalist for “Patent Strategy Attorney of the Year (California)” for the LMG Life Sciences 2024 Americas Awards

  • Recipient, LMG Life Sciences’ 2020 Patent Strategy Attorney of the Year – California
Admissions
  • State Bar of California
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Credentials
Education
  • J.D., Duke University School of Law, 2001Order of the Coif; Summa Cum Laude; Grand Prize Winner, Duke Business Plan Competition
  • Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, 1992
  • B.S., Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1987
Honors
  • Recognized in the 2026 edition of Chambers USA for Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution
  • Named among the 2026 “Top Intellectual Property Lawyers” by the Daily Journal
  • Named a finalist for “Patent Strategy Attorney of the Year (California)” for the LMG Life Sciences 2024 Americas Awards

  • Recipient, LMG Life Sciences’ 2020 Patent Strategy Attorney of the Year – California
Admissions
  • State Bar of California
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Select Speaking Engagements

  • Co-creator and host, “NextGen VC Podcast,” 2023-Present
Insights

Select Speaking Engagements

  • Co-creator and host, “NextGen VC Podcast,” 2023-Present
Focus Areas
  • Biotech
  • Intellectual Property
  • Life Sciences
  • Patents and Innovations
Recent Insights
Client Highlights
Wilson Sonsini Advises Crinetics on Patent Matters Related to $10 Billion Acquisition by Vertex
On July 6, 2026, Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, a global pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapeutics for endocrine diseases, announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Vertex will acquire Crinetics for $85.00 per share in cash, for a total equity value of approximately $10 billion, or approximately $8.8 billion net of estimated cash acquired. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is patent counsel to Crinetics and advised the company on patent matters related to the transaction.
Learn More
Podcasts
NextGen VC Podcast – Why the Future of Biotech Starts with the Brain
What does neuroscience have to do with venture capital? Quite a bit, according to Jason Pitts, Ph.D., principal at General Atlantic. In the latest episode of the NextGen VC Podcast, hosts and Wilson Sonsini partners Mike Hostetler and Jen Fang sit down with Jason to talk about the winding path that took him from studying the brain at Cornell University to evaluating some of the most promising companies in biotech.
Learn More
View All
Recent Events
Affiliated Programs
East Coast NextGen VC Forum 2026
LaunchBio’s NextGen VC Forum is the premier event for venture capital professionals to deepen their knowledge of the life science and biotech sectors while building meaningful connections across the industry. The forum features expert led sessions that offer practical insights into evaluating, supporting, and scaling science-backed startups. Networking is built into the program to help participants expand their reach and grow their networks. Co-created with Wilson Sonsini, the half-day forum includes a networking lunch, three interactive one-hour sessions, and a closing happy hour.
Learn More
Affiliated Programs
West Coast NextGen VC Forum
LaunchBio’s NextGen VC Forum is the premier event for venture capital professionals to deepen their knowledge of the life science and biotech sectors while building meaningful connections across the industry. The forum features expert led sessions that offer practical insights into evaluating, supporting, and scaling science-backed startups. Networking is built into the program to help participants expand their reach and grow their networks. Co-created with Wilson Sonsini, the half-day forum includes a networking lunch, three interactive one-hour sessions, and a closing happy hour.
Learn More
View All
  • people
  • insights
  • about us
  • careers
  • Binder
  • Alumni
  • Mailing List Signup
  • Client FTP Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Accessibility
WSGR logo
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Instagram
Youtube
Copyright © 2026 Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. All Rights Reserved.