Press Release 02.27.24
A leader in his field, Pillsbury Corporate partner Mike Hird has received Lawyer of the Year honors from Best Lawyers in three different categories.
Mike focuses on representing startup, emerging and public companies, principally those that are technology-oriented, and the various constituents of such companies, including investors, corporate partners and boards of directors. Mike’s practice includes corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, corporate collaborations, licensing arrangements and general corporate matters.
Representative Experience
- Advised Receptos, a biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for immune and metabolic diseases, from incorporation through technology in-licensing, VC financings, IPO and public follow-on offerings.
- Represented Invitae, which is bringing comprehensive genetic information into mainstream medical practice to improve the quality of health care for billions of people, from founder stage through IPO.
- Advised IDEC Pharmaceuticals on a variety of corporate transactions, including its collaboration with Genentech for Rituxan and its merger with Biogen.
Professional Highlights
- Recognized by Best Lawyers (published by BL Rankings LLC) as a Lawyer of the Year for Venture Capital – San Diego (2017); Securities/Capital Markets Law – San Diego (2016, 2023); Corporate Law – San Diego (2022, 2024); and Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law – San Diego (2013, 2020).
- Recognized by Best Lawyers (published by BL Rankings LLC) for Corporate Law (2010 – 2024), Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law (2013 – 2024), Securities/Capital Markets Law (2013 – 2024) and Venture Capital Law (2013 – 2024).
- Member of the Board of Directors of San Diego Squared (SD2), which focuses on increasing diversity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) careers and strives to inspire, support, and mentor students at every stage of the talent pipeline (August 2020 – present).
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- Served as chairman and president of the San Diego Venture Group, a nonprofit business association that supports and promotes the region’s venture capital and startup company ecosystem.
- Served as director and executive committee member for CONNECT, one of the nation’s first startup accelerators that works to create and scale great innovation companies.
Education
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J.D., Harvard Law School, 1988
magna cum laude, Teaching Fellow, Economics Department, Allyn Young Teaching Prize, 1986-87 and 1987-88A.B., Occidental College, 1984
summa cum laude, Phi Beta KappaUniversity of the Philippines
Henry Luce Scholar, 1984-85
Admissions
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California