Michael W. Vella (Mike)

Partner

Mike Vella assists clients in the litigation and arbitration of their international business disputes, including claims of intellectual property infringement, securities law violations, and breach of contract. He also counsels clients on SEC investigations, internal investigations, and FCPA matters.

Mike has two decades of experience helping clients, as plaintiffs and defendants, to resolve their international disputes. Throughout his career, Mike has represented companies in high-stakes legal disputes involving Asia and the United States. For example, Mike recently represented Chinese defendants against claims of trade secret misappropriation in U.S. federal court. He also has assisted multinational corporations and Chinese companies in internal investigations involving China business operations.

Mike is experienced in helping Chinese companies resolve their legal problems in the United States. Among the Chinese companies that Mike has assisted in their international disputes are Beijing Tong Ren Tang (contract and trademark litigation), Chinmax Medical Systems (international arbitration), Huawei (patent litigation), and Longtop Financial Technologies Limited (SEC investigation).

Throughout his career, Mike has been active in pro bono activities, including working with the NAACP in securing the release of 35 falsely convicted African American residents of Tulia, Texas; working on numerous guardianship cases on behalf of abused, abandoned, and neglected children; and serving on the Board of the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program.