July 2, 2024 (San Diego and Silicon Valley) – Three Procopio intellectual property partners—Noel Gillespie, Miku Mehta and Xiaofan “Frank” Yang—have been recognized for their excellence by being named to the 2024 World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR) Leaders list. This prestigious recognition is the result of months of peer review research across six continents in what WIPR says was “the most comprehensive and rigorous” to date. Researchers examine an attorney’s practice history, industry expertise and notable cases, as well as any additional activities, such as writing and teaching responsibilities that have allowed the lawyer to shape and influence existing and future IP practitioners.

Let’s meet our 2024 WIPR Leaders:

Noel Gillespie advises start up and emerging growth clients on strategic patent portfolio development and implementation to protect their technology and achieve their business objectives, the most important objectives being market share and premium pricing. He has extensive experience working with telecommunications companies, especially wireless telecommunications companies; digital health, health information technology, and medical devices companies; semiconductor; and software and Internet companies. His approach to patent portfolio development helps his clients ensure their patents guard these important objectives, even on a budget. Noel worked as an electrical engineer for many years, leading teams in the development of man-worn free space optical communication systems and early CDMA cellphones. This is his second year on the WIPR Leaders list; he has also been named the last two years to the IAM Patent 1000 list. He is based in Procopio’s Del Mar Heights (San Diego) office.

Miku Mehta advises clients in the U.S. and Asia on patent prosecution and counseling, as well as trademarks and copyrights. His practice focuses on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, due diligence projects, including preparation of opinions in the areas of patentability, validity, infringement and product clearance, and patent licensing. Miku has extensive experience in technology including computer software and hardware, networks, internet-related applications, environmental technologies, optics, mechanical engineering, business processes and medical devices, as well as registration and renewal of trademarks and counseling on export control matters. He is the leader of Procopio’s Intellectual Property team and its Asia Pacific practice. He has been named to the Patent 1000 and Strategy 300 lists by IAM. He is based in Procopio’s Silicon Valley (Palo Alto) office.

Xiaofan “Frank” Yang provides comprehensive IP strategic counseling to public and private biotechnology, pharmaceutical, digital health and medical device companies. His patent counseling and prosecution experience creates and protects IP assets as primary value propositions for growth enterprises in all stages of business, from proof of concept to clinical development, regulatory approval and product launch. Frank is also experienced in conducting due diligence in complex venture financings, public offerings, partnering/licensing transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. He has a global client base, including companies and investors in U.S., Europe, and Asia. After obtaining his B.S. in polymer chemistry and Ph.D. in organic synthesis, Frank worked as a medicinal chemist in the pharmaceutical industry for more than four years before becoming a patent practitioner in 2006. He is a member of the firm’s Management Committee and co-leader of Procopio’s Life Sciences practice and its Technology Transactions and Licensing practice. He has been named to the IAM Patent 1000 list the last two years and in 2023 was named a Leader of Influence in Life Sciences by the San Diego Business Journal. He is based in Procopio’s Del Mar Heights (San Diego) office.

Procopio attorneys and practice groups are routinely named to various legal rankings lists, including Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers®, Martindale-Hubbell®, and Chambers®. Law360 places Procopio high in their rankings for law firm diversity, and Procopio is recognized by Diversity Lab as a Mansfield Certified Plus law firm, its highest honor.