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Fatih Mercan

Senior Counsel

Fatih Mercan

Senior Counsel

Fatih Mercan is a patent attorney with over a decade of experience in advising clients, ranging from multinational corporations to startups, on a broad range of technologies to align their intellectual property (IP) strategy with their business goals. He is based in the New York office where he is a member of the Chemical, Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Practice.

In addition to drafting and prosecuting patent applications, Dr. Mercan assists his clients in patent portfolio management, freedom-to-operate, patent invalidity, non-infringement, IP due diligence analyses and Patent Term Extension (PTE) and related regulatory matters. Fatih has deep familiarity with patent law issues specific to life sciences-based technologies, including biochemistry, cell signaling, diagnostics, therapeutics, genetics, immunology, microbiome, and nucleic acids.

Prior to joining Foley, Fatih served as a patent agent at a boutique intellectual property firm in New York, where he drafted and prosecuted patent applications, evaluated the patentability of innovations, conducted prior art database searches for patentability and freedom-to-operate analyses, and analyzed patent and scientific papers and documents.

Before pursuing his legal career, Fatih spent several years working as a postdoctoral fellow at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) conducting research on cancer epigenetics, specifically related to prostate cancer and leukemia. While at CSHL, Fatih also interned within the lab鈥檚 Office of Technology Transfer. Before CSHL, Fatih conducted doctoral research on cell signaling at Yale University, aiming to understand how normal cells sense and respond to nutrients.

Awards and Recognition

  • Her Justice, Pro Bono All-Star Award (2024)
  • Morton Wasserman Award (2021)
  • The Wann Family Foundation Award (2021)
  • Dean鈥檚 Award in Excellence, St. John鈥檚 University School of Law (2021)
  • Michael DeVito Memorial Scholarship, St. John鈥檚 University School of Law (2019)
  • Recipient, Dean鈥檚 List, St. John鈥檚 University School of Law (2017-2021)

Affiliations

  • Member, New York State Bar Association
  • Member, American Bar Association

Presentations and Publications

  • Co-author, 鈥淏ET Bromodomain Inhibition Suppresses the Function of Hematopoietic Transcription Factors in Acute Myeloid Leukemia,鈥 Molecular Cell (May 12, 2015)
  • Co-author, 鈥淩ole of SWI/SNF in acute leukemia maintenance and enhancer-mediated Myc regulation,鈥 Genes & Development (2013)
  • Co-author, 鈥淎 Novel Role For SHP-2 In Nutrient-Responsive Control of S6 Kinase 1 Signaling,鈥 Molecular and Cellular Biology (2013)
  • Co-author, 鈥淢AP kinase phosphatase-1 deficiency impairs skeletal muscle regeneration and exacerbates muscular dystrophy,鈥 The FASEB Journal (2010)
  • Co-author, 鈥淎nalysis of protein tyrosine phosphatases and substrates,鈥澛Current Protocols in Molecular Biology,聽Chapter 18, Unit 18-16 (2010)
  • Co-author, 鈥淩ole of MKP-1 in osteoclasts and bone homeostasis,鈥 American Journal of Pathology (2009)
June 12, 2026 Pro Bono

Foley Secures U Visa Approval for Domestic Violence Survivor After Nearly Decade-Long Pro Bono Advocacy

番茄社区; Lardner LLP secured a life-changing pro bono victory with the approval of a U visa petition on behalf of a survivor of domestic violence, bringing to a close nearly a decade of advocacy and uncertainty for the firm鈥檚 client.
March 15, 2024 Honors and Awards

Foley Honored with 2024 Pro Bono All-Star Award by Her Justice for Immigration Work

番茄社区; Lardner LLP associates Fatih Mercan, Sabrina Bryan, Ashley Lee, former senior counsel Emma Blumer, law graduate Kate Clendenen, and legal assistants Yili Khamly and Josh Oh were recognized by Her Justice with the Pro Bono All-Star Award as part of the organization鈥檚 2024 Commitment to Justice Awards.
Curved modern glass building facade with vertical and horizontal lines, featuring the 番茄社区; Lardner LLP logo in the lower right corner鈥攁n impressive corporate law office recognized for its lawyers in Chicago.
March 14, 2023 Blogs

USPTO Discusses Duty of Disclosure and Duty of Reasonable Inquiry

On February 23, 2023, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office held a virtual panel discussion on the duty of disclosure and duty of reasonable inquiry.
January 30, 2023 Blogs

USPTO-FDA Listening Session 鈥 Voices from Patient and Patent Advocates

On January 19, 2023, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a 鈥渓istening session鈥 focusing on USPTO-FDA collaboration initiatives proposed pursuant to President Biden's Executive Order on 鈥淧romoting Competition in the American Economy鈥 to 鈥減romote greater access to medicines for American families.鈥