Michael J. Lerner

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Michael provides strategic judgment and practical advice regarding diverse matters for pharmaceutical, life sciences, and health care companies. Clients–including public and private pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and other health care companies, as well as their investors and investment banks–value his extensive experience as both in-house counsel and outside legal and business advisor.

This background has contributed to Michael's stellar record of successful outcomes in product acquisitions and divestitures, technology licensing, sales and marketing practices, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, corporate compliance, employment law, and regulatory matters. Importantly, he understands the interplay of all these factors and how to manage them effectively for the optimum completion of each transaction.

Prior to joining Lowenstein Sandler, Michael was Senior Vice President and General Counsel of EKR Therapeutics, a specialty pharmaceutical company focusing on acute care hospital products. That position followed six years as Vice President and General Counsel at Reliant Pharmaceuticals Inc., which Michael helped grow into one of the nation's largest privately held pharmaceutical companies before it was acquired by GlaxoSmithKline in 2007. As part of Reliant's senior management team, he was lead inside lawyer on product acquisitions and dispositions totaling in excess of $650 million, and helped the company raise more than $660 million in equity and debt.

Earlier in his career, Michael was partner in charge of the pharmaceutical and life sciences practice at a midsize law firm, representing startup, specialty, and large pharmaceutical and other health care-related companies in corporate, partnering, and licensing matters.

Michael is Chairman of the board of directors of the Blanche and Irwin Lerner Center for the Study of Pharmaceutical Management Issues at Rutgers Business School.