Mehdi Khodadad

This year, Khodadad played a major role in the largest-ever reverse merger in the life sciences sector.

After shelving an attempt to go public in 2012, antibiotics developer Paratek Pharmaceuticals signed a deal to become a subsidiary of Transcept Pharmaceuticals Inc. Khodadad led a team that advised Paratek and its principal secured lenders and stockholders.

Khodadad described the transaction as "mission critical" for Paratek, whose lead asset, Omadacycline, is a drug candidate designed to treat patients with serious community-acquired bacterial infections. The combined company will carry on development of Omadacycline.

"The alternative would have been two companies really in distress," Khodadad said. "And the result is that you now have a combined company with two really promising drug antibiotic compounds that could have a profound impact in the marketplace in terms of social welfare."

"That's, I think, what we all strive for - is to play a small part in success of not just our clients, but also the impact on social good," he said.

For Khodadad, the defining moment in the deal was when "everyone got comfortable" that it was going to happen.

He likened it to a game of chess: "What I love about what I do is being in a position where you can kind of map out how a transaction is going to unfold and really find that path forward."

Also this year, Khodadad was approached by gene-sequencing leader Illumina Inc. to advise it on the establishment of The Illumina Accelerator Program, the world's first genomics incubator. He led Cooley's representation of the program and will be the primary corporate counsel for startups accepted into it.

In relating to his clients, Khodadad said he views the CEO of any company as a quarterback and likens himself as a "coach." When one of his private-equity clients called him its "consigliere," Khodadad said it was extremely humbling.

Khodadad has had longstanding relationship with private-equity firm Clearlake Capital in Santa Monica. He led Clearlake on a number of key acquisitions before becoming a partner, and serves as the primary outside corporate counsel to Clearlake's portfolio companies.

"It's the biggest honor having clients look to you not only as a lawyer, but as an advisor and confidante," Khodadad said. "That's the best compliment a client can give you."

- Alison Frost