Global law firm Hogan Lovells Cadwalader announced that Melissa Mendoza has joined the firm as a Partner in the Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology practice area based in our Washington, D.C. office.
Mendoza is the former director of the Office of Compliance and Biologics Quality (OCBQ) in the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. OCBQ oversees CBER-regulated products over their entire lifecycle, from pre-market review and pre-license inspection to post-market review, surveillance, inspection, outreach, and compliance. Prior to her four-year tenure as director, Mendoza served as OCBQ’s deputy director for six years and as an Associate Chief Counsel for Enforcement in FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel for eight years.
“Melissa is a welcome addition to our growing team at Hogan Lovells Cadwalader,” said Janice Hogan, Practice Group Leader – Global Regulatory & IP. “She possesses a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of compliance and enforcement matters related to biological products, drugs, and devices, but most importantly, she knows how enforcers think and understands the current and rapidly changing environment.”
In her role directing OCBQ, Mendoza led the office’s engagement with industry, Congress, and other federal and state agencies on compliance priorities for the biological products under her purview. She issued warning letters and other compliance actions and drove the development of enforcement actions for referral to the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Melissa’s significant leadership, regulatory and policy experience at the FDA is a perfect complement to the existing talent in our group,” said Dave Fox, Practice Area Leader – Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology. “We are the premier industry practice for clients facing complex and high-risk regulatory issues globally, and now we have added the senior-most enforcement official from the Food and Drug Administration covering the most regulated and sensitive biological products used in medicine today. We are thrilled to offer yet another experienced public health regulator to advise our dedicated life sciences clients.”
Mendoza’s arrival is the latest move by the firm to grow the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology group, including the recent return of Xin Tao to the firm from Baker McKenzie, where he was chair of the U.S. Healthcare and Life Sciences Regulatory practice, and Elizabeth Jungman, former chief of staff at FDA, joining the firm in August 2025.
“Here in our nation’s capital, our clients look for lawyers who can effectively engage with regulators and not only does Melissa have a deep understanding of the FDA, but she also implemented many of the regulatory programs and priorities our clients face,” said Ajay Kuntamukkala, Office Managing Partner – Washington, D.C.
Mendoza added: “Having sat across the table from many lawyers at Hogan Lovells Cadwalader, I am familiar with the exceptional legal counsel they provide, and I am delighted to join this distinguished team.”
Mendoza received her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law and her B.A. from Dickinson College. Earlier in her career, she clerked for the Honorable Judge Patrick L. Woodward of the Appellate Court of Maryland, formerly Maryland Court of Special Appeals.
