NC Award Public Service SA Mikhail Natasha Lewis

April 5, 2021

N.C. Awards Committee
109 East Jones Street, Suite 315
Raleigh, NC 27601

Re: Support Letter for Nomination of Sheila Mikhail

Dear Awards Committee:

I enthusiastically write this letter to support the nomination of Sheila Mikhail for a North Carolina Award. Ms. Mikhail played an integral role in my development as a professional by providing critical mentorship and support during my formative years.

I was born in Fayetteville and grew up in Dunn, North Carolina. I graduated high school from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. In 2006, I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. When I finished college, I had not fully decided my career path. I had some interest in pursuing a career in the law, but I wanted to get exposure to a daily law practice, before deciding whether I wanted to become a lawyer. I found myself employed at Ms. Mikhail’s former law firm, Life Sciences Law, in Chapel Hill. While there, I had the opportunity to assist her with exciting transactions involving various life sciences companies, such as Talecris Biotherapeutics and promising gene-therapy based startups out of universities in the Research Triangle Park. I witnessed Ms. Mikhail combine acute business acumen, legal knowledge, and charisma in her tireless advocacy for clients.

After working with Ms. Mikhail for four years, I decided to pursue my own career in the law. She encouraged me to pursue my dreams and supported me at every step along the way. She provided strong personal and professional recommendations when I applied to law school and pursued a federal clerkship in the Eastern District of North Carolina. I am currently in-house counsel at a healthcare company. I feel as if I have come home to some extent, to my roots with Ms. Mikhail in the life sciences industry. She sowed those early seeds of interest in this field and inspired me to continue to press forward, despite whatever adversity might arise. I hope I can be as thoughtful and astute in my representation of my clients as Ms. Mikhail.

Ms. Mikhail has zealously worked for the improvement of the lives of companies and individuals in North Carolina. She is an exemplar of the strength of character and will to which we should all aspire. The State of North Carolina has been fortunate to have Ms. Mikhail for the past few decades, and I believe her to be a worthy recipient of a North Carolina Award. She has my highest support.

Sincerely,

/Natasha Lewis, Esq./