Malik Mikel is a lawyer, community advocate, and emerging philanthropist dedicated to expanding access, opportunity, and dignity for underserved communities in Jamaica and across the diaspora. Born in Kingston and now based in London, Malik is the first grandchild of the late Merle Thomas and one of the founders of the Merle Thomas Foundation, established in honour of his grandmother’s legacy of compassion, resilience, and service.

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As a Solicitor specialising in Intellectual Property (IP) and Commercial law, Malik advises multinational organisations on complex, high-value transactions and disputes within the technology, life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors. His work spans cross-border restructurings, licensing arrangements, regulatory investigations, and contentious IP disputes involving some of the world’s largest companies and sovereign states. This international practice has taken him across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, navigating legal frameworks that shape the global economy.

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During his professional tenure in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Malik worked on multi-jurisdictional mandates within one of the world’s most dynamic commercial and regulatory environments - the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). His experience navigating large-scale development ecosystems, state-level infrastructure initiatives, and innovation-driven regulatory frameworks continues to inform the Foundation’s strategic orientation toward scalable, sustainable community programmes.

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Despite an international career, Malik has remained deeply connected to Jamaica’s realities and the needs of rural and underserved communities. Through the Merle Thomas Foundation, he plays an active role in designing and overseeing initiatives focused on emergency relief, educational support, youth empowerment, and diaspora-led community investment. His work emphasises accountability, governance, and measurable long-term impact.

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Driven by heritage and a strong sense of duty, Malik is committed to ensuring that every initiative of the Foundation reflects the values his grandmother embodied: generosity, integrity, and an unwavering love for the people of Jamaica.