MAIA Biotechnology (MAIA) S-3 Shelf registration

Exhibit 5.1

MITCHELL SILBERBERG & KNUPPLLP

A Law Partnership Including Professional Corporations

August 14, 2023

MAIA Biotechnology, Inc.

444 West Lake Street, Suite 1700

Chicago, IL 60606

Re: MAIA Biotechnology, Inc.

Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to MAIA Biotechnology, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), including the base prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”), relating to the proposed issuance from time to time of up to $150,000,000 aggregate offering price of (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), in one or more series or classes, (iii) warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (the “Warrants”), (iv) the Company’s senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities (collectively, the “Debt Securities”), which may be issued pursuant to a senior debt indenture (the “Senior Debt Indenture”) between the Company and the trustee to be named therein (the “Senior Debt Trustee”) and a subordinated debt indenture (the “Subordinated Debt Indenture,” and together with the Senior Debt Indenture, the “Indentures”) between the Company and the trustee to be named therein (the “Subordinated Debt Trustee” and, together with the Senior Debt Trustee, the “Trustees”), (v) subscription rights to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Debt Securities or Units (as defined below) (the “Subscription Rights”) or (vi) units composed of any of the foregoing (the “Units”). The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Debt Securities, Subscription Rights and Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Warrants may be issued pursuant to a warrant agreement (the “Warrant Agreement”) between the Company and a bank or trust company as warrant agent. Any Preferred Stock may be exchangeable for and/or convertible into shares of Common Stock or another series or class of Preferred Stock. Any Debt Securities may be exchangeable and/or convertible into shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock. The Units may be issued pursuant to a Unit Agreement (the “Unit Agreement”) between the Company and a bank or trust company as unit agent. The Securities are being registered for offering and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

As counsel to the Company in connection with this opinion letter, we have examined such corporate records, documents, and instruments of the Company and reviewed such questions of law as we have deemed necessary for the purpose of rendering the opinions set forth herein and we have examined the proceedings proposed to be taken by the Company relating to the issuance and sale of the Securities. We have also examined the Registration Statement as filed with the Commission in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

437 Madison Ave., 25th Floor, New York, New York 10022-7001

Phone: (212) 509-3900 Fax: (212) 509-7239 Website: www.MSK.COM

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We have examined such documents and considered such legal matters as we have deemed necessary and relevant as the basis for the opinions set forth below. With respect to such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as reproduced or certified copies, and the authenticity of the originals of those latter documents. As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have, to the extent deemed appropriate, relied upon certain representations of certain officers and employees of the Company.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. With respect to shares of Common Stock, when (a) the issuance and the terms of the sale of the shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company in conformity with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws; (b) such shares have been issued and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor in an amount in excess of the par value thereof, in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and/or the applicable prospectus supplement; and (c) to the extent such shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock, Warrants or Debt Securities, when such shares have been duly issued and delivered as contemplated by the terms of the applicable Preferred Stock, the Warrant Agreement relating to such Warrants or the Indenture relating to such Debt Securities, respectively, the shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

2. With respect to any particular series or class of shares of Preferred Stock, when (a) the issuance and the terms of the sale of the shares of Preferred Stock have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company in conformity with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws; (b) an appropriate certificate of designation relating to a series or class of the Preferred Stock to be sold under the Registration Statement has been duly authorized and adopted and filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware; (c) the terms of issuance and sale of shares of such series or class of Preferred Stock have been duly established in conformity with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its property; (d) such shares have been issued and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor in an amount in excess of the par value thereof, in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and/or the applicable prospectus

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supplement; and (e) to the extent such shares of Preferred Stock are to be issued upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock, Warrants or Debt Securities, when such shares have been duly issued and delivered as contemplated by the terms of the applicable Preferred Stock, the Warrant Agreement relating to such Warrants or the Indenture relating to such Debt Securities, respectively, the shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

3. With respect to Warrants, when (a) the issuance and the terms of the sale of the Warrants have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company; (b) the terms of the Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its property; (c) the Warrants and the applicable Warrant Agreement relating to the Warrants, if any, have been duly executed and countersigned and the Warrants have been issued and sold in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and/or the applicable prospectus supplement; and (d) the Company has received the applicable consideration for the Warrants as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and/or the applicable prospectus supplement, the Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.

4. With respect to Debt Securities, when (a) the issuance and the terms of the sale of the Debt Securities have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company; (b) the terms of the Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its property; (c) the Debt Securities and the applicable Indenture relating to the Debt Securities have been duly executed and countersigned and in the case of the Indenture, duly authenticated by the Trustee, and the Debt Securities have been issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and/or the applicable prospectus supplement; and (d) the Company has received the applicable consideration for the Debt Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and/or the applicable prospectus supplement, the Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.

5. With respect to the Subscription Rights, when both: (a) the issuance and the terms of the sale of the Subscription Rights have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company; (b) the terms of the Subscription Rights and of their issuance and sale have been duly established so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its property; and (c) the agreement(s) relating

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to the Subscription Rights have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company, then the Subscription Rights will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

6. With respect to Units, when (a) the issuance and the terms of the sale of the Units have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company; (b) the terms of the Units and of their issuance and sale have been duly established so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its property; (c) the Unit Agreement and the Units have been duly executed and countersigned and the Units have been issued and sold in accordance with the applicable Unit Agreement, as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and/or the applicable prospectus supplement; and (d) the Company has received the applicable consideration for the Units as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and/or the applicable prospectus supplement, the Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.

In rendering the opinions set forth above, we have assumed that (i) the Registration Statement (and any applicable post-effective amendment thereto) will have become effective under the Securities Act, a prospectus supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby and such Securities will have been issued and sold in accordance with the terms of such applicable prospectus supplement and in compliance with all applicable laws; and (ii) a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to such Securities (if applicable) will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iii) the Securities will be duly authorized by all necessary corporate action by the Company and any agreement pursuant to which such Securities may be issued will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Company will remain duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under applicable state law; and (v) the Company has reserved a sufficient number of shares of its duly authorized, but unissued, Common Stock and Preferred Stock as is necessary to provide for the issuance of the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock pursuant to the Registration Statement.

The opinions set forth above are subject to the following exceptions, limitations and qualifications: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors; (ii) the effect of general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought; and (iii) the unenforceability under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the indemnification of, or contribution to, a party with respect to liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy. We express no

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opinion concerning the enforceability of any waiver of rights or defenses with respect to stay, extension or usury laws. Our opinion expressed herein is also subject to the qualification that no term or provision shall be included in any certificate of designation relating to any series or class of the Preferred Stock, Warrant Agreement, Indenture, Unit Agreement or any other agreement or instrument pursuant to which any of the Securities are to be issued that would affect the validity of such opinion.

This opinion is opining upon and is limited to the current federal laws of the United States, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (including reported judicial decisions interpreting the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware) and the State of New York. We express no opinion with respect to the effect or applicability of the laws of any other jurisdiction. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion letter should the laws of such jurisdiction be changed after the date hereof by legislative action, judicial decision, or otherwise.

We hereby consent to the use of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, to the use of our name as the Company’s counsel and to all references made to us in the Registration Statement and in the prospectus forming a part thereof. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. This opinion is given as of the effective date of the Registration Statement, and we are under no duty to update the opinions contained herein.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP

MITCHELL SILBERBERG & KNUPP LLP