People

Alex Sobolev パートナー

ロンドン

Alex’s multidisciplinary practice and transatlantic experience enable him to provide strategic commercial advice for technology led companies, including coordinating and implementing data and consumer risk mitigation projects, providing outsourcing advice and developing key legal risk mitigation strategies in relation to products where the pace of innovation nearly always outpaces the law.

He has advised companies at all stages of the corporate lifecycle, from software development and product launch, through technology licensing, sale and purchase, to mergers and acquisitions of data and tech-heavy businesses. He has assisted organisations with the design, development and implementation of global data protection and compliance policies, as well the management of risk and security associated with data retention, processing and transfer.

Ali Abugheida パートナー

サンフランシスコ

Prior to joining Orrick, Ali was a partner at Buckley LLP. He began his career at WilmerHale, where his practice included litigation and government enforcement matters.

Skyler Walker パートナー

Charlotte

Skyler has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for Securities/Capital Markets Law since 2023. In 2025, she was also named a “Rising Star” in North Carolina by Super Lawyers for Securities & Corporate Finance. Sklyer is currently on the Law360 Capital Markets Editorial Advisory Board since 2024.

Having lived and worked in Charlotte for nearly a decade, Skyler is committed to community philanthropy, supporting the arts, children’s health, and animal welfare.

She received her J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law and holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Kimberly Seay カウンセル

Chicago

Kimberly focuses her practice on real estate acquisitions and dispositions, commercial leasing, and real estate financing and she represents developers, institutional investors, and operating companies in complex transitions across all major asset classes. Kimberly's experience covers the full lifecycle of real estate assets, from the acquisition through development, construction, and operations. She also advises on related corporate matters and strategic transactions, aligning legal solutions with clients' business objectives.

Xiang Wang パートナー

北京; New York

ワン博士は、電気工学・コンピュータ工学の博士号、中国法の学位、米国ニューヨーク州およびインディアナ州での法曹資格を有し、米国特許庁に登録しているという数少ない経歴を持つ知的財産権弁護士として高い評価を得ており、中国国内屈指の知的財産関連の法務を提供している。中国に本拠を置く海外企業が関与した、訴訟と仲裁両方での特許紛争において成功を収めたことにより、オリックの中国知的財産チームは、China Central Television (CCTV)によって特集され、「Patent Wars」と題された30分のドキュメンタリー映画が2011年10月29日に放送された。

代表的な知的財産関連の案件 

• 中国で事業に従事する企業の大規模な特許・商標ポートフォリオの出願・登録手続き、強制執行、および技術移転／ライセンス供与契約。
• 中国および米国の両国におけるオフィスアクション、異議申立て、および特許の無効性に関する訴訟手続き、模造品・海賊版防止の取り組み、特許・商標の強制執行訴訟。
• 企業秘密、輸出規制、産業スパイ活動に関わる国境を越えた訴訟。
• 米国国際貿易委員会の下でのITC第337条関連訴訟。
• 製造物責任と欠陥商品回収。
• 米国地方裁判所における証券集団訴訟および米国証券取引委員会（SEC）と司法省（DOJ）により発議された調査や審理を含む、米国に登録している中国企業の監査委員会による調査やその他の調査事項に関連して取締役会やその企業を代理。
• 中国国家食品薬品監督管理局（SFDA）および米国食品医薬品局（FDA）への届出、薬品および装置の輸入登録免許、中国のGMP（医薬品製造品質管理規範）およびGSP（医薬品経営品質管理規範）、保険還付、その他の政府および規制当局の問題、臨床試験、CRO契約およびOEM契約における援助等を含む、中国および米国の両国における規制遵守および訴訟手続きにおいて医療機器製造会社および製薬会社の代理。
• 技術移転契約およびOEM契約、研究開発や製造に関する合弁事業および戦略的パートナーシップ。
• 知的財産に関連するデュー・ディリジェンスおよびポートフォリオに関するカウンセリング。
• 中国における検閲問題、データ守秘権と保護に関しソーシャルメディア会社を援助。

ワン博士の実践的な法的助言は、弁護士になる以前の10年以上に及ぶ医療機器および電子装置の両業界での経験の成果といえる。さらにワン博士は本人の名で医療技術に関する米国特許を4件取得している。これらの業界における経験には以下が含まれる。

• 米系医療技術コンサルティング会社のアジアサービス担当マネージング・ディレクター、米系医療機器製造会社のシニアコンサルタント兼科学諮問評議会メンバー、米系医療機器製造会社の研究開発担当エグゼクティブ・ディレクター、米国の大手病院外科手術部門の医療研究担当ディレクター、米系大手医療機器製造会社2社のソフトウェア・エンジニアおよびシステム・アナリスト、北京の中日友好医院のバイオメディカル・エンジニア。
• 上記の役職において、医療機器の開発、指示、製造；パートナー企業の選択、調査、および交渉；PMA およびFDA 510(k) に関する申請書の整理、助言、および編集；FDA、UL 544、CSA、およびその他の規制の監督および遵守；臨床試験の設計および遂行。

ワン博士は、中国において事業に従事する企業に影響を及ぼす知的財産権に関する法規制およびクロスボーダー関係の構築および進展の先導役として広く認められている。現在、上海の米国商工会議所知的財産委員会副会長、および中国のR&D-based Pharmaceutical Associationの法律顧問を務める。さらに、米国ペンシルベニア州フィラデルフィア市のドレクセル大学の機械工学およびバイオメディカル・エンジニアリングの客員教授でもある。

著書・著作

• 60を上回る書籍および業界紙の論説の著者または共著者である。最近では中国の医療機器および医薬品に関する新規制要件ならびに中国および米国で事業を展開しつつ知的財産を保護する方法に関する記事を著す。

講演およびプログラム

• 米国と中国における特許、商標、企業秘密紛争、および製造物責任訴を含む、知的財産保護の方法に関して国際セミナーやコンファレンスにおいて頻繁に講演している。
• クロスボーダー知的財産問題に関する新聞やニュースメディアによるインタビュー多数（例：The New York Times、The Wall Street Journal、Reuters、Bloomberg、International Herald Tribune、Financial Times、Law 360、Asian Legal Business、China Central Television (CCTV programs 「Dialogue」、「China Insight」、および米国証券訴訟に関するプログラム「Crossover」、ドキュメンタリー映画「Patent Wars」および「Digital Rights」)、China Radio International、China Business Law JournalM、Chinese Lawyer、people.com.cn、Caixin Media、Chicago Herald、Managing Intellectual Property、Asia IP、CFO Innovations、並びにSwedish Broadcasting Corporation)。

Matthew Nesburn パートナー

Santa Monica

Matt represents major financial institutions (cash and tax equity investors and infrastructure funds), developers, sponsors and lenders across the full project lifecycle. With experience in all renewables sectors, including solar, wind and storage, Matt provides comprehensive guidance from project inception to financing (tax equity, tax credit monetization and debt), corporate planning, equity investment and M&A transactions.

Recognized in Chambers USA, Matt is praised by clients as “thoughtful and commercial,” “super responsive, pragmatic, and skilled at blending business and legal” and “notable for his expertise across the full range of renewables asset types.”

Ernie Fok マネージング・アソシエイト

Santa Monica

Ernie is a valued member of the firm’s Intellectual Property Group. With broad experience in patent litigation, he leverages a unique blend of scientific knowledge and legal acumen to guide clients through complex IP disputes. Ernie has experience litigating patents at various stages, including the investigatory, pre-suit phase, discovery, expert discovery, and up to trial or arbitration. His experience in technology includes ranges from pharmaceuticals, tissue grafts, and gene editing technology to video encoders, automotive head units, and digital mapping software. His range of experience allows him to distill complex technology and legal arguments into concise, digestible pieces for clients, judges, and arbitrators alike. Ernie has worked with several teams to obtain victories and advantageous settlements for clients, including a favorable settlement for a multinational technology company client against a non-practicing entity in the Eastern District of Texas regarding video processing patents, as well as a victory in arbitration for a Fortune 100 pharmaceutical company client regarding its next generation blockbuster eye drug.

Ernie graduated cum laude from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2021, earning the law school's Mabie Outstanding Graduate Award and a High Tech Law Certificate with a specialization in Intellectual Property Law. He also holds an M. Ed. from Harvard University Graduate School of Education and B.A.s from the University of California, Berkeley in Molecular & Cell Biology and Cognitive Science with a concentration in neurobiology and neuroscience, respectively. Ernie also served as law clerk to the Honorable Judge Tiffany P. Cunningham at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, where he honed his skills in patent law, legal writing, and judicial advocacy.

His combination of technical insight and litigation experience makes Ernie a trusted advocate for clients navigating the complexities of patent litigation. He leverages his skills to zealously represent pro bono clients, including successfully arguing before the San Francisco Immigration Court to grant asylum to a victim of gang violence as well as representing a veteran in appeal to the Federal Circuit to advocate for the veteran’s rights.

Fredrick Levin パートナー

Santa Monica; Chicago; サンフランシスコ

In addition, Fredrick has represented corporate and individual clients in a wide array of national and transnational commercial disputes involving contract enforcement, corporate governance, debt collection, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and securities. He also has an active appellate practice and has briefed and argued numerous cases in federal and state courts throughout the U.S.

Fredrick is a frequent author and lecturer on litigation and compliance issues regarding the consumer financial services industry, including on topics such as federal preemption under the Dodd-Frank Act, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) mortgage servicing rules, the CFPB’s proposed arbitration rule, residential mortgage backed securities litigation, management of multi-jurisdictional litigation, enforcement of jury trial waivers and the use of American discovery in support of foreign litigation and damages measurement.

Prior to joining Orrick, Fredrick was a partner at Buckley LLP. He is co-located in the firm’s Chicago office and practices regularly in Illinois and Michigan.

Mitchell Grod Sr Counsel & Counsel to Winnow

Santa Monica

His clients include depository institutions, mortgage lenders and brokers, automobile lenders and finance companies, debt collectors and related service providers. He has significant experience advising clients on a myriad of state and federal regulatory matters.

Mitch is a member of the American Financial Services Association’s State Governmental Affairs Committee and Operations and Regulatory Compliance Committee. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America as "One to Watch" three times.

Prior to joining Orrick, Mitch was senior counsel at Buckley LLP.

Mike Heath パートナー

Los Angeles; Santa Monica

Mike has spent over 15 years helping founders and boards navigate the full company lifecycle—from formation and fundraising to scaling, acquisitions, and IPOs. He also serves as outside general counsel, advising on the legal and strategic challenges that come with growth.

Mike is all about efficiency, assembling legal teams that scale with his clients—from an early-stage founder sketching an idea on a napkin to executives leading multibillion-dollar companies through major transactions. His approach is rooted in trust and candid advice, particularly when navigating the complex and uncertain situations that inevitably arise in high-growth companies.

Leveraging Orrick’s sector-focused approach and legal innovation tools, Mike advises startups and high-growth companies on financing rounds, IPOs, and M&A deals. He also works closely with top venture capital and growth equity funds, guiding them through investments.

Prior to joining Orrick, Mike was a partner and co-founder of Gunderson Dettmer’s Los Angeles office.

Recognized as a “Next Generation Partner” by The Legal 500, Mike’s clients praise him as “incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, and always helpful,” with one calling him their “favorite external counsel.” Super Lawyers also named him a Rising Star in 2022 and 2023.

Mike earned both his law degree and bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley, just a short walk from each other down Bancroft Avenue. A lifelong Cal Bears fan, he still holds out hope for a Rose Bowl appearance—ACC realignment and all.

Ben Au パートナー

Santa Monica

Ben is committed to impacting his community and maintains an active pro bono practice. Ben serves on the Board of Directors for 826LA, a literacy and writing education non-profit. Ben previously served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and co-chaired its White-Collar Crime Committee, and Ben currently serves as the vice-chair of the NACDL’s Ninth Circuit Amicus Committee. Ben served two terms as an appellate lawyer representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, as well as two terms on the Executive Committee of the Yale Law School Association.

Ben was recognized as a "Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation. He was previously recognized by The Daily Journal as one of the top 20 lawyers under 40 in California.

Caroline Cherkassky パートナー

Santa Monica

Caroline’s practice spans a variety of industries, including manufacturing, fintech, health and life sciences, energy tech, CPG, SaaS and AI. She focuses on corporate governance matters and the day-to-day legal needs of startups and their investors from early stages through exit, and supports clients at and between their critical inflection points, including formation and founder matters, venture financings, debt financings, employment matters, commercial matters, public offerings and M&A. Caroline leverages Orrick’s deep bench of industry-leading specialists alongside her strong foundation on a broad range of matters, having spent the early years of her career as a corporate generalist.

Prior to joining Orrick, Caroline practiced in Silicon Valley and later chaired the Venture Capital and Emerging Growth practice of a leading Los Angeles boutique firm. She is a former President of the Los Angeles Venture Association, a frequent speaker on fundraising essentials for emerging growth companies, and dedicated sponsor of events supporting the women founder and investor community.