People

Yuanjia (Gina) Zhang Patent Agent Patents

Silicon Valley

Dr. Yuanjia (Gina) Zhang, a patent agent in the Silicon Valley office, is a member of the Intellectual Property Group.  As a patent agent, Dr. Zhang performs tasks related to patent prosecution including preparing and prosecuting patent applications. 

Dr. Zhang has broad technical background and experience in materials science and engineering, electronic devices, nanotechnology, and printing technology.  In particular, her technical areas include nanofabrication, semiconductors, organic electronics, molecular electronics, optoelectronics, electrophotography, inkjet printing, surface engineering, color science, and image processing.

Prior to joining Orrick, Dr. Zhang worked at Anova Law Group, where she prepared and prosecuted patent applications for large Chinese companies and prestigious universities, in industrial areas including Internet technology and semiconductor devices.  Before joining Anova Law Group, Dr. Zhang was a member of research staff in Xerox Innovation Group at Xerox Corporation.  Dr. Zhang also has prior industrial experiences at IBM T.J. Watson Research Center and Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation, in Shanghai, China.  Dr. Zhang’s doctoral research focused on the electronic charge injection and transport in nanoscale organic thin film transistors.

Dr. Zhang has technical publications in journals including Advanced Materials and Journal of Applied Physics.  Dr. Zhang is also an inventor with six U.S. patents granted and other U.S. and foreign patent applications pending.

Jinsong (Jeff) Zhang Partner Corporate, M&A and Private Equity

Beijing; New York

Jinsong (Jeff) Zhang is a partner of the M&A and Private Equity Group, splitting his time between Orrick’s Beijing and New York offices. Jeff represents Chinese and international clients from multiple industries, including financial institutions, Fintech, technology, health care and real estate, in a broad range of M&A, capital markets, corporate governance, regulatory and compliance matters.

Jeff is deeply experienced in representing both Chinese and international companies in cross-border public and private M&A, tender offers, privatizations, spin-offs and joint ventures.

He has a particular focus on advising Chinese companies (state-owned or private) and financial institutions on their outbound investments, regulatory and compliance matters in the United States. His clients cover a wide range of industries, including financial institutions, Fintech, technology, healthcare and real estate.

In addition, Jeff advises Chinese companies on international capital markets transactions, including SEC-registered offerings, private placements pursuant to Rule 144A, and listings in Hong Kong and the United States.

Having practiced for more than a decade in New York, and having served as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of CITIC Securities USA, a SEC/FINRA-registered broker-dealer arm of China’s largest full-service investment bank, Jeff offers Chinese clients a unique perspective when advising on U.S. transactional and compliance matters.

Prior to joining Orrick, Jeff was a partner at King & Wood Mallesons in New York. Before his in-house position at CITIC Securities USA, he practiced at two leading global law firms in New York, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai for many years.

Shelley Zhang Partner Intellectual Property, Patents

Beijing

Shelley Zhang, a partner in Orrick’s Beijing office, is a member of the Intellectual Property Group. Her practice focuses on IP prosecution and enforcement. Shelley has extensive experience in patents, trademarks, domain names, copyrights and trade secrets.

Shelley's related IP experience includes the following:

• Patent invalidation proceedings, anti-counterfeiting, anti-piracy efforts and patent and trademark enforcement litigation in China.
  
• Prosecution of patent and trademark, including application preparation, office actions/oppositions procedures and reexamination procedures.
  
• Enforcement and technology transfer/licensing arrangements for substantial patent and trademark portfolios for companies doing business in China.
  
• Advising on IP protection strategies, R&D related IP issues and matters in relation to export and import control of technology.
  
• Assisting Chinese companies in Section 337 U.S. International Trade Commission investigations, patent infringement litigations and product liability litigations in the U.S. 
  
• IP due diligence and portfolio counseling.

Yu (Victor) Zhang Associate China, Corporate

Beijing

Yu (Victor) Zhang, an associate in Orrick’s Beijing office, is a member of the M&A and Private Equity Group.

Victor regularly represents Chinese and international corporate and private equity clients in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, foreign direct investment (FDI) transactions, joint ventures, restructuring and other general corporate and compliance matters.

He is particularly experienced in advising Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) on their outbound acquisitions and investments. His clients cover a range of industries, including energy, metals and mining, and technology.

In addition, Victor has experience handling a number of Hong Kong and US IPOs for Chinese issuers.

Prior to joining Orrick, Victor practiced at two major international law firms for many years.

Dr. André Zimmermann, LL.M. Partner Technology Companies Group, Employment Law & Litigation

Düsseldorf; Munich

Dr. André Zimmermann, a Certified Specialist for Employment Law (Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht), heads Orrick’s German Employment Practice. With around ten years of international experience, André is well-versed in restructuring and headcount reduction, employment aspects of M&A transactions, and employment related litigation.

André is listed as "frequently recommended" employment law expert by JUVE Handbook of German Commercial Law Firms, editions 2017/2018 and 2018/2019, Germany's leading lawyer ranking. Clients recommend André to JUVE as “straight shooter" and "always refreshingly honest".

Our clients praise André's "creative and efficient style of working" and "a very practical and efficient style of providing advice", referring to him as "extremely responsive and accessible when we have urgent matters" and as "an excellent advocate in court hearings".

André advises companies on a wide range of HR legal matters with a special sector focus on technology companies, including hiring and discrimination concerns, misclassification, multi-jurisdictional and cross-border employment issues, HR data privacy compliance, roll out of employee handbooks and policies, performance management and terminations.

Most recently, André has advised leading multinational technology companies such as AppAnnie, Facebook, Flexera, GitHub, NVIDIA, Optimizely, Sabre, Sensata Technologies, Splunk and The Trade Desk on various employment matters in Germany.

Having long-standing experience in negotiating with works councils and unions in restructuring measures of all kind, a special focus of André's practice is on restructuring, outsourcing and headcount reductions. He is an acknowledged specialist in employing third-party personnel, especially through temporary agency work.

André is a core member of our global employment practice consisting of 70 specialized employment lawyers and world leading practices in our offices in the United States, Asia and Europe, offering the highest level of employment advice in all major jurisdictions. Our well-established teamwork across offices ensures international advice in employment law in our clients' cross-border projects.

 

Catherine Zinn Chief Client Officer

San Francisco

As Orrick’s Chief Client Officer, Catherine Zinn oversees Orrick’s sector focused business development, client satisfaction, alumni program and strategic events functions, globally.

Catherine and her team of experienced Managing Directors and other professional staff help ensure the firm is a steward of our clients' businesses. The team supports Orrick’s commitment to each client’s cause by listening to their views and concerns, responding to their needs, and articulating a shared understanding of priorities. Among other responsibilities, the team meets with clients to solicit their feedback and work with the firm’s relationship partners and teams to deliver value added services – and real innovation.

Catherine spearheads the firm’s strategic partnerships with thought leaders, community organizations, and other influencers - designed to add value for our clients and enhance the firm’s social impact. Additionally, Catherine commits a significant portion of her time connecting high profile executives, alumni, and other friends of the firm to jobs and to public company board seats, with an emphasis on diversity.

Previously, Catherine held senior client relations roles at DLA Piper and JAMS. With 20+ years of experience doing professional services sales, Catherine has built a reputation as a “super-connector” throughout the legal, tech, and financial services industries. Catherine’s passion in life is coaching and helping other people achieve their goals.

Catherine is a leader in the community:

• National Foundation for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (Board Member) Appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services
• Law Foundation of Silicon Valley (Board Member, Chair of Nomination and Governance Committee)
• Silicon Valley Directors’ Exchange, in affiliation with the Rock Center for Corporate Governance and Stanford University (Board Member) A community for Silicon Valley’s top public company directors
• International Women’s Forum, Legacy Foundation (Board Member) Investing in non-profits focused on women and girls
• American Heart Association, Go Red for Women (Executive Council)
• Shatter Fund Investing in companies led by female entrepreneurs (Advisor)
• Integra Ledger and the Global Legal Blockchain Consortium (Advisor)
• National Finance Committee for Kamala Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign (Founding Member)

Catherine has been recognized as a Woman of Influence by the Silicon Valley Business Journal and as a Woman of Achievement by Legal Momentum.

In January of 2015 she was inducted into the International Women’s Forum and in 2016 joined American Leadership Forum’s roster of senior fellows along with other top c-level executives and community leaders.

Catherine is a founding member of the National Finance Committee for Kamala Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign. She has also served on the 2011 Barack Obama National Finance Committee, and as the National Chair of Lawyers for Obama, and Hillary Clinton’s 2008 National Finance Committee.

Catherine was a three-sport varsity athlete in college, tennis instructor, personal trainer, and head coach of a top ranked high-school tennis team in Washington, DC. Catherine is a graduate of Hamilton College with a degree in Economics.

Shasha Y. Zou Senior Associate

New York

Shasha Y. Zou is a litigation managing associate in the New York office. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, including in matters involving intellectual property, commercial contracts, and securities.

Shasha's engagements include representing a major biotechnology company in an ICC arbitration proceeding and related proceedings in federal district court in connection with allegations of patent infringement. She also has recently represented a major software company in a jury trial over copyright infringement of source code and defended a satellite service provider in a bench trial against billion-dollar claims brought by the Department of Justice and four state Attorneys Generals related to its telemarketing practices.

Shasha takes an active role in Orrick's pro bono program. She has worked on asylum applications and also obtained a successful settlement on behalf of a client in the Southern District of New York in a copyright matter after the court granted summary judgment on the issue of copyright ownership.

Alexandre Zuber Associate Corporate, M&A and Private Equity

Paris

Alexandre Zuber is a corporate lawyer based in Orrick’s Paris office, with a focus on M&A, Private Equity and Equity Capital Market.

Prior to joining Orrick, Alexandre worked on corporate matters as a legal intern at August & Debouzy, CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre, Altana and Orrick. Alexandre also worked at Total and Ardian.

Mitchell Zuklie Orrick Chairman Technology Companies Group, M&A and Private Equity

Silicon Valley

Mitch Zuklie serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orrick. Under Mitch’s leadership, the firm has pursued a strategy to be a leading advisor to the global Technology & Innovation, Energy & Infrastructure and Finance sectors. Financial Times has chosen Orrick as the Most Innovative Law Firm in North America in both 2016 and 2017. And Fortune has selected the firm among the 100 Best Companies to Work For three years in a row.

Named by Chambers USA as an “eminent practitioner,” Mitch is an experienced business and legal advisor who has completed hundreds of venture capital financings and numerous public offerings, mergers, acquisitions and licensing transactions. He counsels technology companies at all stages of their life cycles, as well as their founders, advisors and investors.

Mitch has led the firm’s portfolio approach to innovation, including the transformation of its West Virginia operation into a center for analytics and innovation, the launch of Orrick Labs to develop customized technologies, and the creation of partnerships with leading innovation initiatives in the industry. He has also led the firm’s entry into new markets, including Houston, Austin, Santa Monica, Abidjan and Geneva.

He serves on the Board of the Berkeley Center for Law and Business and the Advisory Boards of the Stanford Law School Center on the Legal Profession and the Harvard Law School Center on the Legal Profession. He is also a member of the Board of the Wild Salmon Center.

He and his wife, Holly, have been married for more than 20 years. They have two children, Hannah (18) and Angus (16). Mitch posts regularly on social media about Orrick, venture capital, innovation and other interests. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

Onur Öztürk Associate M&A and Private Equity

Düsseldorf

Onur is an associate in the Düsseldorf office and a member of the M&A and Private Equity practice group.

He advises German and international clients in all aspects of corporate law. His focus lies on domestic and cross-border M&A and Venture Capital transactions.

During his legal training Onur worked at the M&A practice of a Big Four accounting firm and the legal department of a major German technology company in Germany and Canada. He joined Orrick in 2018.