Colleen McDuffie Partner
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
She brings a deep understanding of what drives innovative companies and a market reputation for efficiently and effectively getting intellectual property transactions and other complex commercial deals done.
Colleen counsels companies at all stages, from startups to Fortune 100, on the technology license and development agreements that drive their businesses, the strategic alliances that grow their industry relationships, and any other technology- and IP-driven agreements that are needed so companies can meet their business goals.
Colleen has extensive experience drafting and negotiating a wide variety of complex commercial agreements, including: intellectual property and data licenses; software development and license agreements; IT-focused services agreements, including consulting, development, hosting, and various “as-a-service” agreements; manufacturing and distribution agreements; joint venture and joint development agreements; and technology and intellectual property acquisition and disposition agreements. She also provides advice in connection with intellectual property and technology matters attendant to M&A and other corporate transactions.
She brings deep experience in the mobility technologies space, from connected vehicles and their supporting IT platforms to clean fuel technologies. She also has extensive experience in semiconductor design and fabrication, satellites and space technologies, telecommunications, and adtech.
Colleen has been involved in numerous pro bono activities, including: volunteering with voting rights and voter protection organizations; advising Georgetown’s Halcyon House social entrepreneurship fellows on intellectual property matters; hosting a start-up IP licensing webinar; and drafting and negotiating agreements for a PSA supporting equal wages for women.
Before becoming an attorney, Colleen spent several years working as a computer hardware and software engineer and performing research at a scientific think tank.
Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)
Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)
Ashley works with litigation attorneys and third party vendors to manage the review and production of documents relevant to investigations and litigation. This work includes using early case assessment technology to analyze, categorize and cull data. She also manages teams of skilled professionals performing document review, redaction, analysis, production and drafting privilege logs. Ashley assists the litigation team to prepare for trial, including drafting deposition summaries, factual memoranda and exhibit charts. She also works with practice office attorneys on transactional tasks, including contract review and due diligence.
Ashley has dedicated significant time to pro bono matters, including assisting trial counsel representing abused and neglected children. She is an active member of Orrick’s Associates of Color Mentoring Group, which promotes diversity and leadership among minority associates.
Mailand
As a partner resident in Orrick’s Milan office and a senior member of the M&A and Private Equity Group, Guido is acclaimed for his broad expertise and comprehensive knowledge in the field.
In the area of M&A, he regularly assists leading corporations, investment holding companies, and family offices in structuring and negotiating domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances. His experience extends across a range of industries, with a particular focus on the industrial and healthcare sectors, where he is known for his ability to manage sophisticated transactions and deliver practical solutions.
Guido’s private equity practice is distinguished by his work with both investment funds and, above all, entrepreneurs. Guido is a key legal partner to Italian entrepreneurs, advising on all aspects of corporate law and governance. He is valued for his ability to act as a business partner, providing ongoing counsel on day-to-day operations as well as long-term planning and extraordinary transactions. Clients rely on his deep sector knowledge, commercial acumen, and pragmatic approach to navigate complex legal and business challenges. Moreover, he advises investment funds on the structuring and execution of acquisitions and disposals, helping them identify opportunities, manage legal risks, and achieve their strategic objectives in the Italian market.
In the area of joint ventures, Guido has significant experience advising on the formation and management of strategic partnerships and alliances, enabling clients to pursue growth opportunities and innovation in highly competitive markets.
Guido also has extensive cross-border experience, regularly assisting international corporate and funds investing in Italy as well as Italian corporate and funds pursuing opportunities abroad, ensuring seamless execution and effective cross-border coordination.
Guido is recognized as a Leading Partner in Private Equity by Legal 500. He is ranked in Chambers Europe for Private Equity and for Corporate/M&A: Mid-Market, reflecting his strong reputation and expertise in the Italian legal market.
San Francisco
San Francisco
Dan is experienced in Hatch-Waxman litigation, including disputes involving drug treatments for cancer and HIV. Dan is also experienced in biologics litigation and counseling, representing clients on matters involving expression vectors, antibodies, gene therapies, and CAR T-cell therapies. Dan’s experience includes litigating patents directed to recombinant DNA technology, complex manufacturing processes, small molecule compounds, crystalline forms, methods of treatment, oral dosage formulations, injectable formulations, and fixed dose combination products.
Dan has contributed to numerous victories on behalf of our life science clients, including a complete win in a multi-patent Hatch-Waxman trial for a client’s blockbuster cancer therapy, favorable claim constructions in numerous cases, and obtaining a special master’s report and recommendation for attorneys’ fees for the opposing parties’ exceptional discovery misconduct. Dan has courtroom advocacy experience, including presenting to the district court for Markman proceedings.
New York
Before joining Orrick, Eliza served as a law clerk to Judge Paul J. Watford on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Judge Jesse M. Furman on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan. She also worked as a temporary Special Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee on the confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Tokio
He mainly works on the development and financing of renewable energy projects as well as general corporate matters.
Prior to joining Orrick, he worked for an international law firm and a Japanese company where he engaged in M&A, structured finance and renewable energy transactions.
Los Angeles
A natural advocate, Sunny has first chaired litigation from inception through favorable resolution and successfully briefed and argued dispositive motions and appeals. Sunny is adept at all stages of discovery, comfortable with cross-border disputes, and experienced in both government and internal investigations. Sunny also has particular knowledge regarding the nuances of alternative dispute resolution, including drafting and enforcement of both B2B and B2C arbitration provisions.
Sunny jumpstarted his career by honing his research and writing skills as law clerk to Chief Judge Kimberly J. Mueller of the federal District Court in Sacramento and judicial extern to the late Judge Harry Pregerson of the Ninth Circuit. Before law school, Sunny served for several years as a trade attache for the French government, covering the oenology and viticulture sector.
Sample engagements include:
Orange County
Paris
Anissa advises French and international companies on all aspects of French employment and labor law.
Prior to joining Orrick, Anissa worked on employment matters as a trainee at Allen & Overy, and as a legal intern and legal specialist at Skadden and CMS in Paris.
San Francisco
San Francisco
His practice includes serving as bond and disclosure counsel on revenue and tax-supported bond transactions in a variety of financing structures, including fixed rate bonds, variable rate bonds, synthetic fixed rate bonds and conduit issues.
New York
He has practiced in the area of public finance for more than 15 years, serving as bond counsel, underwriters’ counsel and borrower counsel in various revenue bond financings, including those related to public power, sewer and storm water, tobacco, higher education, student loans, hospitals and multi-family and single-family housing. He is also bond counsel to various issuers relating to their commercial paper programs.
New York
As a Climate Advisor at Orrick, Avani is a key member of our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Group. She provides non-legal advice to clients on their climate-related governance, strategy, risk management, and relevant targets and metrics, as well as the identification of relevant ESG issues for a range of companies, the collection and analysis of key climate- and ESG- performance metrics, the preparation of climate- and ESG-related disclosures, and research and writing on emerging climate and ESG trends. She also advises and assists clients in conducting greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) inventories, including identifying emissions boundaries and material categories of Scope 3 GHG emissions.
Prior to joining Orrick, Avani worked as a Corporate Sustainability and Climate Change (CS&CC) Manager at ERM (2021-2023) and as an Air Quality/Sustainability Senior Consultant at Ramboll U.S. Corporation (2012-2021). At both these consulting firms she worked on a variety of air quality and GHG compliance, permitting, and reporting projects, along with ESG due diligence using International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards and Equator Principles. Avani has developed GHG inventories and evaluation of GHG mitigation strategies for a variety of sectors, including city/county municipalities, corporations, airports and seaports, logistical warehouses, and oil and gas facilities.
She has managed and developed Climate Change and Sustainability Reports and Plans, Energy Conservation Plans, and Corporate Social Responsibility Reports, using reporting frameworks such as GHG Protocol, Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), CDP, and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Avani has robust expertise with GHG analysis and reporting, strategy development, policy and regulatory review, and peer benchmarking, for projects located both within the United States and internationally.
Avani has a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago (2011) and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, India (2007).