Austin
Experience matters. Lawyers must help generalist judges and lay juries quickly grasp intricate topics in unfamiliar areas. Jeff has written software, managed engineers, run a business, and helped judges at all levels decide cases and draft opinions. He uses this diverse background to translate complex technical, commercial, and legal concepts into simple and persuasive language that courts, juries, and clients can comprehend.
Jeff's practice focuses on appeals of all stripes, intellectual property litigation, and complex commercial litigation. He has represented clients in industries ranging from computer hardware and software, to cellular telephony, oil and gas, real estate, construction, and many others. In the process, he has assisted clients on matters involving alleged breach of contract, negligence, patent infringement, and trade secrets, as well as in federal appeals on a variety of issues. Jeff also has represented clients before the International Trade Commission in product exclusion investigations, and before the Patent and Trademark Office in the prosecution of patent applications and inter partes review proceedings.
Prior to joining Orrick, Jeff served as a law clerk for Justice Neil M. Gorsuch on the U.S. Supreme Court and, several years earlier, for then-Judge Gorsuch on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Between his clerkships, Jeff worked as an associate at two major national law firms, where he engaged in a mixture of commercial litigation, patent litigation, patent prosecution, and appeals. Before law school, Jeff designed and wrote software in Silicon Valley, managed engineering teams at a high-technology startup company that later went public, and founded his own real estate investment and brokerage practice.
Austin
Rachael has represented clients in multiple cases before the United States Supreme Court, as well as federal and state appellate courts across the country. She has argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Army Court of Criminal Appeals.
Prior to joining Orrick, Rachael clerked for the Honorable Denny Chin of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She graduated with Honors from The University of Texas School of Law, where she was champion in moot court, Chief Articles Editor for The Review of Litigation, a research assistant, a teaching assistant, and a member of the Supreme Court Clinic. She received her Bachelor’s degree from The University of Arkansas, where she developed her nationally recognized research on political rhetoric.
Austin
Adil Shaikh is an experienced patent litigator, adept at handling cases from their initial phases through to trial. With appearances in over 120 cases, he consistently strives to achieve the best possible outcomes for his clients in every engagement.
With extensive technical knowledge and experience, Adil offers invaluable insights and assistance in intellectual property cases. As a former software engineer, he possesses a unique ability to understand clients' innovations, communicate effectively with inventors, scientists, and expert witnesses, and explain complex technologies in clear, comprehensible terms. His practice focuses on patents, particularly in complex software technology and semiconductors.
Before transitioning to the legal industry, Adil held software engineering roles at Sabre Corporation, specializing in data engineering and big data systems. He also gained experience in software development at Nokia Corp and Cisco Systems. Additionally, Adil co-founded a company dedicated to technical education and recruitment.
Austin
Greg’s experience in bond financing includes traditional issuers such as school districts, institutions of higher education, cities, counties, municipal utility districts and state agenciesadvising the issuers on both general obligation and revenue financings. In addition, Greg has represented numerous national and regional investment banks in the underwriting of municipal bonds.
Austin
Jerry has been active in traditional bond financings for governmental entities such as school districts, cities, counties and special-purpose districts, advising them on general obligation, ad valorem tax-secured financings and special or limited obligation financings, such as utility system revenue-secured financings, conduit financings, financings for state agencies and financings for entities authorized to act on behalf of the State of Texas and its political subdivisions, including tax and revenue anticipation and general obligation and special-purpose facility revenue financings.
Austin
Julia is passionate about working with founders who think outside the box to grow their companies and become the next big thing across a wide breath of industries and across the globe. Julia has advised early-stage companies in several dozen equity and convertible financings.
Julia also represents investors and venture capital firms on their investments in early and high-growth technology companies.
Austin
Trudie advises renewable energy developers, private equity funds, and investors on complex transactions across the renewable energy sector, with a focus on debt and tax equity financings, joint ventures, and project acquisitions and sales.
Austin
Bill’s experience in public finance includes representing issuers such as state agencies, local governments, public utilities, and public improvement districts on both general obligation and revenue financings, as well as representing the underwriters for various municipal bonds.
Prior to joining the firm, Bill served as in-house counsel at both the City of Austin and the Lower Colorado River Authority (Austin, Texas).
Austin
Julie has served as bond counsel to various state agencies and local governmental entities, including, special districts, cities, counties and public facility corporations; as underwriter and bank counsel to financial institutions that underwrite and purchase tax-exempt and taxable governmental obligations; and as outside counsel to a public facility corporation that owns and operates a convention center hotel and to professional sports teams that lease bond financed sports venue facilities. Julie also has experience representing domestic banks that provide credit and liquidity facilities for tax-exempt financings. Prior to entering private law practice, Julie served as an assistant attorney general in the Public Finance Division of the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Texas.
Austin
Montana primarily represents emerging growth companies, venture capital funds and other strategic investors in a wide array of corporate matters, including early and late-stage venture funding rounds, formation and corporate governance, securities issuances and mergers and acquisitions. Montana's practice spans commercial industries, with significant experience representing frontier technology companies and "dual use" companies such as those in the defense, nuclear and space industries.
Prior to practicing law, Montana served in the U.S. Air Force.
Select engagements Montana has advised on include:
*Please note: Montana’s experience includes that prior to joining Orrick.
Houston; Austin
Serving two of Texas’s major markets, Ryan’s versatility sets him apart. He has deep industry knowledge of the energy, technology, and financial services sectors, and understands where his clients' business and legal strategies intersect. Ryan regularly represents clients across the United States in federal and state courts and in front of arbitration panels. Ryan’s energy representations include hydrocarbon producers, explorers, transporters, and refiners. Ryan’s financial services experience includes representation of institutional banks and mortgage servicers. In addition, Ryan represents and counsels leading tech companies, including SAAS and cybersecurity providers.
Ryan seeks efficient outcomes for his clients and has a track record of prevailing at the summary judgment stage. In other cases, Ryan has efficiently negotiated with opposing counsel to reach early, favorable settlements. In the event a case is not fit for early resolution, Ryan is also a seasoned trial lawyer with experience trying cases to juries, the bench, and arbitration panels.
Ryan also maintains an active pro bono practice and works closely with the Houston Bar Association, including as a former chairman and member of its Habitat for Humanity Committee.