People

William J. Barrett Managing Associate Real Estate

Los Angeles

Will advises opportunity funds, institutional investors, investment funds, private equity funds, operators and developers in all phases of real property investment, development, secured financing, acquisitions and dispositions of real estate portfolios, joint ventures, construction and other corporate real estate activities.

Will takes a practical approach to every deal by focusing on the business needs of his clients and managing any legal issues that arise.  Clients rely on his ability to efficiently negotiate, document and close every deal.  His practice focuses on transactions involving office, industrial, retail, hotel, multifamily, and mixed-use properties, as well as entitled development projects and raw land.

Kristen Bartlett Senior Associate Mortgage Related Securities, Securities Litigation, Class Actions and Shareholder Derivative Lawsuits

Silicon Valley

Kristen Bartlett, a senior associate in the Silicon Valley office, is a member of the White Collar, Investigations, Securities Litigation, and Compliance Group.  Kristen's practice focuses on securities litigation and white collar criminal defense.

She represents companies and individuals in regulatory investigations, including DOJ, SEC and FINRA matters, and in internal investigations.  Kristen's practice also focuses on civil actions brought under federal and state securities laws.

Prior to joining Orrick, Kristen was an Orrick fellow at the Stanford University Youth and Education Law Project. While in law school, she was an Associate Editor of the Northwestern University Law Review and worked for two years at the Bluhm Legal Clinic's Complex Civil Litigation Center.

Before law school, she taught English and Spanish at the high school level.

Mary Bates Project Attorney Corporate, Technology Transactions

Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)

Mary is a member of the Orrick Analytics Group. She is an experienced corporate lawyer focused on transactional matters and strategic counsel to leading life sciences and technology companies. She handles corporate issues typically overseen by in-house counsel, with an ardent awareness of in-house counsel’s need to receive exceptional work in an expeditious manner. She provides tactical guidance on managing the complete life cycle of corporate, life sciences, and technology agreements.  

Stemming from her experience and knowledge in the life sciences and technology industries, Mary has drafted and negotiated complex, industry-specific agreements such as the following: clinical trial agreements, investigator initiated study agreements, material transfer agreements, collaborative research agreements, sponsored research agreements, master service agreements and work orders, facility use agreements, nondisclosure agreements, product development agreements, joint-development agreements, and software license and technology agreements.

Mary counsels in-house business teams directly by effectively working with various departments and levels within the clients’ corporate structures to manage work for cross-functional teams on legal issues and provides guidance and practical solutions on various transactions. In addition, she creates and successfully implements contract review and negotiation policies / playbooks for clients. 

Ed Batts Partner M&A and Private Equity

Silicon Valley

Ed Batts leads Orrick’s global M&A and Private Equity practice group, which includes more than 60 partners globally dedicated to acquisitions and divestitures on behalf of strategics and financial sponsors alike. Orrick consistently ranks as one of the top law firms globally for M&A deal volume by delivering business acumen in the Technology, Energy & Infrastructure and Finance sectors.

Focus Areas

• M&A: Fiduciary duty counseling of public boards, cross border transactions, spin-offs, tender offers and going private transactions.
• Corporate Governance: Board matters and public reporting obligations, including activist investor situations, stockholder proposals and accounting issues.
• Crisis Management/Cyber: Crisis management of significant incidents and internal investigations, including advice on regulators, plaintiffs and law enforcement.

Honors and Speaking Engagements

• In 2019, named both an Acritas Star and a BTI Client Service All Star, the two leading independent outside counsel client service surveys;
• Moderating or speaking at, among others, Stanford Directors’ College panels on stockholder engagement and governance, Financial Times Outstanding Director Exchange (FT-ODX) conference and the annual conference of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI).

Publications

• Annual checklist on M&A (here) and public company reporting matters (here);
• A study of board gender diversity on California public companies (available here);
• Article posted on the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation blog concerns the tectonic shifts in U.S. equity markets and their ramifications on stockholder engagement (available here);
• Corporate governance benchmarking study on the S&P 500 (available here);
• Corporate governance benchmarking study on the component companies of the Dow Jones U.S. Technology Company Index (available here);
• Corporate governance benchmarking study on the component companies of the Dow Jones Energy Sector Index and the S&P 500 Energy Index (available here) with a summary of this report found on the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulations blog here; and
• Blog on public company matters, accessible at www.accruedknowledge.com.

Prior Experience

• Military officer veteran and former federal special agent; deployed since 9/11 to, among other locations, Yemen and twice to Iraq.
• Graduate of the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and served with both the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI).
• Active participant in Orrick's veterans programs, including the firm's annual Veterans' Legal Career Fair in Washington, D.C.

Marc Bauer Partner Public Finance

Los Angeles

Marc Bauer, a partner in the Los Angeles office, is a member of the Public Finance Department.

Marc has represented issuer and underwriter clients in transactions involving both long- and short-term, fixed and variable rate obligations, commercial paper, credit and liquidity enhancement, and revenue bonds. He has experience with financings involving cities, counties, public power agencies, school districts, and both private and charter schools. In addition, Marc’s practice includes the representation of governmental and private sector clients in post-issuance examinations by the Internal Revenue Service.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Marc was an economics consultant at Deloitte & Touche LLP and Arthur Andersen LLP.

John Bautista Partner Technology Companies Group, M&A and Private Equity

San Francisco; Santa Monica; Silicon Valley

John Bautista, a member of Orrick's Board of Directors and Technology Companies Group, leads Orrick's international Technology Companies practice connecting Silicon Valley with Europe and Asia.

John focuses his practice on advising emerging companies and investors, and represents both public and private high-tech and life sciences companies in many areas, including corporate and securities law, venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, public company representation and technology licensing. 

The Recorder named John the “2019 Innovator of the Year” for his work as the chief lawyer on the Long-Term Stock Exchange, a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission-approved exchange designed to change the paradigm of traditional stock markets by rewarding entrepreneurs and investors committed to long-term business strategies. Financial Times recognized John as one of the Top 10 Most Innovative Individuals of the Year in 2017, calling him “one of the most influential lawyers in the technology ecosystem of Silicon Valley.” He is ranked Band 2 by Chambers USA California, for Venture Capital and Chambers USA Nationwide, ranked him Band 3 for Startups & Emerging Companies.

John is a Board member and co-founder of the Long-Term Stock Exchange, which is creating a new stock exchange for public companies supporting long-term investors, as well as an advisor and co-founder of Clerky.com, a company automating legal work for early-stage companies. He is also recognized for his work with Y Combinator companies.

Prior to joining Orrick, John was a founding attorney of Venture Law Group and served on the Executive Committee. John previously practiced at Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati. John also served as Mayor of the City of Cupertino, California and a council member from 1993-1997, where he helped build important public partnerships, including with Apple Computer, the Mid-Peninsula Open Space Preserve, and San Jose and California Water Companies.

Andrew Baw Chief Pricing Officer

Silicon Valley

Andrew Baw is the Chief Practice Officer for Orrick’s Corporate Business Unit, which encompasses the firm’s Capital Markets, Compensation and Benefits, Technology Companies, M&A/Private Equity and Tax practice groups.

He advises on strategic planning and business management, and his responsibilities include oversight of the business unit’s financial performance management, inventory management, business planning and lawyer recruiting. Andrew previously served as the Director of Business Development for Orrick’s Transactional Practice Groups.

Andrew was formerly a partner at Gunderson Dettmer, where he specialized in emerging companies, including venture capital financings, public offerings, and mergers and acquisitions.

Immediately prior to joining Orrick, Andrew was the Vice President of Business Development and General Counsel for Mobio Networks, a venture-funded start-up. His background also includes experience in venture capital, as a member of the investment team for Storm Ventures, and investment banking, as part of the corporate finance team at Piper Jaffray.

Elaine Bayus Counsel Public Finance

San Francisco

Elaine R. Bayus, resident in the San Francisco office, is a member of the Public Finance Department. She concentrates her practice in municipal finance work.

Elaine has particular experience in financings for housing, student loans, educational facilities, power facilities, prepaid natural gas, and public facilities financed with general obligation and revenue bonds.

Gregory Beaman Senior Associate Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Securities Litigation, Class Actions and Shareholder Derivative Lawsuits

New York

Greg is a commercial litigator, with an emphasis on class actions, financial products litigation, business torts and other high value contract disputes.  Greg has played key roles representing financial institutions in RMBS and CMBS litigation, energy and infrastructure contractors in major contract disputes, acquirers in M&A disputes, and mobile application providers and other emerging technology companies in privacy-related class actions, including under the TCPA.

Recent representative matters include:

Class Actions

• Dismissal on the pleadings of TCPA class action claims against payment processing provider, Paya, in which the plaintiff sought to hold Paya liable for alleged unsolicited marketing by an independent contractor.  
• Dismissal on the pleadings of right of publicity and TCPA class action claims against mobile app provider, Everalbum, arising out of its invite-a-friend feature.
• Secured withdrawal of putative TCPA class action claims against payment processing provider, Cayan, after briefing on summary judgment and oral argument.
• Dismissal on the pleadings of TCPA class action claims against mobile app provider, Life360, arising out of its invite-a-friend feature.
• Dismissal of class action claims against Johnson Controls, for alleged violation of the Federal Wiretap Act and D.C. Wiretap Act arising out of its installation of security cameras at the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center.

Shareholder Derivative Suits, M&A and Financial Institution Litigation

• Greg is part of a team representing Credit Suisse in numerous RMBS cases throughout the country, including cases brought by the FDIC, as receiver for Colonial Bank, under the Securities Act of 1933.
• Greg was part of a team that represented Sumner Redstone in several highly publicized shareholder derivative suits involving Viacom and CBS in the Delaware Court of Chancery.
• Greg has represented major investment banks and other financial institutions in connection with M&A litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery.
• Greg represented Barracuda Networks in M&A litigation involving disputed claims to an earn-out in the Delaware Court of Chancery.
• Greg represented Bank of America in connection with numerous CMBS repurchase suits in federal courts throughout the country.

Energy & Infrastructure Litigation

• Lead counsel to Spanish solar energy provider, TSK, in Delaware Chancery Court litigation against solar panel manufacturer for breach of warranty.  Secured €1.2 million judgment in TSK's favor.
• Counsel to Denver Transit Partners in its high profile contract dispute with the Regional Transportation District relating to the $2 billion Eagle P3 Denver commuter rail project.

Arbitration

• Lead counsel to Shanghai-based manufacturer of solar power modules in AAA arbitration arising out of dispute over parent guaranty. 
• Secured a stay of patent infringement and California law tort claims against Toshiba Corporation on the ground that the arbitrability of those claims had to be decided by an ICC tribunal, which ultimately resulted in dismissal of all claims, with prejudice, in both federal court action and related ICC arbitration.

While in law school, Greg served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Ronna Lee Beck of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and as a law clerk in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland.

Greg has also co-authored numerous articles appearing in publications such as the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation, New York Law Journal, and Law360.

Lily Becker Partner White Collar, Investigations, Securities Litigation & Compliance, Government Investigations and Enforcement Actions

San Francisco; Seattle

Lily Stevens Becker helps companies and individuals navigate a range of civil and criminal matters, including government investigations, internal investigations, FCPA compliance, shareholder disputes, and securities litigation.

She has extensive experience managing corporate internal investigations involving FCPA, compliance, embezzlement, fraud and securities laws issues. Lily has conducted investigations around the world for multinational corporations as well as targeted investigations for small organizations. She served on the Monitor Team for two SEC and DOJ FCPA Monitorships, involving a banking technology company and a medical device company. She advises clients on anti-corruption compliance programs at all stages, including developing policies and procedures and conducting assessments of well-established programs. 

Lily represents individuals and corporations in connection with SEC enforcement actions and investigations, DOJ investigations, FINRA inquiries, securities class actions and shareholder derivative suits. She has represented founders and investors in start-up companies, including matters involving venture capital disputes, unfair competition, breaches of partnership and shareholder agreements, employment and fraud claims, and fiduciary obligations. In addition, she counsels and litigates in insurance areas, in particular regarding directors and officers insurance and corporate indemnification obligations.

Prior to joining Orrick, Ms. Becker was a clerk for the Honorable Loren A. Smith on the United States Court of Federal Claims.

Laura L. Becking Partner Employment Law & Litigation, Compensation & Benefits

New York

As companies around the world expand and contract, they require expert guidance on the resulting HR and compensation issues. Laura Becking has devoted her career to facilitating this process. Her guidance empowers companies, regardless of size or stage, to align their workforce and business objectives.

Her practice is unique in the market. In addition to leading Orrick’s Global Employment & Equity Compensation practice; she is also integrated into the firm’s top-tier employment practice and compensation and benefits practice, enabling her to offer comprehensive solutions for the modern workplace.

Her strategies extend beyond regulations and compliance, into the company’s overall culture and societal nuances of their local workforce. By blending these elements, her targeted plans address a wide range of issues, including hiring, performance management, terminations, discrimination, reclassification, HR data privacy compliance, employee handbooks and policies. She also helps implement employee equity and other compensation and benefits arrangements outside the U.S., and covers all aspects of securities, foreign exchange and tax filings triggered by such rollouts. Whether working with a pre-IPO start-up or an international corporation, Laura remains focused on her client’s human capital.

Laura’s distinctive approach places her in high demand for corporate transactions, in particular IPOs and acquisitions. She advised on the employment and/or equity compensation aspects of Facebook’s and Cisco’s global acquisitions; various global transactions for GoPro, Sabre, and Snap; the pre- and post-merger integration for Digicert’s acquisition of Symantec’s Website Security Business; as well as the global acquisitions and global tender offers for a large number of pre-IPO clients. She has also advised companies such as Pinterest, Elasticsearch, GitHub, Nvidia, Optimizely, Scale, Splunk, Twist, Viasat, Vice and VMWare on global employment and equity compensation matters and transactions.

Mark Beeley Oil & Gas, International Arbitration & Dispute Resolution

London

Based in London, international dispute resolution partner Mark Beeley primarily focuses on disputes arising out of the energy sector (he is described by Chambers & Partners UK 2018 as “an excellent litigator” knowing “oil and gas inside out”). In addition, he has significant experience with construction, insurance, shareholder and white-collar/civil fraud matters, as part of a broader commercial practice.

He has sat as an arbitrator (including as chair) in multiple cases, but primarily practices as counsel and advocate whether in arbitrations or in litigations before the English and Dubai International Financial Center courts.  In addition, he supervises proceedings in other jurisdictions, as well as co-ordinating cross-border dispute resolution solutions and leading compliance investigations.

Recognised and ranked by Chambers and Partners (since 2012) and Legal 500 (since 2009) for his international arbitration practice, Mark has also been recognised as a foreign expert in disputes in both the UAE and India by Chambers.