People

Zachary Finley Partner

San Francisco

He advises publicly held and privately owned (including sponsor-backed) companies, financial institutions, credit funds and other alternative lenders in connection with broadly syndicated loans, pro rata (bank-only) credit facilities and a wide variety of private credit transactions (including senior secured, junior lien, senior subordinated and mezzanine loans). His experience also extends to asset-based loans, project financings, debt restructurings and workouts. In addition, Zach regularly represents technology companies on various types of growth capital financings used to rapidly expand their businesses and to deploy new and market-disrupting products and services.

Zach has a particular passion for the digital infrastructure sector, stemming from his extensive experience representing data center operators, service providers, lenders and investors in the space. As one of the leaders of Orrick’s multidisciplinary data center practice, he is well-versed in traditional and increasingly bespoke financing structures to address the unique needs and challenges of clients in this ever-evolving industry.

In the 2024 California Banking & Finance category of Chambers USA, clients praise Zach as “a very knowledgeable attorney with incredibly deep expertise in the area” and describe him as “always responsive and has a strong depth of technical knowledge.” He is also recognized by IFLR1000, where clients note that Zach “is an outstanding business partner” and “his strengths are his creativity, accessibility, diligence and his ability to bring all of Orrick's resources to bear.”

Zach previously served a three-year term on the Commercial Transactions Committee (formerly called the Uniform Commercial Code Committee) of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of California, acting as its Co-Chair for the final year of his term.

Jason D. Flaherty Partner

San Francisco

Jason advises both public and private companies on compensation and benefits issues that arise in mergers and acquisitions, including pre-signing negotiations, executive and equity compensation and post-closing employee integration issues. Jason assists companies with compensation and benefit issues that arise with respect to their initial public offerings.

Jason's practice also focuses on counseling clients on all aspects of employee benefits related to the design, implementation, operation and any related fiduciary obligations with respect to tax-qualified retirement plans, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans, nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements with a particular focus on Code Section 409A compliance and employee welfare benefit plans, including compliance with HIPAA, COBRA and other health laws.

Prior to attending law school, Jason served as a Sergeant in the United States Army.

Andraya Flor Associate

San Francisco

Andraya represents companies throughout different stages of litigation across a range of areas, with a focus on the technology, energy, and finance sectors.

Prior to joining Orrick, Andraya clerked for the Honorable Paul J. Kelly, Jr., of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. While in law school, she externed for the Honorable Jon E. DeGuilio of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. Andraya earned her law degree from Notre Dame Law School where she served as the Executive Notes Editor for the Notre Dame Law Review.

Haley Flora Managing Associate

Silicon Valley

Haley Flora's practice is focused on her client's transactional technology and intellectual property needs. Haley represents clients at all stages of their life cycles and in a variety of technology and science-driven industries, including cleantech, SaaS, gaming, energy, hardware, entertainment, Internet, media, semiconductor and media. Haley has experience drafting and negotiating commercial, licensing and other intellectual property and technology agreements. She also assists clients with intellectual property issues in connection with a range of large commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions and strategic investments.

Haley grew up in Portland, Oregon and is passionate about zero emissions technologies. Prior to joining Orrick, Haley was an associate in the IP and Technology Transactions Group at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

Victoria Freitag Associate

San Francisco

Victoria serves as bond counsel and disclosure counsel on a variety of public finance transactions, including general obligation financings, conduit bond financings, sales tax revenue financings, and lease revenue financings for public agencies. Her practice spans across industries, with a particular focus on local government and affordable housing financings.

In collaboration with Orrick's Strategic Advisory & Government Enforcement group, Victoria advises financial institutions and community development practitioners on Community Reinvestment Act and fair lending matters.

Before practicing law, Victoria worked in outreach and operations for Mercy Corps' Community Investment Trust, an innovative communal ownership model designed to help local residents of all income levels invest in commercial real estate.

Richard Gallagher Chief Practice Officer Lit&IP

San Francisco

Rick has first-chair jury trial, bench trial and arbitration experience and has prevailed as lead partner in lawsuits in state and federal courts. He also leads internal investigations, SEC and DOJ matters, M&A and corporate disputes arising under Delaware corporate law, and other matters creating corporate governance risk. Prior to becoming our Chief Practice Officer for Litigation and IP, Rick was an Orrick partner and was also the co-Managing Partner of the California offices of another top AmLaw firm.

Rick’s clients include public companies, private equity funds, portfolio companies, mutual funds, investment advisers, hedge funds, VC funds, private investment funds, board members, officers and other individuals across several industries. He has particular expertise in the technology, life sciences, private equity, and investment management areas.

Rick has been named for multiple years in the The Best Lawyers in America and in the Legal 500 for Litigation.

Amanda Galton Partner

San Francisco

As Deputy Chair of our Corporate Business unit, Amanda uses her legal experience, business acumen, professional network and industry knowledge to resolve anticipated and unforeseen obstacles and developments. She advises at material stages of the corporate life cycle (formation, financings, and exits, including SPACs, direct listings and IPOs); and provides guidance and trusted governance advice on board, advisor, employment, separation, and other commercial matters. To further help companies thrive, Amanda keeps clients informed about recent developments in their space and helps connect entrepreneurs and investors with one another.

Amanda started her post-undergraduate professional career in West Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer – a place where she got to deploy her French and Arabic language skills. Though the focus of her service was health education and community development, she also spent time in a village with Liberian refugees who were interested in implementing windmill technology. Her time in the Peace Corps remains a foundational experience for how she approaches her work today — as she continues to be inspired by the impact of technology and those who are tenacious in solving problems.

Now, Amanda works with companies and entrepreneurs in a number of industries including financial services, food and agriculture, mobility and energy infrastructure, clean tech, and health and professional services.

A portion of her work is also in representing certain investors and venture funds in their investments.

In addition to her practice, Amanda also dedicates time to advancing women in leadership in the U.S. and abroad. She has served as a cultural and professional resource for emerging women leaders from the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa through Tech Women, a U.S. State Department initiative dedicated to empowering women technology leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and has served on the Board of CodeChix, a non-profit corporation which recruits, retains and inspires women engineers.

True to her professional roots in Peace Corps service, Amanda remains actively committed to advancing global economic development. As a member of Orrick’s Impact Finance and Investment group, she supports investors and entrepreneurs who make social and environmental impacts alongside financial returns.

Prior to joining Orrick, Amanda was a corporate associate at the Menlo Park, California office of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP.

Sara Gates Corporate Innovation Attorney

Silicon Valley

Sara advises on a variety of corporate matters, including both domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions on the buy- and sell-side, corporate governance issues, venture capital financings and other strategic transactions. Sara works with a wide range of companies, including public companies, tech startups, private equity portfolio companies and unicorn companies. 

Prior to law school, Sara worked in operations for a tech startup in North Carolina.

Matthew Gemello Partner

Silicon Valley

A seasoned deal lawyer, Matthew guides global technology companies and their financial sponsors through transformational domestic and cross-border transactions. These deals range from private company buyouts and public takeovers in the United States and around the world, to complex, multi-jurisdictional spinoffs and business carveouts.

Matthew has been recognized as a leading lawyer by numerous publications, including Legal 500 and he was selected by the San Francisco and Los Angeles Daily Journal as one of the top 10 Innovative Corporate Lawyers in California.

Harrison Geron Managing Associate

Silicon Valley

Harrison graduated from UC Berkeley School of Law with the BCLT Technology Law Certificate and Pro Bono Honors with highest distinction. At Berkeley Law he served as Senior Executive Editor of the Berkeley Technology Law Journal and Co-President of the Space Law Society.

Harrison is dedicated to studying and advocating at the intersection of law and technology. During law school, for fun, he co-authored a comment to the FCC that was well cited in the reply-period and by the FCC in its subsequent order. This comment led to the paper "Title Zero": Ending the Infinite Loop of Classifications for Broadband Via a Technology Agnostic Definition, which won an award after peer review at TPRC49 and is published in the California Law Review in 2022. Harrison is also dedicated to positive social change enabled by law and technology. He was the co-lead organizer for the inaugural 2020 BTLJ/BCLT symposium "Technology Law As a Vehicle for Anti-Racism."

Harrison previously worked at a boutique patent firm in the San Francisco Bay Area where he aided in the drafting of patents. Harrison also brings experience in complex litigation, having worked at a plaintiff-side class action firm during law school. He holds a BS/BA from Loyola Marymount University in Economics/Political Science and a Minor in Natural Science/Physics. He further studied post-baccalaureate at Santa Clara University in Physics.

Louise Gibbons Partner

San Francisco

From the latest tax credit transfer and hybrid structures to the full suite of debt and tax equity financings, preferred equity financings, selldowns and investments, she takes a collaborative and relatable approach to close the deal. She advises a range of renewables and energy transition industry participants, from project developers, sponsors, borrowers, lenders, investment banks, private equity funds and other capital providers and investors.  She works with a range of asset classes, including among others, wind, solar, battery storage, hydrogen and renewable natural gas.

Louise was recognized by Chambers USA Nationwide Projects: Power & Renewables: Transactional in 2024, where clients describe her as "excellent," "very thorough," "detailed" and "pragmatic." She was named by Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner in Energy Transactions: Electric Power in 2024 and noted for her “work in project finance and M&A work on transformative, first-in-kind renewable energy projects.”

As an All-American College sailor, Louise has pursued her interest in law of the sea and international laws throughout her career. She is translating this experience into differentiated advice for clients in the burgeoning U.S. offshore wind market. 

Allison Riechert Giese Talent Counsel

Silicon Valley

Orrick’s Employment Law and Litigation group was recently named Labor & Employment Department of the Year in California by The Recorder, the premier source for legal news, in recognition of their significant wins on behalf of leading multinational companies on today’s most complex and challenging employment law matters.

Allison was a summer associate in Orrick's Silicon Valley office in 2008. Prior to joining Orrick, she interned in the San Mateo County Superior Court's legal research department.