People

Léo LEMAIRE Associate

Paris

Léo is experienced in the resolution of business law disputes. He assists French and international companies in the amicable or contentious handling of their disputes.

Prior to joining the firm, Léo was an intern in the litigation department of Orrick and also achieved several internships in different international law firms.

Grace Lentz Senior Associate

Houston

Grace advises clients on the successful execution of complex energy projects. She represents developers, sponsors and utilities in the development, acquisition and sale of energy assets, primarily renewable and conventional power technologies. 

Her practice spans the full project lifecycle, including engineering, procurement and construction, major equipment supply, and long-term offtake arrangements. She has significant experience in build-transfer transactions and supports clients through complex M&A and joint venture arrangements in the energy space.

Grace brings a practical, business-focused approach to every deal, helping clients manage risk and achieve their commercial goals in a dynamic sector.

Mayling Leong Of Counsel

Sacramento

In addition, Mayling serves as issuer’s counsel to the California Statewide Communities Development Authority and the California Public Finance Authority for 501(c)(3) conduit financings, and as special counsel to the California State Treasurer’s Office in transactions for bonds insured through the California Department of Health Care Access and Information’s Cal-Mortgage Loan Insurance program.

Sasha Leonhardt Partner

Washington, D.C.

Sasha also has substantial experience advising clients on the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), Military Lending Act (MLA), Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA), Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), Fair Housing Act (FHA), and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). He advises companies, non-profits and industry associations with consumer privacy issues arising from the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and Regulation P, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and its Affiliate Marketing Rule and state and federal laws that address data privacy and information security.

In addition to representing clients, Sasha has published numerous articles on various aspects of consumer financial services law and practice, including data privacy, class action litigation, white collar litigation, whistleblower lawsuits and recent trends in regulation and enforcement. He also maintains an active pro bono practice and serves as a member of the Legal Counsel for the Elderly’s Young Lawyers Alliance. A frequent speaker on a variety of legal topics, Sasha has taught at Duke University School of Law and American University Washington College of Law, and was previously a Professorial Lecturer in Law at the George Washington University Law School.

Prior to joining Orrick, Sasha was a partner at Buckley LLP. He also previously served as Deputy Press Secretary to Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley. He is accredited as a Privacy Law Specialist, a Fellow of Information Privacy, a Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM/US), and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) by the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

Yves Lepage Partner

Paris

Recognized by Chambers as a notable practitioner in International projects, Energy and Africa, Yves is praised for his “very good sector experience and knowledge”, as well as his “enormous negotiating skills”. With 30 years' experience in PPP, international infrastructure projects and power industry projects, Yves regularly advises operators in both the public and private sectors, government entities and financial institutions for operations in Europe, Africa and Latin America. Recently, he has led a cross-border multidisciplinary team advising Actis, one of the largest and most active private equity firms operating in Africa, in its purchase of a majority interest in three power assets in Cameroon from Fortune 200 global power company AES Corporation.

Yves also has substantial experience in privatizations and acquisitions in France and internationally with companies whose main assets are infrastructure facilities. He notably advised VINCI Airports in connection with the acquisition of nine airports and three partial management contracts following acquisition of the airport portfolio held by Airports Worldwide.

Yves is a lawyer with the Paris Appeals Court and a member of the New York Bar. He was appointed as French Foreign Trade Advisor in 1996.

Khai LeQuang Partner

Orange County

Most recently, Khai was lead trial counsel for EFG Bank and Erste Abwicklungsanstalt (which acquired the assets of former WestLB) in their lawsuit against AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company in the Southern District of New York, arising out of Equitable’s cost of insurance rate increase in 2016. EFG and EAA sought close to $100 million in damages. After several years of litigation, the case settled over the weekend before jury selection on very favorable terms. The settlement continued a string of recoveries Khai has achieved for clients pursuing claims against carriers that raised their cost of insurance rates.

Khai was lead trial counsel for EFG, EAA, and Obra Capital in their lawsuit against John Hancock Life Insurance Company in the Southern District of New York, arising out of John Hancock’s cost of insurance rate increase in 2018. EFG, EAA, and Obra sought over $100 million in damages. The case settled the evening before jury selection on very favorable terms.

Last year, Khai was lead trial counsel for a life insurance agent sued for fraud in connection with a life settlement transaction. The plaintiff sought over $10 million in damages. Following a one-week trial, the jury returned a complete defense verdict, and the case settled before judgment was entered.

Khai was lead trial counsel in a two-week bench trial in an action against a school district arising out of its allocation of $417 million in bond funds. The plaintiffs, led by a taxpayer association, sought $90 million for construction of a new school. After navigating a year-long political imbroglio and defeating plaintiffs’ summary judgment motions following a defense that Judge Pressman described as “brilliantly argued,” the case proceeded to a trial that resulted in a decision in favor of the district on all claims. Khai also defended and argued the appeal, in which the trial court’s judgment was affirmed.

Rebecca Letsome Project Attorney

Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)

Ms. Letsome 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. Rebecca 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

Fredrick Levin Partner

Santa Monica; Chicago; San Francisco

In addition, Fredrick has represented corporate and individual clients in a wide array of national and transnational commercial disputes involving contract enforcement, corporate governance, debt collection, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and securities. He also has an active appellate practice and has briefed and argued numerous cases in federal and state courts throughout the U.S.

Fredrick is a frequent author and lecturer on litigation and compliance issues regarding the consumer financial services industry, including on topics such as federal preemption under the Dodd-Frank Act, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) mortgage servicing rules, the CFPB’s proposed arbitration rule, residential mortgage backed securities litigation, management of multi-jurisdictional litigation, enforcement of jury trial waivers and the use of American discovery in support of foreign litigation and damages measurement.

Prior to joining Orrick, Fredrick was a partner at Buckley LLP. He is co-located in the firm’s Chicago office and practices regularly in Illinois and Michigan.

Barry Levin Partner

San Francisco; New York

Barry is known in the market as “one of the most accomplished litigators,” “very effective in pursuing compelling themes and tearing down witnesses with polite cross-examination” (2017 Benchmark Litigation), and as "a real seasoned veteran of high-stakes litigation" (2020 Chambers USA). Barry has also been commended by his peers as a "fabulous lawyer" who is "very well regarded and really knows the area" (2016 Chambers USA). 

Barry has broad first chair experience in trial and arbitration, ranging from trial counsel for Johns-Manville Corporation in its coverage litigation involving asbestos-related bodily injury claims to successful domestic and international arbitrations on behalf of financial institutions, hospitals, and hospitality companies.  

Over the past 8 years, Barry has developed extensive experience in issues arising out of the financial crisis, including a range of issues relating to mortgage backed securities and lending practices.

He is a frequent lecturer in the area of litigation, insurance coverage and law firm management. Prior to joining Orrick, Barry was a shareholder at Heller Ehrman LLP.

Melissa Levin Managing Associate

San Francisco

Melissa's practice focuses on privacy, online safety, content moderation, and cybersecurity, along with a wide array of commercial disputes.  She has defended and advised one of the largest technology companies in the world for multiple years against claims challenging aspects of its online services, including product design and content moderation decisions.  Her teams help their clients develop creative and effective legal strategies, not only to defend against specific lawsuits, but also to prepare for future legal risk. 

Melissa has also advised multiple clients responding to government investigations, including by the FTC. 

Additionally, Melissa maintains an advisory practice, working with her teams to provide recommendations and risk analyses to various clients on their online terms and policies, content moderation practices, online safety, and issues related to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Melissa also maintains a pro bono practice. Among other matters, Melissa is currently representing multiple members of a Honduran family seeking various forms of immigration relief.

Herbert Levine Counsel

New York

He has represented U.S. and multi-national corporations engaged in a wide variety of industries, including retailing, radio and television broadcasting, automotive parts, printing and publishing, refining and packaging of petroleum products, manufacturing and distribution of wines, spirits and related products, hotels, food service, financial institutions, passenger airline, and freight forwarding companies.

Herbert has extensive experience in negotiating collective bargaining agreements, and has represented clients in a broad range of labor matters, including: union election and unfair labor practice cases, arbitrations and strike related matters. His practice also includes federal and state court and administrative agency litigation covering employment discrimination, wrongful discharge, ERISA, and wage-and-hour matters.

He has participated in establishing security programs for clients, helped design benefit plans, employment handbooks, and worked with clients on affirmative-action compliance reviews and safety and health matters. He has drafted and negotiated employment agreements, and has done extensive work in counseling and representing clients in merger and acquisition problems including negotiations with adverse parties, unions, and insurance carriers.

Herbert started his practice as an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board, and then worked for Proskauer, Rose, Goetz, & Mendelsohn. From 1972 to 1990, Herbert was a partner at the firm of Baer, Marks & Upham, where he chaired the employment law department, and was instrumental in building a labor and employee benefits practice. 

He joined Orrick in 1991, and continued as a partner until 2002, when he retired from the partnership in order to devote more of his time to family obligations. He has continued to practice with Orrick since that time as counsel.

Keith Levinsky Senior Associate

New York