People

Ilona Schütz Managing Associate

Düsseldorf

When working with clients, she pays special attention to providing them with efficient and pragmatic advice that offers them appropriate support at all stages of growth.

Ilona has special experience in university spin-offs, restructurings and employee ownership programs (ESOPs, VSOPs).

She advises companies on venture capital transactions and international venture capital investors on their investments in German technology start-ups and scale-ups.

Prior to joining Orrick, Ilona worked as a research assistant and trained in mergers and acquisitions and corporate litigation at two other international law firms.

Jared Schwalb Career Associate

Silicon Valley

Jared's prior experience includes financial services and due diligence work at a global consulting firm. While in law school, Jared clerked for a boutique law firm in Silver Spring, MD, as well as completed internships with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, National Security Section and the Department of Justice's Tax Division, Financial Litigation Unit.

Amanda Schwartz Managing Associate

San Francisco

Amanda works on matters involving trademark and patent infringement, as well as trade secret disputes in both state and federal court. In her commercial practice, she works with technology companies on contract disputes and issues arising under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Amanda also has a robust pro bono practice and has earned High Honors through the DC Courts' Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll.

Amanda graduated with honors from The George Washington University Law School. While in law school, she externed with the Department of Justice Civil Division's IP Litigation Section.

Prior to law school, Amanda worked as a paralegal and investment management analyst at another large international firm, where she worked on regulatory and transactional matters involving mutual funds and registered investment advisers.

David Schwartz Partner

New York

David is recognized as a trusted advisor who delivers valued execution and results.

• Thomson Reuters has recognized David as a Stand-out Lawyer.
• BTI Consulting has ranked David as a Client Service All Star.
• Chambers has ranked David for his M&A work, with clients noting he is “on top of cutting-edge trends and ideas", "proactive, engaged and personable", and possesses a “depth of legal expertise” and “creative solutions to thorny problems” that “make him our go-to."
• Legal500 has ranked David as a Leading Partner for M&A. He has also been featured in Legal500's US M&A Powerlist, with clients noting he "is an incredible relationship partner. His dedication to understanding our business and our ways of working is complimented by his proactive approach to providing innovative solutions and ideas."

Hannah Schwartz Associate

Los Angeles

Her practice focuses on project finance transactions in the energy and infrastructure sectors, with a focus on renewable energy.

Mario Scofferi Partner

Milan

Mario deals with labor law and industrial relations, assisting Italian and foreign clients, both in judicial and out-of-court matters, related to every aspect of the management of employment relationship, agency relationship and self-employment relationship in all its forms including inter alia:

• drafting of employment agreements (also for managers), drafting of para-subordinate employment agreements (so-called co.co.co.), self-employment agreements, agency agreements;
• drafting additional clauses to employment agreements (for example, non-competition and confidentiality clauses, etc.);
• drafting of incentive plans (including stock option plans);
• remote control of employees;
• change of duties and transfer of employees;
• individual and collective dismissal.

Specifically, Mario assists clients in the negotiation of self-employment and employment agreements, during their respective relationships as well as in their termination, with the stated objective of guaranteeing high quality services according to rigorous detailed studies and constant interaction with the clients.

His clients operate in the tourism, tertiary and services sector, as well as credit and chemistry sector and in the public administration (i.e. companies owned by the latter).

Mario has also gained considerable experience in managing relationships of the companies with the members of their Board as well as in disputes between social security institutions and companies.

Mario is author of numerous articles in the field of labor law published in trade magazines.

He is registered in the Milan Bar Association, as well as being both a member of AGI – (Italian Employment Lawyers Association) and of the Italian Journalists Association.

Todd Scott Partner

San Francisco

Todd regularly advises companies and their boards on corporate governance best practices and fiduciary and disclosure duties, and has extensive experience in responding to shareholder litigation demands and other shareholder activism.

Before joining the firm, Todd was an associate at the San Francisco office of Clifford Chance US LLP. In his spare time, Todd is a musician, screenwriter and father to three fantastic kids.

Naomi J. Scotten Partner

New York

This work begins in the trial court, briefing key motions and collaborating with trial teams to preserve appellate issues. Naomi works seamlessly across law firms, building collective knowledge and a unified approach.

On appeal, Naomi creates streamlined briefs that highlight a compelling narrative. She boils large records down to their core, making complex cases simple for busy courts. Naomi approaches appeals with a company’s entire docket in mind, generating wins that maximize the long-term value of her work. She has briefed and argued appeals involving product liability, consumer protection, employment, criminal, constitutional, and regulatory law issues.

Prior to joining Orrick, Naomi served as a law clerk for Judge Susan L. Carney of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Naomi graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where she served as the Executive Director of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.

Francesco Seassaro Special Counsel

Milan

In these areas, he has been involved both in domestic and cross-border transactions, advising corporate clients, private equity funds and banks. In the context of private equity transactions, he has acted as legal counsel of the issuers in the listing of their shares in Italian regulated markets. He has developed an extensive knowledge of the aviation area, with specific regard to the purchase, sale and lease of aircraft and the financing of the acquisition of aircraft.

Before joining Orrick, Francesco was employed from 1980 to 1981 as in-house counsel by Italtel S.p.A., an Italian telecommunication company. From 1982 to 1988 he worked as an associate at Studio Legale De Berti & Jacchia, an Italian law firm based in Milan. From 1989 to 1997 he was at first an associate and then a partner at the London office of Carnelutti, an Italian law firm. From 1998 to 2008 he was a partner at Vita Samory, Fabbrini e Associati, an Italian law firm, working at the London office of the firm until 1999 and then at the main office in Milan since 2000.

He has been a lecturer at conferences and has written articles in English legal publications on corporate and banking matters.

Lauren Seaton Innovation Attorney Litigation

Orange County

Lauren supports and leads projects aimed at optimizing client service delivery and increasing efficiencies. Based in Orange County, she collaborates across offices, practice groups, and departments to streamline legal processes through the integration of technology, automation, and data-driven solutions. Her responsibilities include developing best practices, supporting the firm’s data strategy, and spearheading the rollout and adoption of legal technology within the business units.

Prior to moving into this role, Lauren was a Senior Associate in Orrick’s Securities Litigation group, where she represented and advocated for clients in complex litigation, government regulatory matters, and internal investigations. These experiences have made Lauren well-suited to design and improve client-facing solutions, create tailored workflows, and enhance collaboration with clients and third parties. Her familiarity with legal technology and enthusiasm for leveraging AI in legal services align perfectly with Orrick’s commitment to innovation.

Her diverse legal experience, combined with her proactive and innovative approach, positions her as a key player in Orrick’s ongoing efforts to lead the industry in delivering high-quality, efficient legal services.

Matthew Sebastian Sr Analytics Project Attorney

Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)

The Discovery Analytics and Review Services group prioritizes using technology and project management discipline to assist firm attorneys with litigation and transactional tasks, particularly tasks that involve large volumes of data and documents.

This work includes using early case assessment technology to analyze, categorize and cull data. Matthew also manages teams of skilled professionals performing document review, redaction, analysis, production and drafting privilege logs. He assists the litigation team to prepare for trial, including drafting deposition summaries, factual memoranda and exhibit charts. Matthew also works with practice office attorneys on transactional tasks, including contract review and due diligence.

Justin Seccombe Senior Associate

Chicago

His experience includes representing clients in high-stakes litigation throughout the country in matters concerning federal and state consumer protection statutes, as well as complex commercial disputes. He further advises and represents clients in regulatory, supervisory, and enforcement matters before federal and state agencies including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and states attorneys general. Justin assists clients through all aspects of litigation, including briefing dispositive and discovery motions, managing large-scale discovery reviews and productions, preparing expert reports, arguing motions in both state and federal court, opposing class certification, and conducting settlement negotiations. With respect to enforcement matters, Justin represents clients through supervisory actions and assists them with the PARR (Potential Action and Request for Response) and NORA (Notice and Opportunity to Respond and Advise) process, crafting responses and working with regulators to reach favorable outcomes.

Prior to joining Orrick, Justin was an associate at Buckley LLP. Before practicing law, Justin worked with sports agents for some of the most successful players in the National Football League, including league MVPs, Super Bowl winners, and numerous rookies of the year.