People

Laurie Strauch Weiss Partner

New York

Laurie advises companies on overall strategies, from pre-litigation assessments to the final resolution of matters, which often involve novel scientific issues. Her clients frequently enlist her to strategically address the scientific claims asserted by non-governmental organizations, the plaintiffs' bar and consumer advocacy groups which affect the reputation of their products both before and during litigation.

Laurie is a frequent lecturer, author and media source on topics concerning mass tort/class actions, complex scientific issues and expert witnesses.

Prior to joining Orrick, Laurie was an associate at Donovan Leisure Newton & Irvine LLP, where she gained extensive experience in complex litigation including class actions based on product liability, securities RICO and fraud claims.

Faraaz Samadi Partner

London

He has significant experience in identifying and resolving issues which arise in cross-border technology transactions involving Europe, the U.S. and Asia, having worked in London, Singapore and Shanghai.

Faraaz regularly advises clients on technology service agreements, website terms and conditions, data privacy, renegotiations, intellectual property Iicensing and strategic alliances.

He has represented companies in a wide range of industries including software development, satellite and space, mining and resources, mobile, healthcare, digital marketing, automotive, ride-hailing and logistics.

Joseph Chern Senior IP Career Associate

Orange County

Joseph has experience drafting and prosecuting patents in several technical fields, including signal processing, memory control, optical medical devices, computer networks, database management, thermal conductivity and geomechanics, nanostructuring, e-commerce, capacitive touch panels, complex circuit designs, data security/encryption, semiconductors, in-flight entertainment systems, power systems, neural networks, and software applications.

Joseph's practice further includes conducting intellectual property due diligence to assess the quality and quantity of intellectual property assets.  For example, Joseph has represented several clients in open source licensing matters and provided counseling to develop open source software strategies.  He also has extensive experience in intellectual property and technology matters related to mergers and acquisitions.

Joseph also has substantial experience in patent infringement litigation cases in federal district courts and the United States International Trade Commission (ITC).  Joseph also has represented clients in post-grant opposition procedures with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, including ex parte reexaminations and inter partes reviews (under the America Invents Act).

Joseph began his career as a summer associate at Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor & Zaffman, LLP, in Los Angeles, and an attorney at One, LLP, in Newport Beach, Calif. Prior to law school, he worked as a software and systems engineer for a diversified systems and services company in transportation, defense and RFID markets worldwide.

Thomas Fu Of Counsel

Washington, D.C.

Thomas's practice sits at the intersections of two of his passions: legal advocacy and data. He helps companies facing issues involving data privacy and security to translate the complex issues they face into a message that is persuasive and understandable to courts and regulators. Prior to joining Orrick, Thomas served as a law clerk for Justice Elena Kagan of the U.S Supreme Court and Judge Merrick B. Garland of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Before that, Thomas received his J.D. and Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford, where he helped teach and develop material for undergraduate computer science courses.

Harmann Singh Managing Associate

Washington, D.C.

Harmann is a member of Orrick’s Supreme Court and Appellate group. He counsels clients in high-stakes constitutional, administrative, intellectual property, and commercial disputes across industries. His experience includes representing some of the world’s largest companies, nonprofits, and universities in trade secret cases, patent and copyright disputes, challenges to federal and state laws and regulations, and complex business litigation. Harmann also serves as an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he teaches the seminar Contemporary Civil Rights Issues at the Supreme Court.

Harmann maintains an active public interest practice and has represented clients in federal immigration appeals challenging their unlawful removal from the United States, advocated for criminal defendants in state appellate courts, and contributed to a gender equity investigation of the NCAA. Harmann is experienced in election law, as he has represented Pennsylvania in defending its certification of the 2020 presidential election results at the U.S. Supreme Court, defended the constitutionality of New York’s candidate filing deadline in federal court, and submitted briefs in support of election administration grants in state and federal court. Governor Andrew Beshear commissioned Harmann as a Kentucky Colonel—the Commonwealth’s highest civilian honor—for successfully defending the Governor’s COVID-19 public health measures at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Harmann served as a law clerk to Justice Sonia Sotomayor of the U.S. Supreme Court; Judge Raymond J. Lohier, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; and Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jr., of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Earlier in his career, he was an associate at Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP. Before law school, he was a Truman-Albright Fellow at the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Harmann graduated with honors from Harvard Law School and Columbia University, where he was named a Truman Scholar.

Gregoire Piat Senior Associate

Paris

Grégoire advises French and international companies on litigation matters.

Prior to joining Orrick, Grégoire was an associate at Fieldfisher in Paris.Grégoire also worked as an intern in various law firms as Kalliopé and White & Case in Paris as well as in the Paris Court of Appeal and at the legal department of CACEIS Bank in Luxembourg.

James Jenkins, III Managing Associate

Washington, D.C.

He represents a variety of market participants, including sponsors, issuers and underwriters, in public and private offerings of commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS). 

He joins Orrick from Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders in Washington, D.C. Prior to and during law school, James worked in the secondary market as a Performance Manager in the Credit Risk Management division at Freddie Mac, where he managed the performance of billions of dollars in MBS assets.  

Jeffery Hermann Counsel

Los Angeles

He regularly represents secured and unsecured creditors, purchasers of assets from bankruptcy estates, bondholders, secured lenders and creditor committees, including debtor-in-possession financings and Chapter 11 exit financings.

Before joining Orrick, Jeff practiced law for 23 years at the Los Angeles offices of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP, the last 17 years as a partner of the firm.

Wesley L. White Partner

New York

Wes has guided clients through all stages of litigation, including conducting pre-suit diligence, fact and expert, claim construction, evidentiary and dispositive motions, and post-trial. He has handled complex disputes across a diverse range of technology sectors, including computer hardware and software, networking devices, virtualization and cloud computing, antennas, encryption and compression technology, VOIP telephony, flash memory, OLED displays, e-commerce platforms, video/media streaming, web and mobile applications, life sciences, and medical and surgical devices.

Wesley’s achievements have earned him recognition as a Super Lawyers and Managing IP “Rising Star” in intellectual property disputes, and he was named to Lawdragon’s 2023 Inaugural 500 X Next Generation Rising Stars list. Prior to beginning his legal career, Wesley worked as an analyst for five years with Goldman Sachs.

Joseph Kolker Senior Associate

New York

In his trial-level practice, Joey develops legal strategy, writes persuasive and accessible briefs, and works as embedded appellate counsel at trial. Joey has drafted dozens of briefs in litigation involving patent infringement claims, false advertising claims, and other complex business disputes. At trial, in his hybrid role as embedded appellate counsel, Joey advises on legal strategy and preservation issues and drafts and argues trial motions, briefs, and jury instructions. 

In his appellate practice, Joey has presented argument before the Federal Circuit and Third Circuit, and drafted briefs at the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Eighth, Ninth, and Federal Circuits, and at the U.S. Supreme Court, across a wide range of subject matters--ranging from patents, copyright, and contract interpretation to white collar and criminal procedure, immigration, and civil rights law.

Before joining Orrick, Joey served as a law clerk to Chief Judge Michael A. Chagares of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and Judge Janet Bond Arterton of the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. Prior to clerking, he worked as a civil rights litigation fellow in the New York office of a national firm.

Ari Bessendorf Partner

Singapore

Ari’s practice cuts across sectors, including conventional power, renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric), infrastructure, oil & gas and mining throughout the United States and Asia. His combination of project development and finance experience allows him to advise clients on bankability considerations for development matters.

Clients commend him for being “meticulous on the finer details”, and “a firm but calming and amiable presence at the negotiating table.” They add that “he gained our trust” and has “a cost-effective approach and a drive to successfully close deals.”

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.