People

Robert Taylor Counsel

New York

A veteran antitrust litigator, Rob has litigated and counseled on high-profile antitrust matters on behalf of leading companies in a wide range of sectors, including litigated merger challenges, putative antitrust class actions, government antitrust investigations, and private actions against competitors. He has successfully litigated cutting-edge competition matters, including defending against allegations of algorithmic collusion and price-fixing through the use of software.

From late 2018 through early 2019, Rob completed a secondment at the litigation department of a major media company.

Rob maintains an active pro bono practice, where his work has focused primarily on benefits applications and appeals for low-income disabled veterans.

Prior to joining Orrick, Rob was an active-duty Army JAG officer, where he served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, an administrative law attorney, and a special victims counsel, among other roles. As a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, he first-chaired more than 10 trials in federal court, including two jury trials.

Maria Teodorescu Associate

Munich

She acts on corporate transactions including leveraged buy-outs, management buy-outs, minority participations and expansion or growth financings as well as M&A transactions, often with cross-border aspects.

Before joining Orrick, she had been an associate in the private equity group of a U.S. headquartered law firm. As part of her legal clerkship, Maria worked for another U.S. law firm and a leading German law firm, among others.

Guido Testa Partner

Milan

As a partner resident in Orrick’s Milan office and a senior member of the M&A and Private Equity Group, Guido is acclaimed for his broad expertise and comprehensive knowledge in the field.

In the area of M&A, he regularly assists leading corporations, investment holding companies, and family offices in structuring and negotiating domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances. His experience extends across a range of industries, with a particular focus on the industrial and healthcare sectors, where he is known for his ability to manage sophisticated transactions and deliver practical solutions.

Guido’s private equity practice is distinguished by his work with both investment funds and, above all, entrepreneurs. Guido is a key legal partner to Italian entrepreneurs, advising on all aspects of corporate law and governance. He is valued for his ability to act as a business partner, providing ongoing counsel on day-to-day operations as well as long-term planning and extraordinary transactions. Clients rely on his deep sector knowledge, commercial acumen, and pragmatic approach to navigate complex legal and business challenges. Moreover, he advises investment funds on the structuring and execution of acquisitions and disposals, helping them identify opportunities, manage legal risks, and achieve their strategic objectives in the Italian market.

In the area of joint ventures, Guido has significant experience advising on the formation and management of strategic partnerships and alliances, enabling clients to pursue growth opportunities and innovation in highly competitive markets.

Guido also has extensive cross-border experience, regularly assisting international corporate and funds investing in Italy as well as Italian corporate and funds pursuing opportunities abroad, ensuring seamless execution and effective cross-border coordination.

Guido is recognized as a Leading Partner in Private Equity by Legal 500. He is ranked in Chambers Europe for Private Equity and for Corporate/M&A: Mid-Market, reflecting his strong reputation and expertise in the Italian legal market.

Stephen Thau Partner

New York; Silicon Valley

Stephen’s practice focuses on the representation of life science, medical device, health IT, and other technology companies in transactional matters, including public and private financings, licensing, collaborations and strategic alliances, and mergers and acquisitions. He also represents venture capital firms in public and private financing transactions.

Stephen is recognized as a Leading Life Sciences Lawyer by LMG Life Sciences in their 2021/2022 rankings and short-listed as Venture Capital Attorney of the Year. He has served as a member of the Board of Tech Council of Maryland, the leading technology and life science association in that state, and of BayBio, Northern California’s leading life sciences association. Stephen is a frequent speaker on venture capital financings and served on the faculty at the 2005 and 2007 Emerging Entrepreneurs workshops at Stanford University.

Prior to joining Orrick, Stephen was a partner at Morrison & Foerster, Venture Law Group and Heller Ehrman. He began his legal practice as a litigator, focusing on securities and intellectual property. He also served as a law clerk to the Hon. Vaughn R. Walker in the United States District Court in the Northern District of California. Stephen graduated Order of the Coif from Stanford Law School, where he was managing editor of the Stanford Law Review, and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in Biology.

Darrell Thomas Senior Counsel

Houston

Darrell has experience in a wide range of traditional real estate matters, including drafting and negotiating development agreements, construction contracts, restrictions agreements, purchase and sale agreements, ground leases, facility and office leases, and construction and permanent loan documents. He has also formed commercial and residential condominium regimes, including for mixed uses. He represents developers and users in acquisition and development matters, including requirements for access, utilities, detention, drainage, use restrictions and economic incentive arrangements. He also represents lenders in commercial mortgage loan originations, workouts and foreclosures.

Darrell also works on all aspects of real property requirements for energy and other projects, including drafting and negotiating leases, easements and other real property agreements, satisfying title insurance requirements, reviewing and revising property tax abatement agreements and resolving conflicts between mineral and surface development. connection with renewable energy projects, including the development, construction, financing, acquisition and disposition of projects.

Julie Thompson Managing Associate

Washington, D.C.

Julie represents early to late-stage companies as well as leading investors in venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate formation and governance matters and ongoing corporate matters. She advises companies throughout their lifecycle and represents leading venture firms in connection with their investments in private companies, in all cases across industries.

Mark Thompson Senior Associate

New York

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.

In addition to his litigation practice, Mark advises clients regarding a broad range of employment issues, including human resource policies and procedures, severance agreements and employee terminations.

Prior to joining Orrick, Mark was a judicial law clerk and gained experience litigating a wide range of civil and criminal cases.

 

Dahl Thompson Partner

Houston

Dahl represents project sponsors/developers, private equity investors, utilities and strategic investors in all stages of structuring, financing, acquiring and disposing of energy projects and companies, including the negotiation and drafting of purchase and sale, joint development, shareholder, partnership and LLC operating, debt and equity financing, security and credit agreements. Over the last decade, Dahl has successfully closed transactions relating to projects totaling many thousands of megawatts and many billions of dollars in asset value.

Dahl is described by Chambers USA as having “excellent industry knowledge."

John F. Thomson Counsel

Washington, D.C.

John currently advises borrowers, sponsors, contractors and other market participants on complex project finance, project development, capital market and corporate transactions, primarily in the energy and infrastructure sectors.  

Lina Thoreson Of Counsel

Sacramento

Lina M. Thoreson is of counsel in the Sacramento office and a member of the firm's nationally recognized Public Finance Department. She has broad experience acting as bond counsel, disclosure counsel and underwriter's counsel in tax-exempt financings for healthcare borrowers include large and small healthcare providers, healthcare systems and stand-alone healthcare facilities. She also acts as bond counsel or underwriter's counsel for other 501(c)(3) borrowers.

Lina has experience working on many types of public finance transactions, including fixed and variable, tax-exempt and taxable, liquidity supported bonds, conversions, reofferings and direct purchases.

Jon Thursby Partner

London

In addition to drafting and negotiating FIDIC, BIMCO, LOGIC and other standard form agreements, Jon also advises on highly bespoke construction management and fully "wrapped" EPC agreements.

Jon advises sponsors, lenders and contractors on the construction and operation of wind, solar, biomass and other renewable energy projects in Asia, Europe, the UK and the U.S.

Jon's recent experience includes performing the role of Commercial Director for the Formosa II offshore wind project in Taiwan.

Before returning to the UK in 2024, Jon was based in Singapore for a number of years where he advised on some of the most complex and innovative offshore wind projects in South Korea, Taiwan and elsewhere in Asia, including the Changfang and Xidao project developed by CIP and its partners, which remains one of the largest offshore wind project financings in Asia. Although based in London, Jon continues to advise on projects in various stages of development, construction and operation in Asia and the U.S.

Jon began his career as a disputes lawyer and continues to advise on contentious matters.

Serena Tibrewala Managing Associate

New York

Serena also represents investors and venture capital firms on their investments in early and high-growth technology companies.