Our Team

I enjoy being part of a team of people that empower the dreamers, the doers, and the bold, and the people that want to invest in those visionaries. I believe that corporate lawyers get to be at the triangle of change with one corner being brains, the other being money, and the other being the lawyers that can help scale and strategize and keep things moving.

Connections. Connections with people - both those moments where I get an opportunity to connect with someone (be it a friend, a client, a new person in the community), or those moments where you can help connect someone (including clients!) with another person who will be helpful to them. Connections within space (within a city, trail system, a new way to get from here to there). And connections of process – clients are always helping me better understand how one process can improve the other. Those “ah ha” moments.

I had the honor of exploring Egypt with Ann Kerr, Steve Kerr's mom (current coach of the Golden State Warriors) and widow to Malcolm H. Kerr, statesman. I received a scholarship in Professor Kerr's name and the experience in Egypt in high school was life changing. So many moments from the trip are vivid and etched in my brain, including Ann Kerr running us confidently jaywalking across busy intersections in Cairo, her heels sinking into the hot melting pavement, introducing us dignitaries across all party lines, and introducing us to villages of Nubians during a Nile boat ride.

The technology and ideas behind reusability, circularity, and what we can do with all the stuff we have created (and continue to create). Said another way, come talk to me about trash, recyclables and the things we throw away, and how we can do more with it for the world and its future. I'm also loving all the self-driving cars in San Francisco (though I personally also love to drive manual, classic cars).

My ideal weekend would be outside and in a bustling house with the doors wide-open. There would be some cooking, friends, kids playing, dog walking, and quiet sitting on a mountaintop.

Omnilingualism.

We over-index on confidence. Courage is the power to try things before you have the confidence.

Let's do this.

It’s great to work with people with such energy and drive. I get to learn new things every day about different industries and help founders with creative yet practical ways to solve problems that come up as they are building their businesses.

Listening to Guy Raz's "How I Built This" podcast on NPR. I was inspired by the idealism, resilience, and energy of the founders (even after setback after setback!)

I’d work for the Boston Red Sox or open a coffee shop.

Going for a trail run somewhere in Devon or Cornwall and then finding a pub with a fire on that can pour a good pint of Guinness!

Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett or anything by Rachel Cusk.

The eternal optimism that is the foundation of our clients' creative and strategic vision.

Collaboration. Few things inspire me more than good people working together to help others.

A shepherd.

I'm a fourth generation Silicon Valley resident.

Be nice.

Technology companies are constantly changing the way we live our lives. Those changes present an ever-evolving set of challenges (and opportunities). I enjoy being on the front lines with innovators as we tackle those challenges collectively to help push the world forward.

For the most part, my inspiration comes from within. I love to learn new things.

Round of golf, followed by a backyard BBQ with family and friends.

"Someday My Prince Will Come" by Miles Davis / John Coltrane. Since I was a kid, no matter what mood I'm in, when that song comes on shuffle, I listen to all nine minutes of it.

Working with tech companies requires me to exercise creative thinking on a daily basis. It's exciting to partner with brilliant founders and young companies to help them grow.

Starting to see friends building their own companies, and all the successes and struggles, was a real motivator. I wanted to understand the ecosystem and help them out!

My loved ones make me want to be the best version of myself. It's an incredible thing to watch the people in your life grow, and to grow along with them.

Scuba instructor, easily.

Working with tech companies is incredibly inspiring due to the dynamic nature of the industry and the opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation. The tech sector is a place of rapid growth and constant evolution. Each day presents new challenges and opportunities to solve complex problems that can have a significant impact on society and the way we live. The passion and energy of entrepreneurs who are truly committed to making a difference, is contagious and energizing. Being a part of their journey, from the startup phase to becoming industry leaders, is not only professionally rewarding but also personally fulfilling.

My aspiration to specialize in emerging companies and venture capital law stems from my passion for entrepreneurship and a desire to be a key contributor to the innovation ecosystem. This legal field provides a unique platform to support the entrepreneurs through their pivotal stages of growth. My legal skills in this area help companies navigate the complex legal landscape, securing funding, and build a solid foundation for their future endeavors. It's rewarding to know that through my role, I am helping to shape the industries and technologies that will define our future.

I find inspiration in a variety of sources, but primarily through the lens of human resilience and creativity. Observing people who overcome adversity, relentlessly chase their passions, and commit to a cause that is greater than themselves always continually motivates me to strive for excellence, make meaningful contributions, and make a difference. Additionally, nature is another source of inspiration for me. The complexity and beauty of the natural world serve me as a reminder of the importance of harmony, balance, and sustainability in both personal and professional life. Lastly, the ever-evolving landscape of human knowledge and achievement is a profound source of inspiration. History's great thinkers, leaders, and innovators serve as a powerful reminder of what is possible when we apply ourselves, work together, and dare to dream big.

The technology that excites me the most is AI, particularly its applications in healthcare. I believe AI has the potential to revolutionize medical diagnostics by providing faster, more accurate analyses, which can lead to better patient outcomes and more personalized care. Moreover, I am enthusiastic about the progress in renewable energy technologies. As these technologies become more efficient and cost-effective, they have the potential to significantly reduce our carbon footprint and playing a crucial role in the fight against climate change.

My ideal weekend is spent either on a peaceful hike in nature or exploring the sights and sounds of a new city.

If I could choose one superpower, I would choose the ability to stop time. Time is one of the most precious asset that we have, but it's limited and beyond our command.

My favorite clients are the proverbial “two people, a dog, and a garage” sorts of companies—folks with really strong technical chops and an awesome product idea that want our help to bring it to life. With those sorts of companies, we get to be a key member of the team, helping with everything from low-level blocking and tackling (has everyone signed an invention assignment agreement?) to more complicated business model- and product-level decision making. It’s more fun.

Some sort of product/project management executive role. While I’m good at the nuts-and-bolts sort of stuff, I’m much better at the organizational/executive side of things.

My single biggest source of shame is that I was never able to see Prince live. (I love Prince.)

Skiing in Utah with my wife and kids.

The last partner I worked for before joining Orrick as a Senior Associate - he taught me to ask a few important questions to get my priorities in life right (kudos Axel, you are right: "the one thing you can't recycle is wasted time").

My kids, my wife and during very long hikes.

I hope I could put LEGO models together for a living.

"Range" from David Epstein, one of a handful of books I read twice.

As a kid, I preferred Batman, no superpowers, just an amazing array of tech gadgets.

Get your act together and propose to her.

This season I will not get emotional over my favourite football team (Hamburger Sport Verein) - I will never succeed.

I live vicariously through working with tech companies. I enjoy working with companies that "move fast and break things" because they keep us on our toes. There is never a dull day when working with tech companies.

I'm a reformed capital markets lawyer -- I used to take a lot of tech companies public during the dot com boom. I think that it is more interesting to act for the companies and investors at the earlier stages of the financing life cycle.

Each of my mentors were seasoned lawyers who had lived through prior life cycles of the technology ecosystem and were able to provide perspective on how transactions have evolved over the course of time.

Having a favorite client is like having a favorite child -- that is not possible! They are all favorites. Having a "least favorite client" is another story.

I'm often found "on the rail" at rock concerts.

I love working with tech and life sciences founders who are developing cutting-edge technologies and therapies that are changing the lives of millions of people, or in the case of pharmaceuticals, sometimes it's just a handful of people ... but those few patients have no other hope. The work that we do for these clients makes all of that possible.

I've been interested in technology since I got my first Atari 2600 video game system back in 1977! After a brief stint in investment banking, I pivoted and focused my attention on developing a set of skills that would allow me to work with entrepreneurs and venture capitalists to build innovative companies, products, and therapies.

I learned a lot from my father, who had a long and successful career as an investment banker and venture capitalist. He was one of the smartest people I have ever known and taught me an important lesson that has guided my life ever since ... if you're not doing something that makes the world a better place, then you're wasting what little time you have here.

I would be the oldest player-manager in Major League Baseball history. Given my advanced age and the loss of a step or two, I'd probably have to play first base ... for the Cubs, of course. If I weren't able to pull that off, I think I'd be a venture capitalist.