Our Team

Our tech-focused advisors help founders and funders alike navigate legal complexities with a commercial-first mindset.

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David Hamala

I am a venture capital lawyer and work with startups, investors and other stakeholders in the German and international VC ecosystem on a daily basis. We support our clients from their formation through the various financing rounds (Angel, (Pre-)Seed, Series A, B, C etc.) to a successful exit, but also advise on employee participation/incentive programs, the leap into the United States (e.g., by flip or incorporation of subsidiaries) and generally act as a sparring partner for founders in the realization of their ideas.

Clients I've worked with: Haniel | Blossom Capital | Voltfang | Energy Impact Partners

Contact me Associate, Düsseldorf dhamala@orrick.com +49 211 36787 344

LinkedIn Full Bio

What inspires you about working with tech companies?

To be able to advise such successful technology companies, I have to constantly develop myself to keep up with the rapid advances in the various industries (climate, health, generally AI etc.) and to be a trusted advisor to our clients. I am constantly amazed by the incredible opportunities that technology can offer , which makes it all the more enjoyable to be a part of this progress.
Where do you find inspiration in life?

I go with Lex Luther on this one: “Some people can read War and Peace and come away thinking it's a simple adventure story. Others can read the ingredients on a chewing gum wrapper and unlock the secrets of the universe.” For me, it's often the little things that inspire me the most, for example when I see how meticulously other people work in their respective professions.
What technology are you most excited to see develop?

In general, I am really excited about developments in the field of AI - as I am privately friends with many founders in this field, it is always exciting to hear about the latest developments that sometimes go unnoticed by the public. Personally, however, I am even more excited about developments in the field of health tech (because they can improve the lives of many people in the short term) and climate tech (because without developments in this area we will face major problems in the medium to long term).
Tell us about a favorite book, work of art or piece of music?

I really enjoy reading the books of Rolf Dobelli (The Art of Thinking Clearly, The Art of Acting Smart, The Art of the Good Live).
If you could choose one superpower, what would it be?

Time travel (although I am familiar with the phenomenon of the butterfly effect).

Kristy Hart

I represent early and growth stage companies as well as investors and venture capital funds on a wide range of corporate transactions throughout their life cycle. I am passionate about helping founders and investors at the forefront of technology drive innovation, and to support them by providing Read More

Clients I've worked with: Butternut Box | Connexin | Vitruvian Partners | Sonantic | 9fin

Contact me Managing Associate, London khart@orrick.com +44 20 7862 4637

LinkedIn Full Bio

What inspires you about working with tech companies?

Working with some of the most driven founders who are relentlessly pushing the boundaries and shaping our future is incredibly inspiring and exciting. At the same time, playing a pivotal part in that journey and guiding a founding team through many of their key milestones (from incorporation, through hiring their first employees, closing their first round and beyond) is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
If you weren't a tech lawyer, what would you do?

I would probably be a pilot. The closest I came to "piloting" an in-flight experience was running the first in-flight hackathon (a rapid and collaborative prototyping sprint), Hack Horizon, looking to revolutionise the TravelTech industry while at 40,000 feet above sea level and going at 564 miles per hour on a commercial flight from Hong Kong to London.
Tell us something we'd be surprised to know about you.

I was a competitive figure skater in a past lifetime. As a longstanding heavy metal fan, my greatest memory was convincing my coach to let me skate my short program to my favourite heavy metal track (admittedly the acoustic version). These days I prefer to glide around on the back of a motorbike.
What's the best advice you've ever received?

There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.

Mike Heath

I'm a tech lawyer that works with startups, growth companies and venture capital funds. I help with formation, financings (equity, convertible, debt) and liquidity (M&A and IPO). I also help quarterback legal more generally for my clients – many of my clients think of me as their outside general Read More

Clients I've worked with: Mashgin | FloQast | Loop | Red 6 | Susa Ventures

Contact me Partner, Los Angeles mheath@orrick.com +1 310 633 2817

LinkedIn Full Bio

What inspires you about working with tech companies?

I'm a tinkerer. As a kid I'd disassemble our family PC and put it back together because it was fun. I'd rig up little electronic systems using random left-over parts from Radio Shack. I'd play around in the Windows Registry to find out how much I could break before I'd have to reinstall Windows 95. As an adult I still enjoy building and maintaining my own Linux home servers and home automation systems. Working with tech companies feels like I've found my people. Our clients are people who have found the world as it is, and think to themselves, "I wonder why things are that way. The status quo doesn't make a lot of sense. What if we tried to do it differently?" That outlook resonates a lot with me.
Where do you find inspiration in life?

The mountains in winter. Snowboarding and skiing is my happy place.
If you weren't a tech lawyer, what would you do?

Astronaut. Please ignore that I'm likely too tall and wholly unqualified for NASA.
Tell us about a favorite book, work of art or piece of music?

My favorite piece of literature is Catch-22. I love the non-chronological storytelling, the Rashomon-like reveals of additional information in scenes you thought you knew, and the general absurdity of the plot. But the most impactful book I've read was "Breath" by James Nestor. It was recommended to me by Ron Rofe at Rainfall Ventures and it completely changed the trajectory of my life. Sometimes the right book at the right time can have a profound impact on your life.

Gregory Heibel

I've spent my career working for and with startups of all stages beginning with my time selling solid state electric meters in the APAC region, and my role as an associate at a Swiss-based venture fund, before practicing law in the Silicon Valley. My representation of high growth companies and their investors leans on this experience to apply market context to sophisticated financing, acquisition and commercial transactions globally. I also work with some of the world's most important technology companies to help guide their early stage investment processes.

Clients I've worked with: Go1 | Logikcull (acquired by Reveal) | Syllable | Microsoft | Workday

Contact me Partner, Silicon Valley gheibel@orrick.com +1 650 614 7394

Full Bio

What inspired you to become an emerging companies and venture capital lawyer?

As the son of a serial entrepreneur, I early on learned the intense highs and lows of starting companies, and I always knew that I needed to be a part of energy. There is a special thrill and pride that comes from being an advisor to a company from their formation to their exit, living with and guiding the founders through the trials and tribulations that come from taking a raw startup to success. I never forget that a startup is deeply personal for its founders, and I'm honored to share that.
If you weren't a tech lawyer, what would you do?

I would have gone to medical school and become an emergency medicine physician. There is something raw and important about being a physician who doesn't know what emergency will arrive at their doorstep next, but who also knows that they will be ready to take care of that emergency because they've prepared for years for each of those encounters.
Tell us something we'd be surprised to know about you.

I have a pair of first class seats from a 757 in my office. It even still has the Airfone in the armrest (remember those?).
What technology are you most excited to see develop?

I believe that the application of AI to healthcare will fundamentally change how humans live and thrive, and it will do so in ways that we can't yet imagine. I think the benefits will most prominently be seen in parts of the world where putting access to AI's clinical insights in the hands of caregivers to diagnose early and treat patients effectively without the need for expensive equipment like MRI's and CT's.
What is your ideal weekend?

A long overnight flight with my wife to an exotic city for a fantastic dinner before waking up at a luxury hotel with a really great breakfast buffet.
What's the best advice you've ever received?

Never threaten, just do.

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