Patricia L. Eichar Partner, Public Finance
Portland; Sacramento
Portland; Sacramento
Portland; Sacramento
Ms. Eichar has represented issuers, underwriters and borrowers in taxable and tax-exempt municipal financings for health care organizations, senior living communities, and other types of 501(c)(3) organizations. In addition, Ms. Eichar has represented various municipal issuers, including the State of California, in the issuance of general obligation bonds, deficit bonds, revenue anticipation notes, lease revenue bonds, enterprise revenue bonds, pension obligation bonds and land-secured bonds, and in municipal lease and redevelopment financing.
As disclosure counsel to myriad public agencies, Ms. Eichar advises on matters including the content of primary offering documents as well as continuing disclosure filings.
In addition to her work in municipal financings, Ms. Eichar has taken on multiple pro bono projects, including prosecuting guardianships for Sacramento's Voluntary Legal Services Program and assisting veterans with appeals of denial of disability benefits before the Board of Veterans Appeals.
Beijing; Chicago
In addition to specializing in complex IP litigation relating to patent infringement, ITC 337 investigations, trade secrets misappropriation and unfair competition, Ethan has extensive experience advising clients on IP administrative disputes and reexamination, IP strategies, IP due diligence, and IP aspects of strategic transactions, including licensing or transfer, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and collaborations. His clients cover a wide range of industries, including medical devices, hardwares, softwares, internet, semiconductors, electronics, telecommunications, AI, automobile, chemical, materials, energy, etc. His recent clients include Baidu, Tencent, SMIC, JD.com, Micro-Tech, Vivo, Coolpad, Anker, OnePlus, Govee, LANHE, Lovense, Zhejiang Rongpeng, Sansi Electronic Engineering, Yaham Optoelectronics, CreateLED Electronics, Howshow Technology, Huayi Mechanical and Electrical, INFiLED Electronics, Applied Materials, Synopsys, Coilcaft, Hecate, etc.
Over the years, Ethan has represented dozens of Chinese companies in resolving their IP disputes in the U.S. Ethan and his litigation teams won a number of high-profile ITC investigations involving Chinese companies and earned clients’ long-term trust. In one investigation (337-TA-623), his clients are four subsidiaries of a large state-owned company in China, who were sued for patent infringement. The Commission reversed the late Chief Administrative Law Judge’s unfavorable decision and found that Ethan’s clients were not infringing and did not violate Section 337. In another investigation (337-TA-655), he represented the complainant and its subsidiaries in China suing a group of Chinese respondents for trade secret misappropriation. The ITC issued a 10-year exclusion order against these respondents. This landmark decision represents a new development of trade secret law and ITC jurisdiction in the U.S., and was upheld by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Since then, Ethan has won case after case on behalf of his clients. He is also committed to resolving disputes in the most cost-effective and timely way. “Ethan always tries to resolve matters for clients at the lowest cost possible,” said a client who won a case as he recommended Ethan to his peers.
For instance, in 2017, Ethan successfully defended Shenzhen Howshow Technology against Kent Displays, Inc. in an ITC 337 investigation (337-TA-1035) involving alleged infringement of patents relating to liquid crystal e-writers and components. Orrick secured a complete victory for the client by forcing the complainant to unconditionally withdraw after four months of active litigation. The case was named “Deal of the Year 2017 – Disputes and Investigations” by China Business Law Journal.
In another case, Ethan successfully defended Sansi Electronic Engineering, CreateLED Electronics, Yaham Optoelectronics. and other Chinese respondents against Ultravision Technologies in an ITC Section 337 investigation (337-TA-1114) filed on 27 March 2018 involving alleged infringement of patents relating to certain modular LED display panels and components. The complainant was forced to withdraw the complaint unconditionally during the expert discovery period in November 2018, which led to a final termination by the ITC on 21 February 2019.
Prior to joining Orrick, Ethan served as Director of IP, Asia of a world leader in specialty glass and ceramics, where he was in charge of the company’s daily IP matters in China and throughout Asia. Before that, he was a partner and member of the Board at McAndrews, Held & Malloy in Chicago, Illinois. Ethan was the first non-US born lawyer of that firm.
In the past 20 years, Ethan has been committed to building bridges and facilitating understanding between China and the US on IP protection and exchange. In addition to being a frequent speaker at various seminars and conferences in China and the US, Ethan regularly publishes articles and has been interviewed by numerous media. He served as a committee member of the Asian Legal Committee of Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) for many years.
Ethan is also actively involved in the “One Belt One Road” and “Going Out” initiatives led by the PRC government and non-profit organizations. He participated in Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce’s “Going Overseas Service Portal” project, and acts as an expert of Shenzhen Overseas IP Protection and Assistance Expert Pool, a special advisor to Wisdom IP - Overseas Intellectual Property Alliance (WIPA), Nanjing, Jiangsu, an expert in Nanjing Overseas IP Think Tank, Zehjiang Dongyang IP Think Tank, Shanghai International Economic and Trade IP Protection Overseas Expert Pool, and one of the first batch experts in Shanghai Overseas IP Disputes Resolution Expert Pool.
Sacramento
Brendan's practice is focused primarily on transactions for municipal issuers, including the State of California and the California Department of Water Resources. Brendan's experience includes advising on a variety of governmental financing structures, including general obligation bonds, revenue and lease revenue bonds, certificates of participation and land-secured bonds. Brendan also focuses on tax-exempt healthcare finance for 501(c)(3) organizations, including both stand-alone hospitals and hospital systems, and serves as issuer’s counsel to the California Statewide Communities Development Authority for its 501(c)(3) conduit financings. Brendan has worked on many of the structures available in public finance, including fixed and variable rate bonds, tax-exempt and taxable bonds, publicly offered and privately placed bonds, master trust indentures, insurance, letters of credit, conversions, reofferings and commercial paper programs.
Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)
This experience includes commercial litigation, product liability matters, toxic torts, intellectual property litigation, defamation, unfair competition, and insurance coverage litigation. She also has experience with putative class action matters, e-discovery, and jury and non-jury trials.
Kelly is also dedicated to pro bono representation and community service. She has participated in child custody conciliation programs, criminal records expungement projects, and most recently assisted the Center for Secure and Modern Elections with evaluating the impact of COVID-19 regulations on state elections. She has also engaged in community service by serving on the board of Sojourner House, a faith-based residential recovery program for mothers and children in the Pittsburgh, PA, area, and by volunteering for community service-based projects such as distributing backpacks and school supplies for children in need.
Kelly has also served in multiple leadership positions for local and national bar associations, including the Allegheny County Bar Association and DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar. Prior to joining Orrick, Kelly practiced as an associate in the Pittsburgh office of the global law firm McGuireWoods and as a Senior Attorney at Houston Harbaugh, P.C., in Pittsburgh.
Silicon Valley; San Francisco
Molly has extensive experience in all phases of litigation. She has shepherded witnesses and defendants through all stages of state and federal investigations, government enforcement actions, and civil and criminal trials. She has served a pivotal role in multiple federal jury trials, including arguing motions and formulating effective direct and cross examination strategies. She has defended high-profile clients in the technology and finance sectors in securities class actions, and represents clients in shareholder derivative suits and other shareholder-related disputes.
Molly regularly represents companies and their officers and directors in connection with investigations by the SEC, DOJ, FINRA and other state and federal agencies. She has defended clients in SEC and DOJ enforcement actions. Molly's litigation experience also includes defending against allegations of securities fraud, the False Claims Act, and mail and wire fraud.
Molly's pro bono experience focuses on the assisted reproductive technology space, where she has become a go-to strategic advisor. In addition to representing individuals at all stages of the ART lifecycle, Molly regularly counsels organizations affected by assisted reproductive technology and third-party reproduction. Molly has appeared on The Doctors and in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and New York Magazine commenting on regulation and litigation in the gamete donation industry. Most recently, Molly secured a favorable ruling from the FDA on behalf of her clients.
Prior to joining Orrick, Molly was a Litigation and Enforcement associate in the San Francisco and Washington, D.C., offices of another international law firm. Prior to attending law school, Molly was a pianist and conductor on the national tour of Wicked and worked in the Massachusetts Legislature.
Boston
Jim represents clients in federal and state courts (individual and class actions), and in enforcement actions brought by government agencies. Jim’s practice spans a broad range of subject matters, including consumer finance, cybersecurity, state consumer protection statutes, commercial disputes, and white-collar representations.
Prior to joining Orrick, Jim was an associate at Buckley LLP and an associate at an international law firm. Jim also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Timothy E. Meredith on the Appellate Court of Maryland.
Los Angeles
Kevin has extensive experience defending securities class actions, including on behalf of high-profile clients in the technology and finance sectors. He also regularly represents clients in shareholder derivative suits, including actions alleging breaches of fiduciary duty and failures of oversight.
Kevin has handled a wide range of other complex litigation matters, including contract disputes, civil RICO actions, and cases related to corporate breakups.
Clients also turn to Kevin when they face scrutiny from government regulators. Kevin represents companies, and their officers and directors, when they receive subpoenas in connection with investigations by the SEC and other agencies. And when necessary, Kevin defends his clients in regulatory enforcement actions, including cases brought by the SEC and state Attorneys General.
Kevin devotes significant time to pro bono matters. Public Counsel’s Immigrants’ Rights Project awarded Kevin its annual Pro Bono Award in recognition of his representation of an asylum seeker in a long-running Immigration Court matter.
Kevin has authored articles on securities-related topics in numerous publications, including the Daily Journal, the National Law Journal, and Bloomberg BNA.
Silicon Valley
Yael has extensive experience with advising founders, investors and boards of tech and life sciences companies at all stages and advises on cutting edge deals and complex transactions, with a focus on venture capital financings, debt financings, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance. She practices across a variety of industries, including software and technology, energy, gaming, healthcare and life sciences. Yael’s practice also includes advising venture capital firms and strategic corporate investors in their investments into technology and life sciences companies.
Yael’s broad-based domestic and international experience also includes advising Israeli venture capital funds, high-tech firms and startups while practicing at some of the top-rated firms in Tel Aviv.
New York
Spencer represents private equity funds and their portfolio companies, as well as private and public companies in all aspects of their business.
Spencer regularly advises clients on a variety of strategic transitions, including domestic and cross-border M&A, debt and equity investments and joint ventures. He also counsels boards, investors and other key stakeholders on financing transactions and general corporate matters.
He works across a wide range of geographies and industries, including a primary focus in the tech, finance, life sciences, energy and infrastructure sectors.
Tokyo
He also has extensive experience in fund formation, real estate and various types of finance transactions.
Hiroki has a deep understanding of clients’ needs from his secondment experience with a U.S. investment bank in 2005 and a Japanese major trading house from 2012 to 2014.
Prior to joining Orrick, Hiroki worked at O’Melveny’s Tokyo office as a counsel where he mainly worked on cross border M&A.
New York
Lauren is experienced with motion practice in federal district courts and state courts throughout New York, California, Texas, Delaware, and other jurisdictions. She has a broad base of scientific knowledge and focuses in patent practice dealing with networked technologies and biomedical engineering. Lauren also practices trade secrets law and drafts motions for cases brought under the Defend Trade Secrets Act, New York common law, and the California Uniform Trade Secrets Act.
Prior to joining Orrick, Lauren attended Columbia Law School, where she participated extensively in the Columbia Science, Health, and Information Clinic and the Columbia Science and Technology Law Review.