Seattle
Blake brings a unique and invaluable mix of in-house, entrepreneurial, and law firm experience, having served as General Counsel and senior executive of a software company and two biotech companies (co-founding one of them), as well as outside corporate counsel in elite AmLaw Global 100 law firms.
Blake’s experience spans multiple industries, including life sciences, software, hardware, mobile, fintech, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and retail. He has counseled fast-growing companies on hundreds of venture capital financings and M&A transactions, numerous public offerings, as well as service as a trusted advisor to management teams and Boards on both strategic and day-to-day matters.
Blake is proud to have worked with a variety of technology and life science companies, venture capital firms and investment banks, including AppSheet (acquired by Google; Nasdaq: GOOGL), Arris Composites, Barclays, Cloudhopper (acquired by Twitter; NYSE: TWTR), Critical Insight, Coatue Management, fatfoogoo (acquired by Digital River; Nasdaq: DRIV), Ikaria, IronPort Systems (acquired by Cisco; Nasdaq: CSCO), Kineta (Nasdaq: KA), Lighter Capital, Oculus (Nasdaq: FB), OncoSenX, PATH, Qpass (acquired by Amdocs; NYSE: DOX), Varian Medical (NYSE: VAR), Xcimer Energy, and Zipwhip (acquired by Twilio; NYSE: TWLO).
Prior to his legal career, Blake served with distinction in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer, Fire Control Officer, and Air Warfare Coordinator, including two combat deployments to the Persian Gulf, where he was decorated for his performance during Operations Southern Watch and Desert Strike.
New York
In the 2022 Capital Markets: Securitization: CMBS – Nationwide category of Chambers USA, a client said, “William is an experienced attorney in the CMBS space. He is meticulous and thoughtful, yet commercial, adding value where needed.”
Prior to joining Orrick, Butch was a partner in the New York offices of Kaye Scholer LLP, Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP and Sidley Austin LLP.
San Francisco
Alex is recognized by Chambers and Legal 500 as an "Up and Coming" and "Rising Star" in securities litigation. He has extensive experience representing public and private companies and their D&Os, as well as investment banks and underwriters, in securities and corporate governance-related litigation and other complex commercial litigation. He also regularly advises companies and their boards on corporate governance best practices and fiduciary and disclosure duties, frequently presents and publishes on these topics, and teaches a full-semester course on transactional and shareholder litigation at the University of California Berkeley School of Law.
Alex earned his Juris Doctor degree, with Honors, Order of the Coif, from the University of Chicago Law School, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis.
Santa Monica
Alexandra advises companies at all stages of growth on corporate formations, general corporate governance matters, venture capital financings and exit transactions.
Alexandra received her J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, where she served as a Managing Editor for the Journal of Law and Technology. Prior to law school, Alexandra graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar College where she earned her B.A. in Psychological Sciences and Political Science.
New York
He represents lenders, including banks and other financial institutions, and corporate borrowers in a range of secured commercial financing transactions, including syndicated transactions, asset-based financings, private equity acquisition financings, cross-border transactions and refinancings. Taylor also supports other practice groups, including the Mergers & Acquisitions/Private Equity group, the Technology Companies Group and the Restructuring group, on financing matters for clients.
Prior to joining Orrick, Taylor was an associate at Linklaters LLP.
Milano
Claudia advises banks, private debt funds, sponsored investment vehicles, large corporations, and SMEs on domestic and cross-border leveraged and acquisition finance transactions, as well as corporate finance and refinancing transactions.
Before specializing in banking and finance, Claudia was also involved in M&A transactions, and she gained some experience in assisting Italian and foreign companies and private equity funds both in the corporate and in the financial aspects of acquisition and investment transactions.
Silicon Valley
Lynne led the trial team that obtained a complete defense verdict for Kleiner Perkins in Pao v. Kleiner Perkins, the high-stakes gender discrimination and retaliation case that garnered intense international media scrutiny. In naming Lynne “Litigator of the Week” for this victory, American Lawyer described her effective voir dire and how she “steadily poked holes in Pao’s testimony.” The Recorder called Lynne’s cross-examination “masterful” and Bloomberg reported that her “charismatic, intimidating oratory made her the trial’s breakout star.”
Following Pao, Lynne secured a complete defense verdict for SpaceX in an $8 million gender discrimination and retaliation suit. The Daily Journal called the outcome “another triumph for Hermle,” observing that her “string of successes for tech clients fighting off gender harassment and discrimination claims got longer.” The publication also pronounced Lynne to be “arguably the most feared employment defense attorney in California.” Eight months later she followed that up with another jury defense verdict for SpaceX in a wrongful discharge and retaliation case.
Lynne has significant experience successfully defending complex discrimination and wage-and-hour class actions for global leaders in the retail and technology sectors including Microsoft, X (formerly Twitter), The Gap, Genentech, Sears, Burlington Coat Factory, Gymboree, Spencer’s Gifts, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn Kids, among many others.
In recognition of these successes and her high-profile career trial work, Lynne was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2017. She is a fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and many other trial related organizations.
Parigi
Aurélie advises French and international financial institutions, corporates, sponsors, investors and asset managers on French and cross border transactions. She advises on banking, structured finance and securitization transactions.
Prior to joining Orrick, Aurélie was an associate for five years in the Securitization and Structured Finance teams of two leading international law firms in Paris.
San Francisco
Jesse regularly serves as bond counsel for multifamily housing, student housing and waste-to-energy facility financings. His recent experience includes the development and implementation of a successful tax-exempt financing program for the creation and preservation of affordable housing for middle-income families and individuals across California. In addition, Jesse frequently assists issuers, underwriters and developers with the structuring and financing of nonprofit and general governmental transactions throughout the United States.
Jesse also serves on the Board of Governors for The University of San Francisco School of Law.
Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)
Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)
Ashley works with litigation attorneys and third party vendors to manage the review and production of documents relevant to investigations and litigation. This work includes using early case assessment technology to analyze, categorize and cull data. She also manages teams of skilled professionals performing document review, redaction, analysis, production and drafting privilege logs. Ashley assists the litigation team to prepare for trial, including drafting deposition summaries, factual memoranda and exhibit charts. She also works with practice office attorneys on transactional tasks, including contract review and due diligence.
Ashley has dedicated significant time to pro bono matters, including assisting trial counsel representing abused and neglected children. She is an active member of Orrick’s Associates of Color Mentoring Group, which promotes diversity and leadership among minority associates.
New York
Hagit represents clients in international arbitrations across the world under the rules of all the major arbitral institutions including the ICDR/AAA, ICC and LCIA, SIAC, HKIAC, JAMS and CPR and in cross-border disputes in courts across the United States. She has also served as an expert witness on New York law in proceedings in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Hagit is recognised as ‘a force to be reckoned with’ (Legal 500) who ‘thinks ten steps ahead’’ (Chambers) and has “astonishing legal skills”, including the ability “to analyze and sharpen arguments”. She was recognized as one of a select group of "Distinguished Leaders" by New York Law Journal (2021).
Hagit regularly teaches courses on arbitration and advocacy skills, sits as arbitrator and frequently writes and lectures on topics related to international business disputes. She is a member of the ICC Court of International Arbitration Commission, former chair of the Arbitration Committee of the International Institute of Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR), a current member of the CPR Council, ICC Commission, and a founding Board Member of the New York International Arbitration Center.
New York
Before joining Orrick, Eliza served as a law clerk to Judge Paul J. Watford on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Judge Jesse M. Furman on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan. She also worked as a temporary Special Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee on the confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.