Thomas Wyatt Laryea Counsel, Restructuring, Banking & Finance
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Thomas formerly served as Assistant General Counsel at the International Monetary Fund, where he was responsible for the IMF’s legal relations in finance and economic surveillance with each of its member countries. As the only senior IMF lawyer in private practice, he offers distinctive insights to asset managers, real money investors and hedge funds on sovereign debt and restructurings as well as large scale corporate restructurings and project financings. His practice bridges legal and strategic advice on the transactional, public policy and dispute resolution aspects of international finance and investment.
Thomas has advised on several recent high-profile sovereign debt restructurings, including representing the Argentina Creditor Committee on the restructuring of $65 billion of Argentina’s foreign currency bonds. He also recently represented the Steering Members of the Committee on Bondholders in the reprofiling of Belize’s bonds.
He is recognized as a key lawyer in the Restructuring (Including Bankruptcy): Municipal category of The Legal 500 US 2022 directory. A client remarked that he “provided invaluable advice on the IMF policies, individual personalities and missions which helped us to understand the sovereign’s priorities with the IMF” that “will then frame our negotiations with the sovereign.” “Thomas is highly respected in the sovereign restructuring space.”
Thomas is an active thought leader and has published numerous articles on sovereign debt and international finance.
Santa Monica
Prior to joining Orrick, Lauren was an associate at Buckley LLP. Previously, she was a law clerk at a Beverly Hills boutique firm.
New York
Lauren works on single plaintiff and class action employment matters, defending against discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage and hour claims in state and federal trial and appellate courts. She also assists clients with conducting internal investigations and provides clients with guidance on pay equity-related matters.
Prior to joining Orrick, Lauren spent more than seven years as an associate in the litigation group of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP representing clients in complex litigation matters, including commercial and employment actions. Lauren's practice at Sullivan & Cromwell also included an active pro bono docket focusing on reproductive rights and LGBTQ and immigration issues.
Washington, D.C.
Prior to joining Orrick, Lauren was an associate at Buckley LLP.
New York
Lauren has experience representing individuals and large companies at all stages of complex civil litigation, from fact-finding to motion practice and everything in between. Lauren practices in federal and state courts nationwide.
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.
New York
Lauren’s practice spans the full spectrum of dispute resolution, from pre-litigation counseling and strategy development to trial and appeal in high-profile antitrust and complex commercial litigation matters. She has worked with clients to evaluate and navigate potential disputes and assess opportunities to settle or negotiate a resolution ahead of litigation. Additionally, she helps clients develop robust dispute resolution strategies at the transactional stage, advising on dispute resolution clauses and positioning clients for favorable outcomes in potential future disputes.
Lauren has extensive experience representing clients in the life sciences industry in disputes arising from drug development, licensing, and joint ventures, and has defended clients in multi-billion dollar arbitrations and antitrust litigation, including multidistrict proceedings.
Lauren is dedicated to giving back to her community through her pro bono practice. She has been instrumental in providing legal advice and support to pro bono clients related to reproductive rights, including securing a preliminary injunction in North Dakota blocking the state’s ban on abortion, which was affirmed unanimously by the North Dakota Supreme Court. She also is an active member of her local synagogue in New York, including by serving on the membership committee.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Lauren has represented clients in connection with a broad spectrum of technologies, including small molecules, biologics, DNA sequencing, gene editing, recombinant DNA technology, and medical devices. She brings experience in litigation under the Hatch-Waxman Act and the Biologics Price Competition Innovation Act (BPCIA).
Lauren was recognized by Law360’s Rising Stars as “one of the top intellectual property attorneys under the age of 40” in 2019. She was also named to Benchmark Litigation’s “40 and Under Hot List,” which honors the achievements of the nation’s most accomplished litigators under 40.
Washington, D.C.
Her practice focuses on project finance and development, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters with a particular focus on renewable energy. Lauren advises clients in debt and tax equity financings, development of solar and wind projects, and infrastructure projects.
Orange County
Lauren supports and leads projects aimed at optimizing client service delivery and increasing efficiencies. Based in Orange County, she collaborates across offices, practice groups, and departments to streamline legal processes through the integration of technology, automation, and data-driven solutions. Her responsibilities include developing best practices, supporting the firm’s data strategy, and spearheading the rollout and adoption of legal technology within the business units.
Prior to moving into this role, Lauren was a Senior Associate in Orrick’s Securities Litigation group, where she represented and advocated for clients in complex litigation, government regulatory matters, and internal investigations. These experiences have made Lauren well-suited to design and improve client-facing solutions, create tailored workflows, and enhance collaboration with clients and third parties. Her familiarity with legal technology and enthusiasm for leveraging AI in legal services align perfectly with Orrick’s commitment to innovation.
Her diverse legal experience, combined with her proactive and innovative approach, positions her as a key player in Orrick’s ongoing efforts to lead the industry in delivering high-quality, efficient legal services.
Seattle
Lauren represents clients in high-stakes appeals, with a focus on patent litigation. Lauren also joins trial teams as embedded appellate counsel to guide the legal strategy with an eye toward appeal and draft important briefs. She has argued in the Federal Circuit on behalf of a leading video-game developer, where she secured affirmance of the PTAB's decision striking down every claim of a competitor's patent, and in the Ninth Circuit, where she won relief from removal for a client seeking asylum. She has co-authored dozens of appellate briefs, as well as briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court at both the certiorari and merits stages. Lauren also has an active pro bono practice focused on immigration matters and civil rights.
Before joining Orrick, Lauren served as a law clerk to Judge Susan P. Graber of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Judge John R. Blakey of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Lauren graduated summa cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Law School, where she received the Salmon Dalberg Award for outstanding member of the graduating class and was a Managing Editor for the Wisconsin Law Review. Before law school, Lauren worked for a major software company in the healthcare industry.
Santa Monica
Santa Monica
Lauren focuses on defending employers in complex wage-and-hour lawsuits, including class, representative, and collective actions in both federal and state courts. She is a persuasive writer and experienced litigator who leverages her substantial wage-and-hour knowledge to develop creative strategies and solutions. Lauren has been a key player in successfully defeating class certification and securing dismissals of PAGA actions. Through smart litigation, Lauren ensures favorable outcomes for her clients.
Lauren has authored numerous articles and client alerts, providing valuable insights on various aspects of employment law. Before joining Orrick, Lauren served as co-editor of Morrison & Foerster's Employment Law Commentary blog, which covers judicial, litigation, and legislative developments, their implications for employers, and strategies to ensure compliance and avoid lawsuits.
Lauren graduated cum laude from the University of California, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), where she was Senior Articles Editor for the Hastings Law Journal and received CALI Awards for earning the highest grade in Legal Writing & Research, E-Discovery, and Critical Studies I: Writing. During pursuit of her J.D., she served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Mary E. Wiss and the Honorable Curtis E.A. Karnow in the San Francisco Superior Court of Complex Civil Litigation, and for the Honorable Consuelo B. Marshall in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. In undergrad, Lauren was an NCAA Division I coxswain on UCLA’s rowing team.