Rebecca Letsome Project Attorney
Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)
Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)
Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)
Ms. Letsome 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. Rebecca 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
San Francisco; New York
San Francisco; New York
Barry is known in the market as “one of the most accomplished litigators,” “very effective in pursuing compelling themes and tearing down witnesses with polite cross-examination” (2017 Benchmark Litigation), and as "a real seasoned veteran of high-stakes litigation" (2020 Chambers USA). Barry has also been commended by his peers as a "fabulous lawyer" who is "very well regarded and really knows the area" (2016 Chambers USA).
Barry has broad first chair experience in trial and arbitration, ranging from trial counsel for Johns-Manville Corporation in its coverage litigation involving asbestos-related bodily injury claims to successful domestic and international arbitrations on behalf of financial institutions, hospitals, and hospitality companies.
Over the past 8 years, Barry has developed extensive experience in issues arising out of the financial crisis, including a range of issues relating to mortgage backed securities and lending practices.
He is a frequent lecturer in the area of litigation, insurance coverage and law firm management. Prior to joining Orrick, Barry was a shareholder at Heller Ehrman LLP.
Santa Monica; Chicago; San Francisco
Santa Monica; Chicago; San Francisco
In addition, Fredrick has represented corporate and individual clients in a wide array of national and transnational commercial disputes involving contract enforcement, corporate governance, debt collection, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and securities. He also has an active appellate practice and has briefed and argued numerous cases in federal and state courts throughout the U.S.
Fredrick is a frequent author and lecturer on litigation and compliance issues regarding the consumer financial services industry, including on topics such as federal preemption under the Dodd-Frank Act, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) mortgage servicing rules, the CFPB’s proposed arbitration rule, residential mortgage backed securities litigation, management of multi-jurisdictional litigation, enforcement of jury trial waivers and the use of American discovery in support of foreign litigation and damages measurement.
Prior to joining Orrick, Fredrick was a partner at Buckley LLP. He is co-located in the firm’s Chicago office and practices regularly in Illinois and Michigan.
San Francisco
San Francisco
Melissa's practice focuses on privacy, online safety, content moderation, and cybersecurity, along with a wide array of commercial disputes. She has defended and advised one of the largest technology companies in the world for multiple years against claims challenging aspects of its online services, including product design and content moderation decisions. Her teams help their clients develop creative and effective legal strategies, not only to defend against specific lawsuits, but also to prepare for future legal risk.
Melissa has also advised multiple clients responding to government investigations, including by the FTC.
Additionally, Melissa maintains an advisory practice, working with her teams to provide recommendations and risk analyses to various clients on their online terms and policies, content moderation practices, online safety, and issues related to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
Melissa also maintains a pro bono practice. Among other matters, Melissa is currently representing multiple members of a Honduran family seeking various forms of immigration relief.
New York
He has represented U.S. and multi-national corporations engaged in a wide variety of industries, including retailing, radio and television broadcasting, automotive parts, printing and publishing, refining and packaging of petroleum products, manufacturing and distribution of wines, spirits and related products, hotels, food service, financial institutions, passenger airline, and freight forwarding companies.
Herbert has extensive experience in negotiating collective bargaining agreements, and has represented clients in a broad range of labor matters, including: union election and unfair labor practice cases, arbitrations and strike related matters. His practice also includes federal and state court and administrative agency litigation covering employment discrimination, wrongful discharge, ERISA, and wage-and-hour matters.
He has participated in establishing security programs for clients, helped design benefit plans, employment handbooks, and worked with clients on affirmative-action compliance reviews and safety and health matters. He has drafted and negotiated employment agreements, and has done extensive work in counseling and representing clients in merger and acquisition problems including negotiations with adverse parties, unions, and insurance carriers.
Herbert started his practice as an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board, and then worked for Proskauer, Rose, Goetz, & Mendelsohn. From 1972 to 1990, Herbert was a partner at the firm of Baer, Marks & Upham, where he chaired the employment law department, and was instrumental in building a labor and employee benefits practice.
He joined Orrick in 1991, and continued as a partner until 2002, when he retired from the partnership in order to devote more of his time to family obligations. He has continued to practice with Orrick since that time as counsel.
New York
San Francisco
San Francisco
Marc's practice concentrates on insolvency planning, bankruptcy cases, out-of-court reorganizations and workouts. He represents secured and unsecured creditors, acquirers of assets from insolvent companies, debtors, indenture trustees, committees, public entities and bankruptcy trustees.
Seattle
Emily focuses her practice on advising clients on a wide range of real estate finance matters, including commercial mortgage-backed securities, acquisitions, dispositions, and refinancing transactions. Her expertise extends to negotiating and drafting loan agreements, purchase and sale agreements, conducting due diligence, and ensuring compliance with local regulatory requirements. In addition to her work in the Real Estate Finance Group, Emily has also collaborated with Orrick’s Energy and Infrastructure team to help them navigate the real estate issues for solar and battery developments.
Emily is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Law and was previously a summer associate at Orrick.
Parigi
Florent Lewkowicz's practice focuses on corporate law as well as mergers & acquisitions in France and worldwide.
He developed particular experience in the sale and acquisition of startups, as well as in transactional and corporate law matters relating to complex financial restructurings.
Florent has been involved in major financial restructurings (Solocal, Orpea, Casino group) and major exits, particularly in France and the USA (Getaround/Drivy, Glose/Medium, Lalilo/Renaissance Learning, Tempow/Google, Context/Integral Ad Science, Cajoo/Flink, Heap/ContentSquare).
Prior to joining Orrick in November 2018, Florent was an associate at a leading US law firm.
Washington, D.C.
Prior to joining Orrick, Rachel was senior counsel at Buckley LLP. Previously she was counsel at boutique litigation firms in Washington, D.C., and an associate at an AmLaw 100 firm in New York. Rachel also served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable John Major of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Ginevra
Vanessa is “a leading arbitration practitioner…well known for her consistently excellent dispute resolution work” (Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration), and acts as counsel in international arbitration proceedings before the ICC, LCIA, the Swiss Arbitration Centre and other international fora and subject to a variety of procedural and substantive laws (including English, French, Italian, Qatari, New York, Mexican, Swiss and Tunisian law). Vanessa's experience spans a variety of industries including construction, life sciences, food and beverages, financial services, insurance and aviation. Most recently, Vanessa has conducted an arbitration on behalf of a sub-contractor involved in the construction of part of an international airport and was successful in representing a Swiss not-for-profit foundation supporting advanced clinical research in rare pediatric diseases.
Described by clients as an "excellent" lawyer who delivers "very high-quality legal services" (Legal 500), Vanessa has also represented parties in setting aside proceedings before the Swiss Supreme Court and regularly acts as party-appointed arbitrator, sole arbitrator of chair in arbitrations worldwide.
Vanessa serves as a member of the ICC's Commission on Arbitration & ADR and in addition to her activities in the field of arbitration, Vanessa advises on export control regulations and economic sanctions administered by the U.S., the European Union and Switzerland, including matters relating to customs regulations, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, anti-money laundering rules and anti-boycott requirements and regularly provides advice to clients on Swiss substantive law, particularly in contract law.
Prior to joining Orrick, Vanessa practiced for Swiss and international firms based in Geneva and Miami.
Silicon Valley
Clients turn to Joe again and again as a creative problem solver and trusted advisor in helping them achieve their goals quickly and efficiently.
For example, in a wage class action for Sears, Joe quarterbacked an unusual strategy to dismiss the case. The team discovered that the plaintiff had filed for bankruptcy, and filed a motion to dismiss because the plaintiff no longer owned the lawsuit, the bankruptcy trustee did. But the plaintiff argued he might re-acquire the lawsuit in bankruptcy court, and the district court allowed him to try. In the bankruptcy court, Joe had Sears buy the lawsuit (an asset of the plaintiff’s bankruptcy estate) for a nominal amount, and then returned to the district court where Sears, now the owner of the class action against itself, dismissed the case with prejudice.
In Pao v. Kleiner Perkins, the high-stakes gender discrimination and retaliation case that garnered intense national scrutiny, Joe led the trial team's work on jury instructions and expert witnesses.
Joe is praised by clients, co-counsel and colleagues for his collaborative approach and ability to bring out the best work from the team.