Dr. Daniel Ashkar Counsel

Monaco

Having focused on privacy law for over a decade, Daniel provides comprehensive privacy and cybersecurity advisory support to clients. He further focuses on AI, data, and other technology-related matters. Daniel also possesses significant experience regarding legal disputes including litigation matters and authority proceedings.

He is a Co-Chair of the International Association of Privacy Professionals’ (IAPP) KnowledgeNet Chapter in Munich and has obtained the certifications / designations Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional (AIGP), Certified Information Privacy Professional / Europe (CIPP/E), Certified Information Privacy Professional / United States (CIPP/US), Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM), and Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP) from the IAPP.

Daniel is recommended in the 2025 Legal 500 Data protection rankings as a key lawyer of Orrick’s related German practice. Testimonials gathered by Legal 500 state: “Daniel Ashkar is an outstanding lawyer with outstanding knowledge of current developments in the field of data protection law. His passion for data protection law and precision in his advice is unmatched. It is a pleasure to work with him.”; “Daniel Ashkar: Partner material, binding, creative, and practice-oriented.” He has further been recognized by the leading German business journal Handelsblatt / Best Lawyers in the category Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch - Attorneys of the Future under the practice area Data Security and Privacy Law. 

Daniel wrote his doctoral thesis on data privacy law and regularly publishes and speaks on privacy and AI related topics.

Prior to joining Orrick, Daniel was an in-house counsel for a German automotive manufacturer and for one of the largest reinsurance corporations in the world. Due to his in-house experience at these large German multinationals, he has a particular understanding of globally operating clients’ needs and requirements. Daniel started his career at another global law firm where he worked for several years with a main focus on data privacy as well as dispute resolution and litigation matters.

Nicholas Farnsworth Partner

Boston

Nick provides compliance guidance on both proposed and effective laws on a federal and state level in the United States, including:

• Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography And Marketing Act (CAN-SPAM)
• Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
• Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) and other biometric privacy laws
• Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
• Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
• Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC) Act
• Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
• U.S. state breach notification laws
• U.S. state privacy laws
• U.S. artificial intelligence laws

He also counsels clients on the impact of international laws from a U.S. perspective, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the ePrivacy Directive (ePD), and the EU Artificial Intelligence Act.

Nick helps clients develop flexible governance frameworks for the development and use of artificial intelligence in the face of ever evolving AI legislation. He also advises clients on strategies, policies and procedures for the sourcing of AI training data, the responsible use of AI by employees, the assessment of risks presented by AI tools, the design of consumer-facing AI, the negotiation of AI-related contracts and the handling of AI-related regulatory inquiries and investigations.

Nick also devotes a portion of his practice to innovative client solutions and community engagement. He was part of the Orrick team that developed Orrick’s AI Resource Center, EU AI Act reference guide, U.S. AI Law Tracker and Gen AI Policy Builder. His pro bono practice has included representing clients in immigration and innocence matters and assisting small businesses with their legal needs.

Nick has obtained the Certified Information Privacy Professional -/ United States (CIPP/US), Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT) and Privacy Law Specialist (PLS) designations from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Daniel Garber Managing Associate

Santa Monica

Daniel represents high-growth technology companies throughout their lifecycles.

Daniel's practice focuses on general corporate counseling and venture capital financings. He represents innovative startups in a wide variety of industries, including e-commerce, software, and artificial intelligence. He also represents investors and venture capital firms in their investments in technology companies.

Ramin Tohidi Partner

Silicon Valley

Ramin helps clients maximize their intellectual property and technology portfolios in a variety of ways, including drafting, negotiating, and advising on development, production, supply, procurement, and other technology licensing arrangements. He represents both mature and emerging companies in a variety of industries, including in SaaS, software, AI, hardware, information technology, business process outsourcing, enterprise resource planning, and data intelligence.

Ramin also counsels companies in developing artificial intelligence (AI) policies and deploying AI tools, and he also advises clients on open-source licensing and intellectual property issues in connection with mergers, acquisitions, and financing transactions.

According to Chambers USA, Ramin is “an excellent, practical, client- and business-oriented tech transactions attorney”, and “someone clients can work with as a tech expert, a business confidant and, of course, a legal expert." Chambers USA ranked him as an Up and Coming Partner, and Legal 500 ranks him as a Rising Star in 2021 and 2022 for Technology: Transactions.

Kyle Zhu Senior Associate

New York

Kyle represents public and private companies and private equity funds in various domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions transactions on both the buy-side and sell-side. Kyle is also experienced in advising clients on representation and warranty insurance and venture financings. As part of Orrick’s fintech and artificial intelligence working group, Kyle analyzes and creates thought leadership on novel legal issues related to crypto, web 3.0 and artificial intelligence.

Kyle is passionate about Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. He serves as a leader on Orrick’s New York Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and Orrick’s Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Inclusion Network. He is also a Vice Chair of the Corporate Law Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York.

Michael Ruiz Partner

Silicon Valley; Seattle

Michael advises his clients on a broad range of legal needs, including corporate formation and structure, venture capital financings, board and stockholder relationships and exit transactions. His current and former clients are concentrated in interactive media industries including game development, Esports, AR/VR tech, 3D animation, and artificial intelligence. Michael also advises companies in the cleantech and life sciences sectors.

His favorite video game is Final Fantasy (VII), favorite board game is Twilight Imperium (IV) and favorite science fiction book is Ender’s Game.

Alexandra Keenan Managing Associate

Londra

She is also a member of the firm's AI & Privacy Committee which focuses on researching and writing about various legal issues in the field of artificial intelligence.

Alexandra joined the firm as a trainee in 2018.

Rachel Nghe Associate

Silicon Valley

Rachel's practice is focused on her client's transactional technology and intellectual property needs. Rachel represents clients at all stages of their life cycles and in a variety of technology-driven industries, including SaaS, artificial intelligence, gaming, entertainment, and media. Rachel has experience drafting commercial, licensing and other intellectual property and technology agreements. She also assists clients with intellectual property issues in connection with mergers and acquisitions.

Prior to joining Orrick, Rachel spent three years working on the commercial and product counseling teams at Dropbox, Inc., and two years with the Department of Justice Anti-trust division. She was also an active member of the ChIPs Network focusing on advancing and connecting women in technology, law and policy while she was in law school.

Peter Graham Associate

Boston

Peter counsels clients on the implementation of global privacy programs. He advises on U.S. state privacy laws and the impact of international laws from a U.S. perspective, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the EU Artificial Intelligence Act.

Peter also helps clients develop AI governance programs. He advises clients on the responsible use of AI by employees, the risks presented by AI tools, and the design of consumer-facing AI.

During law school, Peter completed externships at the Center for AI and Digital Policy and the office of an EEOC Commissioner, focusing on issues related to AI in the workplace.

Peter is designated by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) as a Certified Information Privacy Professional - United States (CIPP/US).

Vertis McMillan Associate

New York

Vertis counsels clients on the implementation of global privacy programs and privacy-related contracts. He advises on United States (U.S.) state privacy laws and the impact of international laws from a U.S. perspective, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the EU Artificial Intelligence Act.

Vertis also helps clients design and operationalize AI governance programs. He advises clients on the responsible use of AI by employees, the risks presented by AI tools, the sourcing and use of AI training data, and the development of consumer-facing AI systems.

During law school, Vertis served as an extern with the New Jersey Division of Law’s Section of Data Privacy & Cybersecurity and interned with the United Nations Office of Strategic Planning. He also participated in his law school’s Intellectual Property Law Journal.

Prior to law school, Vertis worked as a Data Research Analyst at Bloomberg LP.

Daniel Healow Senior Associate

Silicon Valley

Daniel has experience working with clients of all sizes with varying industry and regulatory footprints, from startups to mature technology companies to large financial institutions, in various transactional settings, such as mergers and acquisitions, carve-outs, service provider arrangements, development arrangements, strategic partnerships and commercial contracts. In addition to standalone transactions, Daniel provides ongoing client support concerning post-transaction business integration, IP portfolio management, artificial intelligence tooling usage, open source software usage, compliance with privacy laws, internal and external-facing policy management and data management strategy.

Prior to joining Orrick, Daniel was an Associate in the IP and Technology Transactions Group at Skadden. Prior to law school, he was part of the Legal Online Operations team at Google where he managed and developed policies to address government requests for user data.

Jason Remy Associate

Santa Monica

Jason serves as a trusted advisor to founders, emerging growth companies, venture capital funds, and other strategic investors in a wide array of corporate matters in connection with planning and executing a variety of transactions. Primarily, including formation, early and late-stage venture funding rounds, corporate governance, fund formation, investment matters, mergers and acquisitions, and technology transactions. Jason advises companies across software, fintech, sports, artificial intelligence, crypto, and digital media.

Jason represents companies across the United States, Asia, Europe, and Africa. Prior to joining Orrick, Jason spent time within the legal departments of Netflix, Google, Facebook, and reserve stablecoin cryptocurrency.

Prior to law school, Jason worked at Wilkinson Stekloff LLP aiding trials in federal courts, including The Northern District of California; The Southern District of New York; The Eastern District of Louisiana; and The Western District of Missouri.