New York
Christine has litigated a wide range of subject matters relating to drug development, including humanized antibody technology, recombinant DNA vectors, nextgen DNA sequencing, complex chemistry and drugs for the treatment of cancer, HIV, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, depression and anxiety, immune disorders, and dermatologic conditions. Christine is experienced in other industries as well, including medical devices, semiconductors, telecommunications and electronics.
Christine’s recent successes include obtaining a trial win and injunction for a major pharmaceutical company’s blockbuster cancer drug, securing a consent judgment and recommendation for fees for two innovator companies’ treatment relating to rare cancers, and representing a biotech company in Patent Office proceedings against a major pharmaceutical company, securing a settlement of $1.25 billion.
Washington DC
She frequently assists Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgagees with their program approval efforts, annual recertifications, compliance with and understanding of program rules and self-reporting obligations, audits by the Quality Assurance Division (QAD), inquiries from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and enforcement actions by the Mortgagee Review Board (MRB). Melissa performs similar work related to the Ginnie Mae, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 184, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA Department) and U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service loan programs. Her work also includes assisting clients with False Claims Act (FCA)-based risk assessments arising from participation in government lending programs. She represents both mortgage and reverse mortgage/Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) lenders and servicers.
In addition, Melissa’s practice focuses on the mandatory purchase of flood insurance requirements under the Flood Disaster Protection Act, which includes regularly advising lenders and servicers on the ins and outs of the federal banking agencies’, FHA’s and the government sponsored enterprises’ (GSE) flood insurance-related regulations and guidance. She also assists clients with satisfying Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and other regulators’ expectations for providing assistance to consumers impacted by presidentially declared disasters.
Melissa frequently counsels clients in matters arising under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA), Mortgage Acts and Practices Rule (MAP), the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act (SAFE) and related state licensing laws, state regulation of real estate brokers and property managers, and a range of other federal and state consumer financial laws impacting lending and servicing.
Melissa has been recognized by The Legal 500 in the Financial Services: Litigation practice area. She is a former Co-Chair (2014-2017) and Co-Vice Chair (2011-2014) of the Housing Finance Subcommittee of the American Bar Association’s Consumer Financial Services Committee. She also is an active member of the Mortgage Bankers Association and National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association.
Prior to joining Orrick, Melissa was senior counsel and a former partner at Buckley LLP. Previously, she was an associate at Howrey LLP and was a law clerk at Buckley Kolar LLP while attending law school.
New York
Her experience encompasses a wide variety of asset classes, including residential mortgage loans, consumer loans, auto loans, commercial mortgages and credit card receivables.
Marie has negotiated innovative transactions in the fintech industry. She has also represented financial institutions in connection with whole loan purchases and sales and advised loan servicers in connection with servicing operations.
Previously, Marie worked at an AI marketplace lending platform as senior legal counsel to the capital markets team.
サクラメント
Clients facing complex branding decisions or allegations of IP infringement rely on Seth for his innovative counsel and strategic thinking. With a robust background in both litigation and IP prosecution, Seth not only understands when and how to pursue an aggressive enforcement strategy but also empowers his clients by clearly explaining their options and guiding them toward the most effective solutions.
Over the past decade, Seth has successfully secured registrations and resolved trademark and copyright disputes for a diverse array of clients in industries such as aerospace, entertainment, gaming, software, technology, digital media, artificial intelligence, and retail. He has represented clients before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, in federal court, and in state court. Additionally, Seth has authored numerous widely-read articles and newsletters on a variety of legal topics, including intellectual property and sports law.
Seth is named in the 2024 and 2025 editions of the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for his exceptional work in Intellectual Property Law.
Before embarking on his legal career, Seth served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and as an agroforestry volunteer in El Salvador with the U.S. Peace Corps.
デュッセルドルフ
She advises start-ups from their incorporation through their first financing rounds into the growth phase, as well as on internationalization projects. Martha works with venture capital, as well as corporate venture capital investors on start-up financing projects.
Prior to joining Orrick, Martha worked as a trainee lawyer for another international law firm and United Nations Women in Bonn.
Austin
Montana primarily represents emerging growth companies, venture capital funds and other strategic investors in a wide array of corporate matters, including early and late-stage venture funding rounds, formation and corporate governance, securities issuances and mergers and acquisitions. Montana's practice spans commercial industries, with significant experience representing frontier technology companies and "dual use" companies such as those in the defense, nuclear and space industries.
Prior to practicing law, Montana served in the U.S. Air Force.
Select engagements Montana has advised on include:
*Please note: Montana’s experience includes that prior to joining Orrick.
Los Angeles
Her practice focuses on project finance transactions in the energy and infrastructure sectors, with a focus on renewable energy.
New York
Brianna's practice focuses on cross-border comparative employment law, including global business immigration. She works with clients to address critical questions related to the evolution and growth of their global workforce, including international employment contracts, employee handbooks and policies, contingent worker considerations, performance management, benefits, HR data privacy compliance, and equity compensation. Brianna also advises on the global employment aspects of corporate transactions.
Prior to joining Orrick, Brianna practiced corporate immigration law, gaining years of experience facilitating global mobility for large corporations, startups, and individuals alike.
New York
Anna provides strategic cybersecurity compliance counseling and develops bespoke, forward-looking incident preparedness strategies. She also supports cybersecurity risk assessments and tabletop exercises designed to identify potential gaps.
She also counsels on incident response matters by directing incident investigations, analyzing claims and defenses, examining potential notification obligations and counseling on communications strategies. She provides guidance on the regulatory investigations, class actions and contract disputes that flow from the announcement of privacy and cybersecurity incidents. She has defended Fortune 500 companies in state and federal courts across the nation on cybersecurity and general business issues.
During law school, she was a Legal Intern at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Division.
Washington DC
Washington DC
Sonora's practice includes a diverse range of complex litigation, regulatory enforcement, and government-initiated investigation matters. She also maintains an active pro bono practice.
Sonora received her J.D. from the Howard Law School in Washington, D.C. While in law school, she participated in the Howard Criminal Justice Clinic where she represented indigent individuals charged with misdemeanors in Washington, D.C. Superior Court. Sonora was also a student attorney in the Howard Civil Rights Clinic where she contributed to an amicus brief in the landmark case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
Washington DC
He currently is national coordinating counsel for a major oil company in connection with its climate change litigation. He previously served as co-lead counsel to a major international pharmaceutical manufacturer in the defense of nationwide litigation challenging industry pricing practices.
Rob’s experience includes extensive work in antitrust and False Claims Act cases, claims alleging fraud, and agency enforcement actions. His pharmaceutical industry activities include service as outside counsel to and Corporate Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Security Institute, Inc., the industry’s not-for-profit trade organization dedicated to the fight against pharmaceutical counterfeiting.
He is Managing Editor of The World in U.S. Courts, Orrick’s quarterly review of court decisions addressing personal jurisdiction over non-U.S. parties and the extraterritorial application of U.S. law to global business and cross-border activities.
Rob also served two terms on the District of Columbia Bar’s Pro Bono standing committee. Before joining Orrick, he was a partner in Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP and Clifford & Warnke, in Washington, D.C.
New York
Tyler has represented clients in the federal district courts, before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and at the United States Patent and Trademark Office in IPR and CBM matters. He has experience in matters involving a wide range of technologies, including software, consumer electronics and biotechnology.