Houston; Washington DC
David collaborates with Orrick’s legal advisory teams, including the litigation, regulatory and transactional practices to provide strategic business guidance to clients facing critical situations. He helps clients address reputational challenges and maximize the opportunities affecting their organizations and stakeholders. He serves as a trusted advisor to the C-suite and Boards across numerous industries around the world. He develops strategies for Congressional hearings, corporate layoffs, federal investigations, mergers and divestitures, multi-country recalls, executive transitions, organizational change management initiatives, cybersecurity and privacy incidents and legal and financial crises.
Prior to joining Orrick, David served as the Chief Marketing Officer at SonicWall, a global cybersecurity leader, where he revamped the marketing, communications and government relations functions. He also served as PNC Financial Services Group’s Chief Communications Officer where he modernized the function and led internal and external communications, responsible business, social media strategies, sponsorships and employee recognition. He also led public relations and communications for the credit card business at JPMorgan Chase and served as the Head of Global Communications for Nortel.
As a consultant, he helped launch and lead the global Data Security & Privacy Group at Edelman. He served as the general manager of Edelman’s Dallas, Texas and Shanghai, China offices and led the firm’s global Financial Comms & Special Circumstances and Crisis & Risk practices. He also served as the North American head of MSL Group’s Issues & Crisis Management Practice. David has appeared on CNN, ABC, PBS and several other broadcast outlets. He has been published in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, Newsweek and Forbes.com. His work has earned several awards, including being named to PRWeek’s Global Power Book and 40 Under 40, as well as earning their inaugural Corporate Public Relations Team of the Year award. He is a regular speaker at conferences and universities around the country
A native of Springfield, Ohio, David has three children and lives with his wife in the Dallas, Texas area. Away from the office, he enjoys spending time with his family, listening to music and cycling.
Washington DC
Washington DC
His public finance practice includes representation of issuers or underwriters in long-term and short-term general obligation and revenue bond financings for municipalities, charter schools, educational facilities, and water and power authorities and advising clients on economic development incentives.
Before joining Orrick, Darrin was counsel within the Public Finance Group at Hunton & Williams LLP. He also has served as chairman, director or member of several boards and commissions including:
オレンジ・カウンティ
オレンジ・カウンティ
Nicole is an experienced trial attorney and appellate advocate who has represented private and public entities on appeal and in high impact litigation in federal and state courts. She has a track record of providing clients with thoughtful guidance, effective writing, and strategic representation on complex and high profile matters at all stages of litigation, including in the United States Supreme Court.
Prior to joining Orrick, Nicole served as a Bristow Fellow in the United States Office of the Solicitor General, and worked as a trial and appellate litigator for several leading national law firms, She has also served as a Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice and as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of California, where she represented the United States as the lead attorney in over 70 criminal appeals.
Nicole received her J.D. from U.C. Berkeley School of Law, where she received the Thelen Marin Prize for Academic Achievement. She clerked for Judge William A. Fletcher of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
シリコン・バレー
Jing’s practice is primarily focused on patent and trade secret litigation. Her experience covers a broad range of technologies including small molecules (salts, polymorphs, formulations, and process patents) and biologic drugs, medical devices, diagnostics, software, and semiconductors. She has worked on Hatch Waxman (ANDA) litigation as well as Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA) cases defending multi-billion-dollar diabetes and cancer drugs from generic/biosimilar challenges. Her clients have ranged from big pharmaceutical companies, to biotechnology companies, to pre-IPO startups, which uniquely positions her to counsel companies at all stages on portfolio strategy. Jing’s extensive background in biosciences, including years of laboratory research experience, serves her clients well in high-stakes matters before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, U.S. District Courts, and Federal Circuit. Recently, Jing helped defend the validity of all challenged claims in a salt/polymorph patent in an IPR and was instrumental in developing parallel district court cases for a blockbuster diabetes drug.
Alongside her intellectual property practice, Jing has the privilege of using her Federal Circuit experience to represent veterans pro bono in their appeals to the court.
Prior to joining Orrick, Jing served as a judicial law clerk for Judge Raymond T. Chen at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and was an associate at a Vault 100 litigation boutique in Washington, D.C. Before law school, Jing was a Marshall Scholar, and she pursued dual graduate degrees in biosciences and policy studies while conducting public policy research in the U.K. and the United States.
オレンジ・カウンティ
Before joining Orrick, Ernan served as a law clerk for the Honorable Mary H. Murguia of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Honorable David G. Campbell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.
Ernan earned his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, where he served as Executive Editor on the California Law Review. He also earned a Masters in Advanced International Studies from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna (Austria) and a B.S. in Justice Studies from Arizona State University.
サンフランシスコ
In his practice, Chris has been a first chair trial lawyer with more than 30 years of experience handling high stakes, precedent-setting cases, particularly in the products liability arena. His most recent products liability engagements included serving as trial counsel for a large talc company, including trying to conclusion one of the very first mesothelioma cases against it, and leading a cross-office international and national team defending multiple Chinese companies in a historic MDL. At times, a client asked Chris to lead five or more trial teams in products cases in a single year.
Chris also has acted as national counsel for companies facing thousands of mass tort product liability claims and complex, multiparty class action litigation, and has counseled multinational companies entangled in lengthy, enterprise-threatening litigation and negotiated legal and business solutions involving billions of dollars. He has extensive experience in complex and commercial litigation, ranging from insurance recovery disputes to trade secrets issues, and has significant experience in assisting foreign aerospace companies with international arbitration disputes with first-tier aircraft manufacturers.
Earlier in his career, Chris represented large public companies in mergers, acquisitions, strategic investments and private financings; private companies in initial public offerings; and emerging growth companies in general corporate matters. Chris' transactional experience also offers clients a unique perspective on risk mitigation strategies to avoid costly litigation in the future.
Chris also chaired Orrick’s Risk Management Committee and served on its Operations Team. Prior to joining the firm, Chris was a partner at Clifford Chance and a partner at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, where he was a member of the Policy Committee, a member of the Executive Committee, Chair of the Risk Management Committee and Chair of the Hiring Committee.
ミラノ
Filippo Cristaldi has extensive experience in M&A transactions, both at national and transnational level, mainly in favour of private equity funds and industrial companies.
Filippo Cristaldi also advises on corporate law and has extensive experience in the field of international contracts.
Before joining Orrick, Filippo Cristaldi has provided consultancy at the Vita Samory, Fabbrini e Associati and, previously, at the Rucellai e Raffaelli, Italian law firms based in Milan.
ミラノ
Attilio brings to the table a wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of the technology sector, which is critical in today's rapidly evolving business landscape. His practice is primarily focused on providing expert legal advice on cross-border and domestic mergers and acquisitions (M&A), private equity, and venture capital transactions.
Attilio has a rich history of advising both domestic and multinational companies as well as private equity funds through their most critical and complex M&A and investments transactions. His focus within the dynamic realms of technology industry has positioned him as a go-to legal strategist for companies seeking to navigate the intricate and often disruptive characteristic market shifts of these sectors. His tailored approach ensures that the companies he advises are well-positioned to capitalize on the opportunities presented by their investments and M&A activities, fostering growth, innovation, and competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving business landscape.
In the context of innovation, Attilio’s role as an advisor to VC firms and high-growth technology companies places him at the forefront of investments in the tech industry.
His experience covers a broad spectrum of legal disciplines and is critical in identifying and evaluating potential investment opportunities within the sector, particularly in areas prone to rapid growth and innovation. With a seasoned understanding of market trends and the intricacies of startup development, Attilio advises investors on how to allocate their capital effectively, maximizing potential returns.
He is also extensively experienced at guiding technology companies at all stages of their life cycle and his contributions is invaluable for companies transitioning from seed stage through Series A and B funding rounds and eventually to exit strategies. His guidance encompasses strategic planning, corporate governance, and the navigation of regulatory environments. Startups, with their inherent risks and potential for exponential growth, require nuanced advice to thrive, and Attilio offers tailored counsel to help these companies scale their operations, refine their business models, and attract further investment. His experience is also instrumental in preparing these companies for various exit scenarios, whether through acquisitions, mergers, or initial public offerings (IPOs), ensuring that founders and investors alike realize their ventures' full value.
Los Angeles; Santa Monica
Los Angeles; Santa Monica
For more than a decade, Nick has guided high-growth companies from inception to exit, advising on formation, financings, mergers and acquisitions, and IPOs while serving as outside general counsel on day-to-day legal matters as they scale.
Leveraging Orrick’s sector-focused approach and legal innovation tools, Nick works with companies across a range of industries, with a focus on disruptive technologies—including fintech, Web3 and blockchain, artificial intelligence, healthcare and biotech, digital media, and consumer products. He also represents top venture capital firms investing in these sectors across equity, debt, and token financings.
Prior to joining Orrick, Nick was a senior counsel at Gunderson Dettmer.
Nick earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review and received the Otto Kaus Award for Excellence in Legal Scholarship.
Before law school, he built a career as a journalist, photographer, and publicist covering music, food, and the arts. A proud Husky, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington.
Los Angeles
Alex represents project sponsors, developers, and private equity investors on a wide range of transactions in the energy and infrastructure sectors with a particular focus on renewable energy matters. He regularly advises clients on the development, construction, operation, purchase and disposition of solar, battery storage, wind, biomass, waste-to-energy, and other renewable energy projects.
Alex’s experience encompasses the full range of agreements for projects, including those related to engineering, procurement and construction; equipment supply; operations and maintenance; asset management; long-term services; off-take; interconnection; mergers and acquisitions; and public-private partnerships.
Washington DC
Whitney-Ann counsels and represents individual and corporate clients through all stages of litigation with a focus on cybersecurity and privacy issues, including data breach class actions. She has extensive experience in state and federal court and before arbitral tribunals. She can be trusted to jump into a case at any stage to help drive strategy and obtain favorable results. In addition to routinely helping clients obtain early victories through successful motions practice, she has served as a key member on multiple trial teams, including obtaining an important defense verdict after a multi-week trial for a high-profile client. She was named a Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America in 2026 for her work in Commercial Litigation, Class Action Defense, and Mass Torts.
Whitney-Ann formerly taught a practical course on civil discovery in federal courts as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center.
Whitney-Ann was previously a litigation associate at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP. After law school, she served as the judicial law clerk to the Honorable Judge Ivan D. Davis, United States Magistrate in the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria division.
Whitney-Ann maintains an active pro bono practice, focusing on immigration relief for children, families fleeing violence at home, and civil rights and housing issues.
ロンドン
Adam is a disputes lawyer with a focus on high-stakes litigation and regulatory enforcement. He handles commercial disputes, internal investigations and regulatory enforcement matters.
Adam has acted on disputes for a wide range of commercial clients including financial institutions, professional services firms, shipping, energy and technology companies. He has pursued and defended claims (including in arbitration) for clients for breach of contract, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duties, negligence, breach of warranty, breach of confidence and fraud. Adam's cases are international in nature and often arise in an insolvency context in which he regularly assists clients with bringing and defending interim applications, and launching recovery and enforcement actions.
Adam also conducts internal investigations for companies and boards of directors and has represented companies, firms and individuals in regulatory inquiries and enforcement actions including those brought by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), the Insolvency Service and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). Adam has particular expertise in dealing with internal investigations and regulatory matters which relate to financial reporting, but has also acted in matters in the fintech, invoice finance and asset-based lending sectors. As part of his wider regulatory practice, Adam advises clients on the UK financial sanctions and export controls regime.
Recognised by Legal 500 as a recommended individual, Adam is described as “efficient and highly personable... excellent at running cases on a day-to-day basis”.