February.19.2021
Orrick is delighted to announce the promotion of 14 lawyers to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2021.
Our 2021 partner class reflects the firm’s focus on serving the technology & innovation, energy & infrastructure and finance sectors. The new partners advance our sector strategy – adding strength in litigation, regulatory and transactions. They are based in seven different markets worldwide.
The class reflects Orrick’s longstanding commitment to inclusion. Seventy-five percent of the U.S. class members are diverse and/or women, exceeding the Mansfield Rule standard. Continuing a trend of the past four years, we are delighted to promote a member of the class while on caregiver leave.
“It took extraordinary grit, adaptability and character to complete one’s partner candidacy over the past year – and we believe those qualities are key to outstanding lawyering in the future,” said Orrick’s Chairman & CEO Mitch Zuklie. “We have no doubt that we will be a stronger firm because of this exceptional class.”
OUR NEW PARTNERS
Samir Bakhru is a strategic advisor to tech companies and is based in New York. He helps startups and high growth tech companies raise capital and build their business from formation through exit, as well as counsels venture capital firms on their investments. Samir has represented early and late stage companies in over $3 billion worth of venture financings and has advised clients in over $3.5 billion of M&A transactions. He is active in DEI efforts at Orrick and within the tech startup community and is a founding board member of the Emerging Companies Committee of the New York City Bar. Samir earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School and his B.B.A. from Emory University, Goizueta Business School.
Laura Bloxham is a tech companies advisor, based in Seattle. She is a founding member of Orrick’s technology companies practice in the Pacific Northwest. Laura serves as a trusted advisor to clients in multiple capacities: providing strategic advice in the boardroom, designing and executing financing strategies, negotiating complex transactions from venture financings to successful exits, and supporting day-to-day legal needs of executive teams. She earned her J.D. from NYU, her M.A. from Université Libre de Bruxelles, and her B.A. from the University of Kansas.
Victoria Boyne is a member of our Energy & Infrastructure team, based in New York. She advises project developers, sponsors, issuers, lenders and governmental authorities in a wide range of debt and tax equity financing, project development, M&A and infrastructure transactions. Victoria co-leads the firm’s Asian Pacific Attorney Affinity Group and serves on the NY Hiring Committee and Associate Hiring Committee. She earned her J.D. from NYU and her B.A. from UNC Chapel Hill.
Justin "J.T." Ho is an experienced advisor on corporate governance, public company reporting, executive compensation, and public company securities offerings and acquisitions. He has significant experience advising public companies on the impact of ISS, Glass Lewis and institutional investor policies and the shareholder relations and disclosure issues that arise in connection with corporate governance, executive compensation, and environmental and social matters. J.T. earned his J.D. from UC Berkeley, and his M.A. from Rice University.
Nicholas Kessler is a member of the firm’s International Arbitration team, based in Düsseldorf. Dual-qualified in Germany and England & Wales, he advises on national and international arbitrations and complex litigations, primarily involving post-M&A and corporate law disputes, investment protection cases, product liability and construction disputes. Nicholas has extensive experience with arbitral proceedings under the auspices of major arbitral institutions and rules, including the ICC, DIS, SCC, LCIA, UNCITRAL and ICSID. He is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Münster and the University of Düsseldorf where he teaches international civil procedure and arbitration law. Nicholas earned his LL.M. from the University of Cambridge, and his EMBA and his PhD, summa cum laude, from the University of Münster.
James Larkin is a tax advisor, based in New York. He counsels clients on a broad range of tax matters related to ABS, RMBS, CMBS and CLO transactions, restructurings, cross-border stock and asset acquisitions, debt and equity offerings and cross-border financings. Jamie earned his J.D. from Fordham and his B.S. from Widener University.
David Litterine-Kaufman is a commercial litigator, based in New York. He advises leading investment banks and major financial institutions on litigation matters involving residential mortgage-backed securities, bankruptcy, distressed debt trading, corporate governance and securities class actions. An experienced trial attorney, David has represented clients in high-stakes trials and appeals in federal and state courts across the country and in offshore jurisdictions. He also litigates and provides pre-litigation counseling on disputes involving complex commercial contracts and sophisticated financial instruments. David is on the board of directors of NYC nonprofit City Growers. He earned his J.D. from NYU and his B.A. from Swarthmore College.
Anne Malik is a mass torts trial litigator, based in Washington, D.C. Her practice focuses on high stakes, multi-jurisdictional mass torts, product liability and personal injury litigation involving significant risk to clients’ critical product lines. She has served as a core trial team member in major asbestos, pesticide and consumer products cases in jurisdictions nationwide. Anne also counsels clients on the intersection of their litigation issues and government affairs, including congressional hearings, state Attorneys General investigations and state legislative actions. She earned her J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and her B.F.A., highest honors, from NYU.
Jamie Moore is a tech companies advisor, based in London. Recognized as a Next Generation Partner by Legal 500, Jamie counsels high growth tech companies throughout their life cycle from startup to unicorn, as well as VC firms and investors on transactions across a broad range of sectors both in the UK and internationally. Over the past three years, he has led on over 100 VC financings, raising over $2.5 billion. An active participant in the VC community, Jamie has contributed to revising the BVCA industry standard form documentation. He earned his L.P.C. from Nottingham Law School and his LL.B. from Nottingham Trent University.
Amy Dominick Padgett is a member of our Energy & Infrastructure team, based in Washington, D.C. She counsels clients on energy project sales and acquisitions, tax equity and cash equity investments, joint ventures, private placements, and a broad range of corporate matters. Amy serves on the firm’s National Interview Committee and Washington, D.C., Summer Program Committee. She earned her J.D., with distinction, from the University of Oklahoma and her B.S. from Oklahoma State University.
Naomi Scotten is a member of the firm's Supreme Court & Appellate team, based in New York. She advises clients in high stakes appeals in federal and state courts and has deep experience developing appellate strategy in multi-district litigation. Prior to Orrick, Naomi served as a law clerk for Judge Susan L. Carney of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard and her B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts.
Amanda Stephens is a member of the firm’s Public Finance team, based in Houston. Recently named a 2020 Bond Buyer Rising Star, Amanda is a leading advisor on charter school financings, having counseled on more than $2 billion of both publicly offered and privately placed charter school financings. Amanda also serves as bond, disclosure, issuer’s, borrower’s, lender’s and underwriter’s counsel on a broad range of public finance matters. She serves on the Executive Council and as Board Secretary for the Texas Women in Public Finance and serves on the Board of Houston Charter School. Amanda earned her J.D. from Baylor Law School and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Biola University.
Ryan Wooten is a commercial litigator, based in Houston. He advises clients in the energy, tech and financial services industries on a variety of matters, including tort and breach of contract actions, regulatory investigations, enforcement actions, class action litigation and high stakes contract disputes. Ryan also maintains an active pro bono practice often working in tandem with groups that represent immigrant women and children fleeing violence. He also works closely with the Houston Bar Association, including as a former chairman and member of its Habitat for Humanity committee. Ryan earned his J.D. from South Texas College of Law, his M.B.A. from Texas A&M University, and his B.S. from the University of Texas.
Elizabeth Zane is an international trade practitioner, based in Washington, D.C. She advises high-tech companies on international trade investigations, CFIUS national security examinations, and export controls and economic sanctions compliance. In addition, Beth also provides strategic and legal guidance to industry associations and consortia. She earned her J.D. from Harvard and her B.A. from the University of Michigan.