People

Julia Apostle 合伙人

巴黎

Julia counsels on compliance issues in relation to European and French tech and data regulations, including:

• the GDPR;
• the Digital Services Act;
• the EU AI Act and the regulation of AI more generally,
• the Data Act;
• the Cyber Resilience Act;
• the NIS2 Directive;

and other new and emerging legislation impacting online platforms, technology developers, and eCommerce businesses. She advises companies of all sizes on a wide range of compliance matters, ranging the drafting of internal policies, to assisting with regulatory investigations, product counseling and regulatory engagement.

In the context of strategic transactions covering significant and complex technological issues, she is involved in the drafting and negotiation of agreements relating to data transfer, IT, software, content and brand licensing.

Julia is deeply familiar with the commercial considerations’ clients face, having practiced in-house at Twitter, Financial Times and CBS for more than a decade prior to joining Orrick. Julia also teaches a course on AI contracts for the Master's program in AI Law at a leading French university and acts as a mentor for students.

Anna Aryankalayil 合伙人

Washington, D.C.

Having returned to private practice, Anna focuses on merger clearance and litigation, government conduct investigations, and antitrust counseling and compliance.

During her time at the FTC from March 2020 to September 2022, Anna advised on merger and anticompetitive conduct investigations and enforcement actions across a wide range of sectors, including tech, pharmaceutical and life sciences, healthcare, defense, oil & gas, retail, and consumer goods. She also advised on litigation and appellate strategy, the FTC’s advocacy through amicus briefs, and other cutting edge competition policy matters, such as, merger policy, digital platforms, intellectual property, and nascent competition in innovative industries.

Prior to joining the FTC, Anna was a senior associate in private practice where she focused on antitrust litigation, government conduct investigations and compliance, and the antitrust aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. In litigation, Anna has experience defending high-profile transactions against government challenge from the FTC and the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division.

Dr. Daniel Ashkar Counsel

慕尼黑

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.

Shawn Atkinson 合伙人

伦敦

In addition to sheer volume of deals, Shawn's incomparable market insight stems from his leadership roles at Orrick, the only global firm focused on technology, and his experience working throughout the UK & Europe, North America and Asia. Shawn serves as a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and leads Orrick's London Corporate practice. These leadership roles complement his practice serving public and private companies in UK multi-jurisdictional and complex corporate transactions, including countless acquisitions and disposals, cross-border mergers, bankruptcy infused asset sales, recapitalisations and reorganisations.

He is also a recognised leader in late stage venture transactions and in early stage private equity transactions in Europe and the emerging markets. Shawn has been recognised as a leading individual in several legal directories, including Chambers and Legal 500, for his expertise and excellence in venture capital, M&A, emerging markets, and fintech. In addition, he has been ranked as a top 5 (by volume) UK M&A lawyer in each of 2017, 2020-2024 by Mergermarket, including a #1 ranking in 2021, 2022 and 2024.

Shawn also advises early stage businesses across a number of sectors – including insurtech, Fintech, Crypto, SaaS, EdTech, HRTech, Marketplace and EnergyTech. He assists them from incorporation through to M&A exit, initial public offerings and other growth opportunities. His participation in the private equity and venture capital sector spans his entire career - with time spent in private practice, in-house and advising investors as well as investor-backed businesses-and affords him a deep knowledge and understanding of the industry and client needs and expectations.

Among the leading investment funds he has represented are ABN Amro Ventures, Acton Capital Partners, ABRY Partners, Accel Partners, Apax Partners, Bain Capital, Balderton Capital, Battery Ventures, Beringea, Bessemer Venture Partners, Black Pearls VC, Black Sheep Ventures, BMWi Ventures, Coatue Management, Columbia Capital, CommerzVentures, Evolvence, FTV Capital, Golden Gate Capital, Stepstone Group, Headway Capital Partners, Innova Capital, Kinnevik, KPS Capital Partners, Marlin Equity Partners, Mangrove Capital Partners, M/C Partners, One Peak, Oxx, Pearson Ventures, Piper Private Equity, Piton Capital, Salesforce Ventures, Sprints Capital, Summit Partners, Updata Partners, VNV Global and VEF.

Allen Babajanian 高级律师

Los Angeles

 Allen focuses on technology and intellectual property-related transactions, with a particular emphasis on drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements, including:

• hardware, software, content, and data licensing agreements;
• IT-focused services agreements, including consulting, development, hosting, and cloud computing agreements, including software-as-a-service and platform-as-a-service arrangements; and
• technology and intellectual property development, acquisition, and disposition agreements.

In addition, Allen counsels clients on intellectual property issues in connection with mergers, acquisitions, and financing transactions.

Kaitlin F. Bagby 合伙人

硅谷

She advises high-growth technology companies in various sectors and has significant experience with venture capital financings, general corporate representation and complex corporate governance matters.

Kaitlin is known for her work with Y Combinator companies.