People

Cody Peterson 合伙人

Los Angeles; Santa Monica

Cody works with founders at every stage, from early formation to financing rounds, acquisitions, and IPOs. He has a particular focus on first-time founders navigating the complexities of startup life, helping them make informed decisions without getting lost in legal jargon.

Before becoming a lawyer, Cody was the COO of a health and fitness e-commerce startup in Las Vegas. That entrepreneurial experience shaped his approach—he brings a “nothing is impossible” mindset and a deep understanding that legal matters are just one piece of the puzzle for founders. His advice is always practical, actionable, and tailored to the realities of running a fast-moving business.

Cody represents both startups and venture funds across industries including e-commerce, fintech, climatetech, future of work, edtech, life sciences, and biotech. He also leverages Orrick’s deep industry focuses and innovative legal tools to help high-growth companies navigate financings, IPOs, and M&A transactions.

An active member of the LA startup community, Cody regularly mentors and coaches founders, including participants in the Plug In Accelerator, a program supporting Black and Latinx early-stage entrepreneurs.

Cody earned his law degree from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and his bachelor’s degree from Pomona College. Before joining Orrick, he was a partner and co-founder of Gunderson Dettmer’s Los Angeles office.

Martina Pfaffinger 高级律师

慕尼黑

She has particular experience in representing Asian clients from the automotive sector in DIS arbitration proceedings. Clients benefit from her background as corporate / M&A lawyer and her experience with shareholder disputes, management liability cases, post-M&A disputes and other contentious commercial matters. As a trained business mediator, Martina also advises clients on the extrajudicial settlement of conflicts and the avoidance of disputes at an early stage when negotiating and drafting contracts.

Prior to joining Orrick, Martina worked at the Munich office of a leading U.S. law firm and the Munich / New York City offices of a renowned German law firm.

Martina currently writes her doctoral thesis on a subject relating to management liability.

Erin Pham 顾问律师

旧金山

Erin's practice focuses on water, wastewater, public power, solid waste, airport and port financings, primarily in California and the territory of Guam. In addition, Erin has experience working on complex public-private-partnership (P3) transactions.

Erin also serves on the Board of Directors of the Asian Americans in Public Finance.

Kyle Pham 主理律师

Washington, D.C.

Kyle's practice targets the novel issues posed by the intersection of business, technology, and media. Leveraging his entrepreneurial background, he strategically advocates for clients with their specific business concerns in mind. With a focus on advertising and technology, Kyle has experience handling every stage of a lawsuit. He also provides counsel regarding brand protection, helping clients enforce trademarks and assess copyright risks.

As a litigator, Kyle has represented plaintiffs and defendants within multiple jurisdictions. He has litigated claims in state and federal courts, in arbitration, and before the International Trade Commission. Outside the courtroom, Kyle actively advises emerging companies and larger corporations across various industries on how to develop and protect intellectual property. His experience includes trademark prosecution, licensing, domestic industry, and contract disputes.

Kyle also maintains a robust pro bono practice, which includes drafting contracts and negotiating settlements for creative enterprises. Before joining Orrick, he interned at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and the Pro Bono Institute. While attending the University of Michigan Law School, Kyle represented Detroit-based entrepreneurs at the Community Enterprise Clinic and served as an editor for the Michigan Journal of Race and Law.

Renee Phillips 合伙人

New York

Renee has successfully defended employers in federal and state court litigations as well as administrative proceedings and arbitrations involving claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, whistleblowing, trade secret misappropriation and other employment-related claims. She regularly counsels employers on a variety of employment-related issues and assists clients in creating and implementing human resources policies, whistleblower policies, negotiating and drafting executive contracts, restrictive covenants and other employment agreements, and conducting internal investigations.

Renee is the co-author of the PLI treatise, Corporate Whistleblowing in the Sarbanes-Oxley/Dodd-Frank Era. She regularly writes and speaks on whistleblower and other employment topics.

Jeffrey Philp 合伙人

New York