People

Carsten Bernauer 合伙人

杜塞尔多夫; 慕尼黑

A special focus is on the comprehensive support of start-up technology companies and their investors. In this context, he accompanies his clients through all stages of growth with the aim of providing fast and efficient support in the implementation of their growth plans and investment strategies.

His clients benefit from his extensive experience in structuring, managing and coordinating complex transactions, including all other advisors involved in the transaction. In international transactions, he has access to Orrick's comprehensive technology, private equity and venture capital platform.

Carsten Bernauer also advises on national and international corporate transactions, in particular in the field of technology, as well as on corporate restructurings.

After many years working for an American and an English commercial law firm, Carsten Bernauer joined Orrick's Düsseldorf office in 2019.

Lauren Bernstein Counsel

New York

Lauren’s practice spans the full spectrum of dispute resolution, from pre-litigation counseling and strategy development to trial and appeal in high-profile antitrust and complex commercial litigation matters. She has worked with clients to evaluate and navigate potential disputes and assess opportunities to settle or negotiate a resolution ahead of litigation. Additionally, she helps clients develop robust dispute resolution strategies at the transactional stage, advising on dispute resolution clauses and positioning clients for favorable outcomes in potential future disputes.

Lauren has extensive experience representing clients in the life sciences industry in disputes arising from drug development, licensing, and joint ventures, and has defended clients in multi-billion dollar arbitrations and antitrust litigation, including multidistrict proceedings.

Lauren is dedicated to giving back to her community through her pro bono practice. She has been instrumental in providing legal advice and support to pro bono clients related to reproductive rights, including securing a preliminary injunction in North Dakota blocking the state’s ban on abortion, which was affirmed unanimously by the North Dakota Supreme Court. She also is an active member of her local synagogue in New York, including by serving on the membership committee.

Charlotte Berrat 律师

巴黎

Charlotte Berrat is involved in public contracts, in particular concession contracts and public-private partnerships for major projects (airport, port, motorway, building, telecommunications). She assists consortiums in the award of these contracts, from the bidding phase to the post-award phase.

She advised the winning consortium for the concession contract to operate Beauvais-Tillé airport (near Paris), as well as a bidding consortium for the public service contract for the lines 16 and 17 of the Grand Paris Express (the new metro linking the main residential and business districts of the suburbs without passing through Paris).

Charlotte Berrat also has experience in the energy sector and in environmental law. She regularly advises operators on complex issues relating to connection to electricity distribution and transmission networks. She has also participated in drafting and negotiation several corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs), representing both producers and buyers depending on the transaction.

Charlotte Berrat also advises operators, sponsors and lenders on project development and M&A transactions for wind and solar assets, both in France and internationally.

Her practice also covers all regulatory aspects related to regulated sectors such as telecommunications, transport and energy.

Charlotte Berrat also handles litigation in these sectors.

Prior to joining Orrick, Charlotte gained significant experience in the public and energy law teams of several international law firms and a public transport operator.

高级顾问律师

旧金山

William also has substantial experience with the employee benefit aspects of sales and acquisitions of businesses (including bankruptcy transactions), the restructuring of defined benefit pension plans, the defense of ERISA class action litigation, and public pension plan matters.

His clients include a wide range of large and medium-sized corporations, as well as individual and public clients. He also provides tax and retirement planning advice to many of Orrick's corporate clients.

William has been a frequent lecturer on employee benefits and related individual tax and fiduciary topics for the American Law Institute-American Bar Association; California Continuing Education of the Bar; the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans; the Practicing Law Institute; the Western Pension & Benefits Conference; various Bay Area Estate Planning Councils; and other organizations.

William became a senior counsel in 2013 after having been an Orrick partner since 1999.  Before joining Orrick, William was a partner at the law firm of Pillsbury Winthrop LLP in San Francisco.

Geoffroy Berthon 合伙人

巴黎

Geoffroy advises on public contracts, particularly in the context of concessions and PPPs. He has been involved in projects relating to the financing, construction and operation of the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille; the Sud Europe Atlantique high-speed line; the Athletes' Village for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games; the Grand Paris Express and the offshore extension of the Principality of Monaco. He has also worked on several French highway (A412, A69, RCEA, A88, A41, A150), port (Calais, Cannes) and airport projects (Nice, Lyon, Beauvais).

In the renewables field, he acts alongside the French government (Ministry of Energy Transition) in calls for tenders for the construction of offshore wind farms, including floating wind turbines, and advises operators in the realization of biomass and geothermal projects, as well as investors in the context of "M&A" operations concerning wind and solar assets and methanization. He also has experience in hydroelectricity matters. He advises both sponsors and lenders and works regularly with public entities and governments. He also advises on the drafting and negotiation of corporate PPAs, acting for both energy producers and buyers.

Geoffroy Berthon is recognized by clients as "talented, dynamic and brilliant lawyer. He is a hard worker. His calm manner and attentiveness reassure as a client" (Legal 500) and as a Leading Partner by Legal 500 (EMEA 2025) in public law and energy.

Geoffroy holds a doctorate in public law, was a lecturer in public contract law at Sciences Po, and frequently published in both English and French.

Josh Beser 合伙人

New York

Josh is a member of Orrick’s Technology Companies Group, representing high-growth technology companies and their investors in a range of corporate matters, including corporate and securities law, corporate formations, venture and growth capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, and secondary offerings. Josh brings a unique perspective to working with founders and company leadership at venture-backed companies as they scale, often serving as the company’s primary outside counsel from early-stage financing through exit. He is especially skilled serving as outside general counsel to companies as they reach growth inflection points, often ranging from Series Seed to Series C and beyond, where business and legal issues tend to multiply and the experience of outside counsel with deep operating experience is particularly valuable. He is an integral part of the firm’s presence in New York and its commitment to tech & venture ecosystem in the region.

Josh’s clients include Misfits Market, Skims, Studs, Away, Crossbeam and Topline Pro. In addition, Josh regularly works with early-stage investors and venture studios such as TMV and 25madison.

Josh is a leader in the startup ecosystem in New York, as a founding member of TechGC in New York City, a mentor to growth-stage general counsels in collaboration with First Round Capital’s Fast Track program and since 2012, as a mentor to early-stage founders through ERA.

Before joining Orrick, Josh was a partner in the New York office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Prior to WSGR, Josh served as general counsel at Away, a direct-to-consumer travel brand twice named as one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies” and as one of Time’s “50 Most Genius Companies,” among other honors. At Away, Josh was a member of the executive team, served as corporate secretary, and built and led teams in a wide range of operational functions, including information security, real estate, and global trade. Josh built and implemented Away’s legal strategy and infrastructure at scale and led Away’s legal team through substantial revenue and headcount growth, international sales, operations and retail expansion, Series C and Series D financings, growth-stage debt financing, liquidity transactions, global intellectual property development and brand protection programs, public company readiness, and executive transitions.

Ari Bessendorf 合伙人

Singapore

Ari’s practice cuts across sectors, including conventional power, renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric), infrastructure, oil & gas and mining throughout the United States and Asia. His combination of project development and finance experience allows him to advise clients on bankability considerations for development matters.

Clients commend him for being “meticulous on the finer details”, and “a firm but calming and amiable presence at the negotiating table.” They add that “he gained our trust” and has “a cost-effective approach and a drive to successfully close deals.”