People

Michael Wiesner 合伙人

硅谷

Michael’s practice covers executive agreements, cash and equity-based incentive programs, change in control and severance plans, 409A and other deferred compensation issues and 280G “golden parachute” compliance, as well as compensation and benefits structuring in the context of mergers and acquisitions.

Michael authors the chapter “Executive Compensation and Benefits Issues for Start-ups and Emerging Companies” within Bloomberg BNA’s Benefits Practice Resource Center treatise.

From 2005 to 2010, Michael was a statistician with a Stanford University School of Medicine research group.

James Wigginton 顾问律师

沙加缅度; 硅谷

Blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies have caused business leaders to rethink the way we own, govern and share the benefits of enterprise. James advises entrepreneurs and investors as they pioneer new, more inclusive operating models in professional sports, finance, social media, gaming, agriculture and other industries.

To do this, James draws from two complementary sources of experience. The first is his practice assisting public companies, private equity funds and venture capitalists with registered and unregistered securities offerings; high-stakes M&A; corporate governance; and Exchange Act reporting. The second is his experience advising clients outside the Wall Street and Silicon Valley mainstream, including cooperatives, limited cooperative associations and nonprofit corporations. By combining these two worlds, James is able to offer unexpected legal solutions to blockchain-based companies as they seek venture financing, design and issue tokens, and select business entities for DAOs.

James also appreciates the inherently global reach of blockchain and cryptocurrency. After law school, he spent two years clerking for the US Court of International Trade in New York City. Before that, James lived for two years in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Mariupol. James is fluent in Russian and maintains ties with his friends in the war zone.

Jessica Wilkin Project Attorney

全球营运中心

She also manages teams of skilled professionals performing document review, redaction, analysis, production and drafting privilege logs. Jessica assists the litigation team to prepare for trial, including drafting deposition summaries, factual memoranda and exhibit charts.

Prior to joining Orrick, Jessica practiced criminal law and family law in Pennsylvania.

Christine Willgoos Counsel

New York

Christine has litigated a wide range of subject matters relating to drug development, including humanized antibody technology, recombinant DNA vectors, nextgen DNA sequencing, complex chemistry and drugs for the treatment of cancer, HIV, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, depression and anxiety, immune disorders, and dermatologic conditions. Christine is experienced in other industries as well, including medical devices, semiconductors, telecommunications and electronics.

Christine’s recent successes include obtaining a trial win and injunction for a major pharmaceutical company’s blockbuster cancer drug, securing a consent judgment and recommendation for fees for two innovator companies’ treatment relating to rare cancers, and representing a biotech company in Patent Office proceedings against a major pharmaceutical company, securing a settlement of $1.25 billion.

John (Jay) Williams 合伙人

Washington, D.C.

Jay has represented clients before the Department of Justice (DOJ), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) and other state regulators, including state attorneys general. He is focused on the compliance issues surrounding government-insured mortgages and other credit products and works with his clients to conduct compliance and consumer protection reviews to mitigate risk.

Jay has extensive experience assisting clients in matters involving complex electronic discovery issues, such as large-scale document collection, developing effective document retention policies and using cutting-edge technology (including artificial intelligence) to reduce review and production costs.

Active in pro bono work, Jay has represented clients before the U.S. Parole Commission and handled multiple matters with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee. He is a current board member of the Interfaith Action for Human Rights, was a founding board member of the Greater D.C. Diaper Bank, and coaches Capitol Hill Little League baseball teams.

Prior to joining Orrick, Jay was a partner at Buckley LLP. He also was a litigation associate at Venable LLP, where he represented clients in complex commercial litigation and arbitration. During law school, he served as a clerk in the Office of the Public Defender in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Kelly A. Williams Senior Career Associate

全球营运中心

This experience includes commercial litigation, product liability matters, toxic torts, intellectual property litigation, defamation, unfair competition, and insurance coverage litigation. She also has experience with putative class action matters, e-discovery, and jury and non-jury trials.

Kelly is also dedicated to pro bono representation and community service. She has participated in child custody conciliation programs, criminal records expungement projects, and most recently assisted the Center for Secure and Modern Elections with evaluating the impact of COVID-19 regulations on state elections. She has also engaged in community service by serving on the board of Sojourner House, a faith-based residential recovery program for mothers and children in the Pittsburgh, PA, area, and by volunteering for community service-based projects such as distributing backpacks and school supplies for children in need.

Kelly has also served in multiple leadership positions for local and national bar associations, including the Allegheny County Bar Association and DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar. Prior to joining Orrick, Kelly practiced as an associate in the Pittsburgh office of the global law firm McGuireWoods and as a Senior Attorney at Houston Harbaugh, P.C., in Pittsburgh.