An experienced corporate lawyer and strategic advisor, Ryan specializes in guiding high-growth companies and investors through the legal complexities of the startup ecosystem. With deep experience in the technology sector, he provides comprehensive legal counsel to emerging companies throughout their lifecycle, including startup formation and structuring, venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate and securities law compliance. Ryan also has significant expertise in representing venture capital and private equity investors in financings, growth equity investments, and buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions. His ability to navigate the fast-paced and evolving technology landscape has made him a trusted partner to clients building transformative businesses.
Ryan's company-side representations include Mercor (AI-powered hiring platform), Magic.dev (automated software engineering), Sapien (autonomous coworkers for financial analysis), Taktile (decision-making models for risk assessment by fintechs), Flower (federated AI framework), Paradigm (AI-powered spreadsheets), 15Five (continuous performance management platform), Certa (third-party vendor compliance and risk management), Uprise (AI-powered financial advisory optimization), Archer Faris (multi-agent security), Better Trucks (last mile carrier), Allium (enterprise blockchain data platform), Coda Project (acquired by Grammarly), Enter Health (AI-first revenue cycle management), and many other exciting startups.
Select Engagements:
Magic AI - $320 million Series C financing, with contributions from Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross, CapitalG, Eric Schmidt, and others
Mercor.io - $30 million Series A financing, led by Benchmark with participation from General Catalyst, Peter Thiel, Jack Dorsey, Adam D'Angelo, and others
Sapien - $8.7 million Series Seed financing, led by General Catalyst with participation from Neo
Coda - sale to Grammarly
Taktile - $20 million Series A financing, co-led by Index Ventures and Tiger Global
Flower Labs - $20 million Series A financing, led by Felicis Ventures and First Spark
15Five - $52 million Series C financing, led by Quad Partners with participation by Next47, Origin Ventures, Edison Partners and others
Certa - $35 million Series B financing, co-led by Fin VC and Vertex Ventures
Allium - $16.5 million Series A financing, led by Theory Ventures, and $4.25 million Series Seed financing co-led by Kleiner Perkins and Amplify Partners
Better Trucks - $15 million Series A financing led by Lobby Capital, Corazon Capital, Venture 53 and others
Uprise - $3.3 million Seed financing, led by Blank Ventures
Medicxi, Aditum Bio, Atlas Venture – $20 million Series B investment in Versanis Bio and acquisition of Versanis Bio by Eli Lilly for $1.925 billion
Marcy Venture Partners - Investment in The Long Drink Company
Louis Dreyfus Company CVC - Investment in Natural Fiber Welding
Humaans - $15 million Series A financing, led by Lachy Groom
Quell - $10 million Series A financing, led by Tencent, Khosla Ventures, Heartcore Capital and others
Telmai - $5.5 million Series Seed financing, co-led by Glasswing Ventures and .406 Ventures
Simpl - $40 million Series B, led by Valar Ventures and IA Ventures
Atalaya Capital Management - Formation of private equity vehicle with Waterfall Asset Management and strategic growth investment into OnPoint Warranty Solutions
HPS Investment Partners – Formation of private equity vehicle with with Wildcat Capital Management and strategic growth investment into Sculptor Real Estate
Tyler advises energy industry sponsors, developers, issuers and investors in a broad range of financing matters, including construction financings, bridge loans, back leverage financings, and tax equity. Tyler's experience includes project financings and related corporate matters involving utility-scale solar, distributed solar, wind, hydroelectric power, and upstream and midstream oil and gas projects.
Chris has developed a global reputation as an authoritative source on legal issues in 3D printing, and has been a featured speaker at 3D printing events around the world. His 3D printing practice includes advising startups and established 3D printing companies on all aspects of intellectual property law, cybersecurity, and technology transactions. Chris helps 3D printing clients grow their businesses and capitalize on market opportunities and represents them in court to defend or enforce IP rights. Chris' 3D printing work extends beyond the courtroom; he teaches a course at Penn State University as part of its Masters of Engineering in Additive Manufacturing and Design program.
Chris' patent litigation and IPR practice also covers a wide range of other technologies including graphics processing, digital image processing and printing, semiconductor devices and semiconductor manufacturing, data encryption, high-definition television, digital content recognition, and medical devices. Chris has also assisted clients with licensing and patent prosecution related to 3D printing, digital imaging, wireless technology, mobile communication devices, encryption, high-definition television and medical devices.
Prior to law school, Chris worked in the patent department of a medical device company and as an engineer designing electronic components for missiles, projectiles, and bombs.
In his municipal finance practice, John has served as bond counsel, special tax counsel and underwriter’s counsel for a variety of transactions, including particularly governmental, airport, and public power financings. John has represented issuers and borrowers before the Internal Revenue Service in connection with audits, private letter rulings, and requests pursuant to the voluntary closing agreement program (VCAP).
John has worked with issuers to establish post-issuance compliance programs tailored to their specific financings, and also has significant experience with tax-exempt commercial paper programs for both governmental and exempt facilities. John is a regular speaker at various conferences focused on public finance and tax, including conferences organized by the National Association of Bond Lawyers, the American Bar Association Tax Section, and the California Bond Buyer Conference. John is serving as Chair of the National Association of Bond Lawyers' "The Institute" conference in 2024.
Luciano Vella has extensive experience in advising Italian and international clients on employment law and industrial relations, both in contentious and non-contentious matters.
He assists companies across a wide range of industries with the day-to-day management of employment relationships, providing strategic and operational advice on all aspects of HR management — from employment contracts and hiring practices to the termination of employment relationships. His practice includes advising on disciplinary procedures, the implementation of compensation and benefits policies, employee transfers and secondments, and the negotiation of various types of workplace agreements.
Luciano has gained significant experience in managing workforce restructuring processes and extraordinary corporate transactions, supporting clients in the design and implementation of individual and collective incentive plans, as well as in related disputes.
He has developed specific expertise in health and safety at work, both in terms of regulatory compliance and in managing employer liability and litigation, with a particular focus on the implementation of health and safety governance structures, delegation of functions, and their alignment with organizational models under Legislative Decree 231/2001, as well as in dealings with labor and safety authorities.
Luciano is the author of numerous articles on employment law, published in specialized journals and on industry platforms, and regularly speaks at conferences and webinars.
He graduated with top marks from the University of Pisa in 2015 and has been a member of the Milan Bar Association since 2018.
Olivier advises French and international clients on all aspects of corporate law. He mainly intervenes in national and international mergers and acquisitions (whether public or private M&A transactions), joint-venture and equity capital market transactions. He focuses in particular in the sectors of industry, financial institution (banks and insurance companies), energy and infrastructures, and real estate investments. He regularly advises French listed companies in connection with the preparation of their draft resolutions, the calling and holding of their shareholders’ meetings and their annual reports / URD.
He is recognized as a “rising star” in M&A in Legal 500 EMEA 2020, and a notable practitioner for M&A, private equity and ECM in IFLR 1000 since 2016.
According to Legal 500 EMEA 2019 & 2020, clients praise Olivier for being “very talented and hands-on” and “a very good professional who is able to manage pressure very well”.
Adam works closely with founders, directors and venture capitalists from pre-formation through exit and has significant experience leading high growth companies through:
company formation;
capital raising strategy and venture capital financings;
general corporate and governance matters;
complex corporate transactions of all types; and
successful exit transactions, including mergers & acquisitions.
Adam also leverages his unique business and legal perspective to advise venture capital investors (including venture firms, strategic corporate investors and individuals) in evaluating, structuring, and managing their investments throughout the life cycle of disruptive technology companies.
Adam is known for partnering with companies and sharing in their vision for change to provide flexible solutions that meet evolving business needs. He represents companies and their investors in a variety of industries, including space tech, life sciences, digital platforms and software services, transport, artificial intelligence, health and lifestyle and sports tech, among others.
Adam is a proud father of two young daughters and is actively involved with orphanage work in Kenya, helping drive non-profit efforts throughout the region.
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