People

T. Vann Pearce, Jr. Partner

Washington, D.C.

Vann litigates in forums throughout the country. He has won several inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He has secured favorable jury verdicts in Federal and state courts in Delaware, Florida, Maryland, and Texas. Multiple wins on behalf of his clients at the U.S. International Trade Commission in Section 337 investigations have earned recognition with “Disputes Deal of the Year” awards. And he has crafted winning strategies and briefs in precedent-setting Federal Circuit appeals.  

A chemical engineer by training, Vann is a member of the Patent Bar. His representations involve a broad range of technology fields, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, consumer electronics, 3D printing, automotive technologies, digital imaging, cryptocurrency, and batteries. His clients are based worldwide, including a significant portion from Japan and China. Vann frequently travels to Asia to speak on key developments in intellectual property law.

Patent infringement litigation is central to Vann’s practice, but he also has handled breach of contract, trade secret misappropriation, antitrust, tortious interference, false advertising, civil theft, and bankruptcy matters. Many of his matters involve a complex mix of claims and counterclaims across legal disciplines, where he employs his strategic judgment to navigate competing risks.

While his practice focuses on litigation and dispute resolution, Vann also advices clients on patent licensing, portfolio development, and intellectual property due diligence. Vann co-founded Orrick’s cross-practice 3D printing initiative.

Vann has served the Firm in key leadership roles. In 2022-2023, Vann served as the Chief Practice Officer for the firm's IP & Litigation Business Units, which comprise nearly 400 attorneys globally. His responsibilities included oversight of the units' financial performance, business planning and execution, and lawyer recruiting. Vann also previously served as the firm’s U.S. Law School Hiring Partner, overseeing entry-level hiring nationwide.

Livia Maria Pedroni Partner

Milan

With a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the technology and innovation market, Livia regularly advises early and late-stage companies on both single and multi-tranche investment rounds, secondaries, bridge financings, LBOs, buyouts and other types of exits, mergers, and corporate reorganisations. She has worked with international innovative companies from their inception and has also advised many of the key venture capital and private equity investors in the Italian and international markets.

Alongside her focus on technologies, she has acquired specific experience in the healthcare sector by working alongside one of the world-leading group in the laboratory analysis sector, since its entry onto the national scene until consolidating its leadership position in Italy through M&A transactions.

Naomi Pen Managing Associate

New York

Naomi provides clients guidance on implementing global privacy programs and advises on the U.S. state privacy laws in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Virginia and other states. She assists clients in breach investigations and cybersecurity incident response, including advising on breach notification, regulatory investigations and managing cybersecurity policies and procedures.

Naomi draws on her experience in fixed income trading technology when advising on cybersecurity and compliance risks within business operations. During law school she externed at the Center for Reproductive Rights focusing on privacy in the context of international human rights.

Aerielle Pendleton Managing Associate

New York

Aerielle represents clients in complex litigation matters in both federal and state courts.  With significant experience in high-stakes litigation matters, Aerielle litigates cases on behalf of technology companies, investment firms, banks, and individuals.  Aerielle has extensive experience defending clients in mass torts, product liability matters as well as working with teams guiding clients through government and investigations and enforcement actions.  Aerielle also has experience working with a team in a high-profile intellectual property matter.

Aerielle is also active in pro bono matters, primarily focusing her practice on a wrongful death action against an ICE subsidiary.

Andrew Pennacchia Senior Counsel

New York

He frequently advises mortgage companies, fintechs, lead generators, consumer and commercial lenders, banks and other financial services companies on key federal and state consumer financial laws, safety and soundness regulations, multistate licensing requirements, and government agency lending and servicing guidelines. Andrew also assists clients with enforcement actions brought by federal and state regulators and conducts comprehensive regulatory assessments in connection with potential acquisitions designed to identify regulatory gaps and systemic compliance control deficiencies.

Andrew has assisted clients in facilitating compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices (UDAAP), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Gramm-Leach Bliley Act (GLBA), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (CAN-SPAM), Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and other key federal laws.

His work also includes assisting clients in developing compliance management systems and vendor management programs that meet regulatory expectations, and in preparing for and managing examinations by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), federal prudential regulators, and state regulators. In addition, he represents clients in investigations initiated by the CFPB.

Prior to joining Orrick, Andrew was senior counsel at Buckley LLP. He also worked in Morgan Stanley’s Legal and Compliance Division, where he provided advice on various regulatory compliance requirements affecting securities-based, commercial and institutional lending, and assisted in the development and implementation of a risk-assessment process for retail lending products. Andrew was also a member of Morgan Stanley Credit Corporation's Mortgage Compliance Committee. Prior to his tenure at Morgan Stanley, he served as vice president of legal affairs for Premium Capital Funding LLC.

Joseph Perkins Partner

Silicon Valley

In the fast-paced and unprecedented blockchain and cryptocurrency markets, Joseph helps companies develop innovative and comprehensive legal strategies to achieve their goals of bringing to market disruptive and transformative technologies. From DAO and NFT creation, general corporate and fundraising strategies, to navigating complex and changing regulatory regimes, Joseph has become a go-to advisor for companies in the blockchain and virtual currency ecosystem.

As a member of Orrick’s Technology Companies Group, Joseph assists cutting-edge technology companies and investors with general corporate counseling, private venture capital financing, and M&A services. Joseph has had the opportunity to work with some of the most iconic companies in Silicon Valley, advising on corporate strategy and fundraising matters.

Joseph plays a key role in connecting the Silicon Valley and Japan tech and venture ecosystems. He advises Japanese technology companies and corporate venture capital funds, leveraging his Silicon Valley background to support their growth. Fluent in Japanese, Joseph maintains strong ties to Japanese businesses and collaborates closely with Orrick’s Tokyo practice.