Washington, D.C.
In his government enforcement practice, Ron routinely defends a broad range of clients in the financial services industry before federal and state regulators, including matters initiated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and state regulators. Ron has experience responding to Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs), managing large-scale discovery, and advising clients on regulatory risks.
In his litigation practice, Ron represents businesses in class actions and complex commercial disputes in federal and state courts. Ron effectively drafts briefs and discovery requests, prepares witnesses for depositions, manages discovery, and conducts complex legal research on a range of issues.
Ron maintains an active pro bono practice, with a particular focus on criminal justice reform. He has helped draft legislation to severely limit the use of solitary confinement in District of Columbia correctional facilities, drafted an amicus curiae brief on behalf of an individual charged with homicide seeking to exclude expert testimony, and reviewed innocence claims for an incarcerated individual.
A fervent advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at Orrick and in the legal profession, Ron serves on Orrick's DEI committee in D.C.
Prior to joining Orrick, Ron was an associate at Buckley LLP and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP. He also clerked for the Honorable Peter G. Sheridan of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Washington, D.C.
In his government enforcement practice, Ron routinely defends a broad range of clients in the financial services industry before federal and state regulators, including matters initiated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and state regulators. Ron has experience responding to Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs), managing large-scale discovery, and advising clients on regulatory risks.
In his litigation practice, Ron represents businesses in class actions and complex commercial disputes in federal and state courts. Ron effectively drafts briefs and discovery requests, prepares witnesses for depositions, manages discovery, and conducts complex legal research on a range of issues.
Ron maintains an active pro bono practice, with a particular focus on criminal justice reform. He has helped draft legislation to severely limit the use of solitary confinement in District of Columbia correctional facilities, drafted an amicus curiae brief on behalf of an individual charged with homicide seeking to exclude expert testimony, and reviewed innocence claims for an incarcerated individual.
A fervent advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at Orrick and in the legal profession, Ron serves on Orrick's DEI committee in D.C.
Prior to joining Orrick, Ron was an associate at Buckley LLP and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP. He also clerked for the Honorable Peter G. Sheridan of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Beijing
Yiping (Sophia) Shen, an associate in Orrick’s Beijing office, is a member of the Intellectual Property (IP) group.
Sophia’s practice focuses on IP-related legal advice and litigation. She advises regional and international clients on their IP issues related to both cross-border disputes and transactions.
Sophia focuses on supporting defense of Chinese companies in patent and trademark litigation before various U.S. District Courts, as well as Section 337 U.S. International Trade Commission investigations.
She has experience in patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret-related matters, responsible for providing legal counseling, conducting due diligence and legal research, and drafting business contracts.
Beijing
Yiping (Sophia) Shen, an associate in Orrick’s Beijing office, is a member of the Intellectual Property (IP) group.
Sophia’s practice focuses on IP-related legal advice and litigation. She advises regional and international clients on their IP issues related to both cross-border disputes and transactions.
Sophia focuses on supporting defense of Chinese companies in patent and trademark litigation before various U.S. District Courts, as well as Section 337 U.S. International Trade Commission investigations.
She has experience in patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret-related matters, responsible for providing legal counseling, conducting due diligence and legal research, and drafting business contracts.
Düsseldorf
He has acted as counsel, presiding arbitrator, sole arbitrator, or chairman in more than 300 arbitration proceedings, including ad hoc proceedings and arbitrations under the rules of the leading arbitration institutions.
As counsel, he represents private investors, international corporations, sovereign states, and state-owned enterprises in a range of significant, complex, and often cross-border disputes.
In addition to counsel work and acting as an arbitrator, Siegfried also acts as an expert witness before German courts as well as courts in the United States and the United Kingdom and before regulatory institutions.
His experience includes disputes in the areas of M&A, energy, investment protection, engineering and construction, financing, joint ventures, and intellectual property.
He is admitted to practice as an attorney-at-law in both Germany and New York.
Chambers Global 2024 describes Siegfried as a "star individual" who is "often appointed as arbitrator in complex international arbitrations" and is also "a leading practitioner in the field of investment arbitration" with "extensive experience as an arbitrator in investment law cases".
Siegfried was a member of the Advisory Board of the American Arbitration Association (2009 to 2020) and a member of the Panel of Conciliators of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) (2011 to 2017). He was a member of the Board of the German Arbitration Institute (DIS) (2012 to 2022) and has been a member of the DIS Council (since 2022). He was also Chairman of the Mediation Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA) (2007-2008).
He is co-editor of the German Arbitration Journal (Zeitschrift für Schiedsverfahren (SchiedsVZ)). He regularly lectures and publishes on international arbitration and comparative law. Siegfried is also honorary professor at the Faculty of Law at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, where he has been teaching international commercial arbitration and international civil procedure law for 25 years. Since 2013, he represents the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg as Honorary Consul in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Siegfried Elsing co-founded the German law firm Hölters & Elsing in 1989 and has overseen the merger with Orrick in 2008.
Düsseldorf
He has acted as counsel, presiding arbitrator, sole arbitrator, or chairman in more than 300 arbitration proceedings, including ad hoc proceedings and arbitrations under the rules of the leading arbitration institutions.
As counsel, he represents private investors, international corporations, sovereign states, and state-owned enterprises in a range of significant, complex, and often cross-border disputes.
In addition to counsel work and acting as an arbitrator, Siegfried also acts as an expert witness before German courts as well as courts in the United States and the United Kingdom and before regulatory institutions.
His experience includes disputes in the areas of M&A, energy, investment protection, engineering and construction, financing, joint ventures, and intellectual property.
He is admitted to practice as an attorney-at-law in both Germany and New York.
Chambers Global 2024 describes Siegfried as a "star individual" who is "often appointed as arbitrator in complex international arbitrations" and is also "a leading practitioner in the field of investment arbitration" with "extensive experience as an arbitrator in investment law cases".
Siegfried was a member of the Advisory Board of the American Arbitration Association (2009 to 2020) and a member of the Panel of Conciliators of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) (2011 to 2017). He was a member of the Board of the German Arbitration Institute (DIS) (2012 to 2022) and has been a member of the DIS Council (since 2022). He was also Chairman of the Mediation Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA) (2007-2008).
He is co-editor of the German Arbitration Journal (Zeitschrift für Schiedsverfahren (SchiedsVZ)). He regularly lectures and publishes on international arbitration and comparative law. Siegfried is also honorary professor at the Faculty of Law at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, where he has been teaching international commercial arbitration and international civil procedure law for 25 years. Since 2013, he represents the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg as Honorary Consul in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Siegfried Elsing co-founded the German law firm Hölters & Elsing in 1989 and has overseen the merger with Orrick in 2008.
Silicon Valley; Seattle
Silicon Valley; Seattle
Michael advises his clients on a broad range of legal needs, including corporate formation and structure, venture capital financings, board and stockholder relationships and exit transactions. His current and former clients are concentrated in interactive media industries including game development, Esports, AR/VR tech, 3D animation, and artificial intelligence. Michael also advises companies in the cleantech and life sciences sectors.
His favorite video game is Final Fantasy (VII), favorite board game is Twilight Imperium (IV) and favorite science fiction book is Ender’s Game.
Silicon Valley; Seattle
Silicon Valley; Seattle
Michael advises his clients on a broad range of legal needs, including corporate formation and structure, venture capital financings, board and stockholder relationships and exit transactions. His current and former clients are concentrated in interactive media industries including game development, Esports, AR/VR tech, 3D animation, and artificial intelligence. Michael also advises companies in the cleantech and life sciences sectors.
His favorite video game is Final Fantasy (VII), favorite board game is Twilight Imperium (IV) and favorite science fiction book is Ender’s Game.
Austin
Julie has served as bond counsel to various state agencies and local governmental entities, including, special districts, cities, counties and public facility corporations; as underwriter and bank counsel to financial institutions that underwrite and purchase tax-exempt and taxable governmental obligations; and as outside counsel to a public facility corporation that owns and operates a convention center hotel and to professional sports teams that lease bond financed sports venue facilities. Julie also has experience representing domestic banks that provide credit and liquidity facilities for tax-exempt financings. Prior to entering private law practice, Julie served as an assistant attorney general in the Public Finance Division of the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Texas.
Austin
Julie has served as bond counsel to various state agencies and local governmental entities, including, special districts, cities, counties and public facility corporations; as underwriter and bank counsel to financial institutions that underwrite and purchase tax-exempt and taxable governmental obligations; and as outside counsel to a public facility corporation that owns and operates a convention center hotel and to professional sports teams that lease bond financed sports venue facilities. Julie also has experience representing domestic banks that provide credit and liquidity facilities for tax-exempt financings. Prior to entering private law practice, Julie served as an assistant attorney general in the Public Finance Division of the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Texas.
San Francisco
San Francisco
He also has legal experience relating to both charter schools and the federal income tax classification of governmental and quasi-governmental entities. He has consulted on thousands of tax-exempt, build America and tax credit bond issues and has developed deep knowledge in almost every tax aspect of municipal finance. Private activity bonds for multifamily housing, solid waste, charter schools and independent schools are areas of particular focus in his practice, as are higher education, short-term and long-term working capital and the various forms of pooled financings. Chas also has advised numerous clients experiencing financial distress or bankruptcy in tax matters relating to their municipal bonds. Representative active clients include the State of California, the University of California, the Bay Area Toll Authority, and Charter School Capital.
As a legal and policy advocate, Chas represents both government and non-government clients in federal tax rulemaking matters and in IRS proceedings, including the various types of tax-exempt bond audits, voluntary compliance (VCAP) requests and requests for private letter rulings. He has successfully closed IRS examinations relating to solid waste, water and wastewater, working capital, healthcare, pooled, multifamily housing, and industrial development bond financings. He has obtained multiple private letter rulings and technical advice memoranda and has been integrally involved in numerous regulation and legislative projects. He has found that a close working relationship with IRS and Treasury Department personnel often is critical to obtaining good results for clients.
San Francisco
San Francisco
He also has legal experience relating to both charter schools and the federal income tax classification of governmental and quasi-governmental entities. He has consulted on thousands of tax-exempt, build America and tax credit bond issues and has developed deep knowledge in almost every tax aspect of municipal finance. Private activity bonds for multifamily housing, solid waste, charter schools and independent schools are areas of particular focus in his practice, as are higher education, short-term and long-term working capital and the various forms of pooled financings. Chas also has advised numerous clients experiencing financial distress or bankruptcy in tax matters relating to their municipal bonds. Representative active clients include the State of California, the University of California, the Bay Area Toll Authority, and Charter School Capital.
As a legal and policy advocate, Chas represents both government and non-government clients in federal tax rulemaking matters and in IRS proceedings, including the various types of tax-exempt bond audits, voluntary compliance (VCAP) requests and requests for private letter rulings. He has successfully closed IRS examinations relating to solid waste, water and wastewater, working capital, healthcare, pooled, multifamily housing, and industrial development bond financings. He has obtained multiple private letter rulings and technical advice memoranda and has been integrally involved in numerous regulation and legislative projects. He has found that a close working relationship with IRS and Treasury Department personnel often is critical to obtaining good results for clients.