Milan
She is Managing Associate in Orrick's Milan office and a member of the firm's M&A and Private Equity Group.
Roberta's expertise extends to assisting both Italian and international companies on M&A transactions for domestic and global growth, as well as advising private equity funds on their investments. She also provides counsel to Italian families in strategic operations involving private equity funds and transactions aimed at expanding their businesses. In addition to her transactional work, Roberta offers general corporate expertise, guiding clients through various corporate governance and commercial law matters.
Roberta has advised on acquisitions in the healthcare sector, including the purchase of medical centers and diagnostic facilities, as well as transactions in the industrial sector. Her experience includes assisting clients in the acquisition of companies specializing in energy efficiency and decarbonization solutions, as well as advising on the sale and purchase of manufacturing and industrial assets.
New York
Colby has deep experience in financial services, asset-backed security and mortgage-related litigation, and has been at the forefront of litigation arising out of the financial crisis.
Prior to joining Orrick, he was a Director and senior litigation counsel at Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, where he chaired the firm's Mortgage Securities Litigation Task Force and helped direct the bank's litigation response to the mortgage crisis. He previously practiced law in the New York offices of King & Spalding and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.
Paris
This breadth of experience has allowed him to become a leading authority in the field of antitrust, but his background helps him borrow ideas from anywhere – finding imaginative solutions for the legal and business challenges his clients face.
Patrick has long been a trailblazer in his field. For example, years before private compliance programs became commonplace, Patrick persuaded his clients to dedicate resources to compliance policies, thus being one of the first to encourage proactive rather than strictly reactive actions. In France, he was one of the first to launch antitrust recovery claims and to work on a private standalone claim, without any precedent from the regulator. Acting on the plaintiff side, he obtained what was at that time the highest fine ever imposed on a dominant company (350 M€).
He is currently handling private claims totaling more than 5 billion euro, advising global tech companies and other multinationals in French and EU competition matters, including merger control filings, cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, state aid and compliance work, as well as private damages actions before the French courts. In addition, he serves as vice chairman of the competition commission of the International Chamber of Commerce and chairs its merger control working party.
Houston
As global demand for energy continues to rise and governments, investors and consumers continue to support the decarbonization of the energy industry, Joe has developed a particular focus on advising large multinational energy companies on energy transition issues, including in connection with investment in hydrogen, ammonia, carbon capture and storage, and renewable energy projects and innovations in conventional energy. Joe is a key member of Orrick’s energy transition practice, which was recognized as Band 1 in Energy Transition by Chambers USA (2023-2025).
Joe is recognized by Chambers Global (2023-2025), Chambers USA (2021-2025), The Legal 500 (2018-2025) and Super Lawyers - Rising Stars (2014-2021) for his work on energy transactions. Clients describe him in Chambers as “very responsive, knowledgeable, easy to work with and business-minded” and a “capable and thoughtful transaction leader with a commercial mindset.”
Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)
Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)
Ashley works with litigation attorneys and third party vendors to manage the review and production of documents relevant to investigations and litigation. This work includes using early case assessment technology to analyze, categorize and cull data. She also manages teams of skilled professionals performing document review, redaction, analysis, production and drafting privilege logs. Ashley assists the litigation team to prepare for trial, including drafting deposition summaries, factual memoranda and exhibit charts. She also works with practice office attorneys on transactional tasks, including contract review and due diligence.
Ashley has dedicated significant time to pro bono matters, including assisting trial counsel representing abused and neglected children. She is an active member of Orrick’s Associates of Color Mentoring Group, which promotes diversity and leadership among minority associates.
Seattle; Washington, D.C.
A former Washington State Attorney General and President of the National Association of Attorneys General, Rob is accomplished in all areas of public policy, appellate law and investigations. He is a Chambers USA Band 1 Partner in Government Relations: State Attorneys General.
Rob represents a wide range of technology, energy, finance and other companies in matters involving cyber security, data privacy, litigation, appellate litigation, regulatory proceedings, state attorney general investigations and legislative issues. His experience, stature and proficiency add essential capabilities for clients seeking coordinated policy advocacy, regulatory compliance and litigation strategies in state capitols across the country and in Washington, D.C., where he has testified before Congress and assisted clients who have been called to testify before Congressional committees. While at Orrick, Rob has represented clients in both state and federal court, typically in cases centered on constitutional questions.
Rob served two terms as Attorney General of Washington, from 2005 to 2013. He successfully argued three cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and helped negotiate three of the largest consumer protection settlements in national history, all involving mortgage lending and servicing. He is a recognized leader in the development of data protection and privacy regulation. Rob was the first state Attorney General to build a computer forensics lab to collect evidence of Internet fraud and passed one of the nation's first anti-spyware laws.
Rob served as President of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) from 2011–12 where he co-launched the NAAG Intellectual Property Task Force to advance the national fight against counterfeiting and piracy. While serving as NAAG President, he created and led a national initiative to combat human trafficking which continues to this day. The NAAG human trafficking summit he hosted in Seattle in 2012 led AGs to launch state-level initiatives around the country. His fellow attorneys general honored him in 2011 with the Kelley-Wyman Award for “Outstanding Attorney General” in America.
Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)
Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)
Prior to joining Orrick, Robert was a Senior Associate in the Pittsburgh, PA office of the global law firm Reed Smith LLP and a Senior Attorney at Houston Harbaugh, P.C., also in Pittsburgh. At Reed Smith and Houston Harbaugh, Robert represented clients in a wide range of complex commercial litigation, with a focus on product liability, mass/toxic tort defense, and commercial contract disputes, including insurance coverage matters. Robert has represented numerous companies in environmental, toxic tort, and asbestos litigation on a national level. Robert also has represented both policyholders and insurers in insurance contract litigation. He has extensive experience litigating complex matters in state and federal courts, as well as alternative dispute resolution.
Munich
This includes venture and growth financings in all stages and general corporate counseling. His practice further focuses on advising strategic and financial investors on mergers and acquisitions.
Germany's leading legal directory JUVE lists Johannes as frequently recommended for both corporate law and venture capital, including a competitor's testimonial "very good expertise, pleasant cooperation" (2024/2025). Legal 500 Deutschland lists Johannes as a "recommended lawyer" for venture capital (2024), including the testimonials "very supportive and a pleasure to work with", "extremely conscientious", and "quick response time" in its 2022 edition. Since 2021, he has been recognized by Germany's leading business daily Handelsblatt as a "Ones to Watch" lawyer for corporate law.
In addition to his work as a lawyer, Johannes has completed the joint Executive MBA program by U.S.-based Kellogg University and WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, Germany’s leading startup university.