Kristina Arianina

Of Counsel

Washington, D.C.

A creative litigator, Kristina represents companies and individuals in complex litigation and government investigations. She tackles her clients’ most challenging issues with curiosity and tenacity.

As a member of Orrick’s Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution team, Kristina has extensive experience representing clients in challenging and high-stakes cases. She has a particular focus on trade secret misappropriation cases in the tech industry, where she has both prosecuted and defended claims.

Kristina’s commercial litigation experience includes litigating claims of false advertising, unfair competition, business fraud, negligence, breaches of contract and fiduciary duties. She also has substantial experience with the False Claims Act, both with and without the government’s involvement.

In addition to her litigation experience, Kristina has conducted numerous internal investigations and compliance assessments in the United States and abroad. She has also represented companies and individuals in matters before the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

A first-generation immigrant from Russia to the United States, Kristina is passionate about her pro bono work. She played a leading role in the firm’s collaboration with Public International Law & Policy Group on the Ukraine Accountability Initiative and represented clients in reproductive rights and termination of parental rights cases.

  • Commercial Litigation

    • Representing a plaintiff financial services company in a trade secrets misappropriation case.
    • Defending a video game commerce company in a trade secrets dispute.
    • Obtained declination from the DOJ and state Attorney General in a billion-dollar qui tam False Claims Act case.
    • Successfully defended against a temporary restraining order and a permanent injunction enabling a client to receive substantial funds.
    • Represented foreign banking executives in suits filed in the federal court in New York involving federal and common law claims.
    • Represented a major fluorochemicals manufacturer in regulatory and policy issues arising under Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer, including successful representation in Mexichem Fluor Inc. v. EPA, 866 F.3d 451 (D.C. Cir. 2017)—a case featured in Law360’s “Biggest Environmental Rulings of 2017.”
    • Represented a prominent foreign bank in a high-profile U.S. multidistrict litigation.
    • Represented a foreign company in a defamation suit against a major U.S. newspaper.

    Government Investigations

    • Was part of a team that acted as Counsel to the Monitor in a DOJ-ordered monitorship of an auto-software maker related to the ‘Dieselgate’ investigation of devices designed and used to cheat on pollution emissions tests in violation of the Clean Air Act.
    • Represented National Commercial Bank in defending a multi-year OFAC investigation of apparent violations of U.S. sanctions against Sudan and Syria.
    • Represented Habib Bank Limited in liquidating its New York branch without further enforcement action by the Federal Reserve or the New York Department of Financial Services.
    • Represented a foreign bank in defending a multi-year OFAC investigation with the issuance of a private cautionary letter.

    Internal Investigations and Compliance Counseling

    • Counseling clients on confidential information and trade secret protection.
    • Represented boards and audit committees following criminal matters.
    • Conducted an internal investigation into bribery and kickback allegations relating to the acquisition by a U.S.-based public company of an entity in Asia.
    • Represented foreign financial institutions in investigations of potential violations of U.S. sanctions before the OFAC, the Department of Justice and other U.S. enforcement agencies and regulators.
    • Represented a foreign bank in a petition for delisting from the OFAC sanctions list.

    Arbitration

    • Represented a video game developer in a contractual dispute in international arbitration.
    • Represented a U.S. company in UNCITRAL arbitration of a multibillion-dollar dispute concerning breach of contract and negligence in a transportation infrastructure project in Oceania.
    • Represented a foreign entity in ICC arbitration of a multibillion-dollar dispute concerning breach of contract and negligence in a transportation infrastructure project in the Middle East.