People

Magda Gathani Senior Associate

Washington, D.C.

Magda advises payments companies and commercial clients engaged in money transmission with regard to federal and state compliance, including the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), anti-money-laundering (AML) laws, licensing obligations and consumer compliance. She also counsels clients on consumer privacy issues arising from the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and Regulation P, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) Cybersecurity Rules, and other state and federal laws that address data privacy and information security.

Prior to joining Orrick, Magda was an associate at Buckley LLP.

She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US).

Bradford Gathright Partner

Houston

He represents investors and developers in a broad range of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity investments and other commercial transactions involving the development, construction, financing, acquisition, sale and investment in power generation, exploration, production, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing and other energy-related projects and businesses.

Brad is recognized as Band 1 for Chambers Global and Chambers USA for Projects: Power & Renewables: Transactional, where clients describe him as having "seen a lot of deals and is good at explaining complicated issues."

Elizabeth Gavin Managing Associate

London

She is broadly experienced with venture capital financing transactions, as well as corporate formation and governance matters. Elizabeth has also advised a number of leading venture capital funds.

Prior to joining Orrick, Elizabeth worked in the Boston office of another US law firm.

Matthew Gemello Partner

Silicon Valley

A seasoned deal lawyer, Matthew guides global technology companies and their financial sponsors through transformational domestic and cross-border transactions. These deals range from private company buyouts and public takeovers in the United States and around the world, to complex, multi-jurisdictional spinoffs and business carveouts.

Matthew has been recognized as a leading lawyer by numerous publications, including Legal 500 and he was selected by the San Francisco and Los Angeles Daily Journal as one of the top 10 Innovative Corporate Lawyers in California.

William George Of Counsel

London

William is an experienced lawyer and certified fraud examiner who has acted for shareholders, investors, creditors, insolvency practitioners, and high net worth individuals in all aspects of litigation arising from fraud and financial mismanagement in the UK and all of the major offshore jurisdictions. Will's experience includes applications for injunctive relief and third-party disclosure orders, and claims for deceit, fraudulent misrepresentation, and unlawful means conspiracy.

William also has a depth of experience in shareholder and trusts litigation, having acted for corporations, shareholders, trustees and beneficiaries in high value disputes across multiple jurisdictions, including a leading role in the frequently cited cases of Singh vs. Singh, and Re Edwardian Group Limited.

William's involvement in Pro Bono work around the world has included high profile projects such as the negotiation of the UN Arms Treaty, the development of refugee law in Tanzania, and assisting victims of crypto fraud in the United Kingdom.

Harrison Geron Managing Associate

Silicon Valley

Harrison graduated from UC Berkeley School of Law with the BCLT Technology Law Certificate and Pro Bono Honors with highest distinction. At Berkeley Law he served as Senior Executive Editor of the Berkeley Technology Law Journal and Co-President of the Space Law Society.

Harrison is dedicated to studying and advocating at the intersection of law and technology. During law school, for fun, he co-authored a comment to the FCC that was well cited in the reply-period and by the FCC in its subsequent order. This comment led to the paper "Title Zero": Ending the Infinite Loop of Classifications for Broadband Via a Technology Agnostic Definition, which won an award after peer review at TPRC49 and is published in the California Law Review in 2022. Harrison is also dedicated to positive social change enabled by law and technology. He was the co-lead organizer for the inaugural 2020 BTLJ/BCLT symposium "Technology Law As a Vehicle for Anti-Racism."

Harrison previously worked at a boutique patent firm in the San Francisco Bay Area where he aided in the drafting of patents. Harrison also brings experience in complex litigation, having worked at a plaintiff-side class action firm during law school. He holds a BS/BA from Loyola Marymount University in Economics/Political Science and a Minor in Natural Science/Physics. He further studied post-baccalaureate at Santa Clara University in Physics.

Pariya Ghafoori Managing Associate

Washington, D.C.

Pariya represents issuers, sponsors, underwriters, servicers, and other market participants in connection with securitizations and asset-backed securities, in public and private offerings.

John Giansello Counsel

New York

Orrick’s Employment Law and Litigation group was recently named Labor & Employment Department of the Year in California by The Recorder, the premier source for legal news, in recognition of their significant wins on behalf of leading multinational companies on today’s most complex and challenging employment law matters.

He has considerable experience in and knowledge of litigation and counseling related to the hiring, firing, retention, management and promotion of employees.

Louise Gibbons Partner

San Francisco

From the latest tax credit transfer and hybrid structures to the full suite of debt and tax equity financings, preferred equity financings, selldowns and investments, she takes a collaborative and relatable approach to close the deal. She advises a range of renewables and energy transition industry participants, from project developers, sponsors, borrowers, lenders, investment banks, private equity funds and other capital providers and investors.  She works with a range of asset classes, including among others, wind, solar, battery storage, hydrogen and renewable natural gas.

Louise was recognized by Chambers USA Nationwide Projects: Power & Renewables: Transactional in 2024, where clients describe her as "excellent," "very thorough," "detailed" and "pragmatic." She was named by Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner in Energy Transactions: Electric Power in 2024 and noted for her “work in project finance and M&A work on transformative, first-in-kind renewable energy projects.”

As an All-American College sailor, Louise has pursued her interest in law of the sea and international laws throughout her career. She is translating this experience into differentiated advice for clients in the burgeoning U.S. offshore wind market. 

Allison Riechert Giese Talent Counsel

Silicon Valley

Orrick’s Employment Law and Litigation group was recently named Labor & Employment Department of the Year in California by The Recorder, the premier source for legal news, in recognition of their significant wins on behalf of leading multinational companies on today’s most complex and challenging employment law matters.

Allison was a summer associate in Orrick's Silicon Valley office in 2008. Prior to joining Orrick, she interned in the San Mateo County Superior Court's legal research department.

Christopher R. Giles Project Attorney

Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)

Christopher 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. He also manages teams of skilled professionals performing document review, redaction, analysis, production and drafting privilege logs. Christopher assists the litigation team to prepare for trial, including drafting deposition summaries, factual memoranda and exhibit charts. He also works with practice office attorneys on transactional tasks, including contract review and due diligence.

Christopher has dedicated significant time to pro bono matters, including assisting trial counsel representing abused and neglected children.

Prior to joining Orrick, Christopher practiced criminal law, family law, creditor’s rights, bankruptcy, and estate planning in Pennsylvania.

David Gindler Partner

Los Angeles

David has achieved extraordinary trial outcomes for both plaintiffs and defendants, including a $302 million verdict for breach of a research and license agreement covering foundational biotechnology, as well as defeating a $217 million damages claim in a patent dispute where liability had already been established in an earlier trial handled by a different law firm. David also negotiates complex intellectual property license agreements involving cutting-edge technologies and creative financial structures, frequently working on behalf of leading academic institutions.