People

Nicolas Nader Managing Associate

Paris

Nicolas advises French and international banks and financial institutions as well as sponsors and borrowers on French and cross-border structured finance transactions.

Prior to joining Orrick, Nicolas was an associate in the Assets & Structured Finance department of Watson, Farley & Williams.

Natalie Nahabet Senior Associate

Los Angeles

Natalie is a true client advocate who appreciates a client’s needs and reputational concerns involved in high-stakes litigation. Her areas of focus include technology litigation, mass torts and product liability, complex breach of contract, and consumer class actions including Proposition 65 and the Consumer Legal Remedies Act. She has helped numerous clients by developing innovative and effective strategies to resolve cases. Natalie served as first chair in an arbitration where she successfully defended Microsoft in a matter involving the permanent suspension of a Skype user claiming millions in damages. Additionally, Natalie recently obtained a favorable result for Microsoft in a separate arbitration where the team creatively set forth a defense under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Natalie’s representation of clients in the mass tort and product liability space involves clients with significant potential damages, multiple jurisdictions and plaintiffs, and high risk to critical product lines. In most of these cases, in addition to serving as a key trial team player, Natalie serves as the point person for expert development and discovery. With her experience, she has created highly efficient and effective methods to analyze and synthesize the key facts in complex matters and use expert opinions and testimony to develop compelling stories for her clients in the courtroom. Most recently, Natalie was part of a trial team that obtained a complete defense verdict for the NCAA in a case brought by a former University of Oregon football player who was seeking $100 million in punitive damages.

Other notable engagements include:

• Represented the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in concussion/CTE and injury-related litigation across the United States. In the span of less than 10 months across 2022 and 2023, Natalie was a key member of the team on three separate high-profile jury trial wins for the NCAA - including the first to take on claims the NCAA is responsible for concussions and CTE in college football. This victory was recognized as the Courtroom View Network’s Most Impressive Defense Verdict of 2022 and the Daily Journal’s Defense Verdict of the Year, as well as by American Lawyer Litigators of the Week. Natalie’s work for the NCAA has also led to five separate plaintiffs voluntarily dismissing their claims against the NCAA.
• Obtained a complete victory for Microsoft and one of its employees with a ruling granting their motion for judgment on the pleadings without leave to amend in a trade secret misappropriation lawsuit against Cheap Stuff.
• Successfully defended Microsoft in a consumer arbitration relating to services provided via the Microsoft Help Desk.
• Successfully assisted clients in resolving Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) cases by serial litigators pre-litigation or at the early stages of a suit. Natalie also regularly publishes on this topic.
• Represented Tanium, a cybersecurity and systems-management company, in an insurance coverage lawsuit brought by Zurich American Insurance Company seeking to recoup amounts previously paid toward an underlying settlement.
• Represented Johnson & Johnson as trial counsel and national coordinating counsel in product liability cases alleging that asbestos contamination in Johnson's Baby Powder caused mesothelioma.
• Successfully defended Johnson & Johnson in two putative class actions, one in the Southern District of California, and the other in the complex court of the Los Angeles Superior Court, which alleged unfair competition, Proposition 65 and CLRA violations.
• Served as national coordinating counsel to Union Carbide Corporation (a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company) in connection with its ongoing asbestos-related product liability litigation. Natalie led the development and coordination of national strategy, with a particular focus on scientific and expert related issues.
• Acting as a member of the Orrick cross-office team in the defense of Chinese companies and their products against American consumer claims.
• Successfully briefed a motion for summary judgment for Natixis Wealth Management.
• Represented a multinational banking and financial services corporation relating to third party subpoenas and levies.
• Represented a Fortune 500 company in an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission into compliance with Bank Secrecy Act reporting requirements.
• Represented a municipal official in connection with an SEC enforcement action in federal court. After hard-fought litigation, the SEC agreed to voluntarily dismiss its claim against the official.
• Obtained a complete defense victory at arbitration for a major Los Angeles-based clothing manufacturer in a business dispute with its former designer.
• Settled heavily contested breach of contract claims and counterclaims involving an exclusive distributorship agreement for a premier traffic signal manufacturer.
• Successfully resolved an employment discrimination suit on behalf of a manufacturer employer.

Natalie is also active in pro bono matters including representing victims of domestic violence and assisting young immigrant children who are seeking asylum to obtain legal status in the United States.

While attending UCLA School of Law, Natalie served as an extern for two U.S. Bankruptcy Court (Central District of California) judges, was the Production Editor of the Women's Law Journal, President of the Armenian Graduate Students Association and Vice President of the Armenian Law Students Association.

Jeffrey Naimon Partner

Washington, D.C.

He defends financial services companies facing complex examination or enforcement matters before the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and federal and state banking regulators, with a focus on fair lending, unfair, deceptive or abusive acts and practices (UDAAP), loan servicing, privacy and credit reporting, debt collection, servicemember protections and other consumer protection issues.

He assists banks and nonbanks (including fintech entities) structure, negotiate and operate a variety of partnerships, outsourcing programs and other third-party arrangements, including performing due diligence, negotiating transactions and advising on ongoing oversight protocols to meet regulatory expectations for third-party arrangements.

Jeff also assists in negotiating acquisition, capital markets and servicing transactions, advising on how best to structure the transaction to reduce risk and expedite deal closure, performing due diligence and assisting in obtaining the necessary change of control and other regulatory approvals.

Jeff is consistently recognized as a leading lawyer in Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Finance (Compliance) in Chambers USA, which praised him for his "extremely high intellect regarding compliance matters and negotiation skills. There's none better at arguing a disputed point." He is also a Fellow of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers.

He currently serves as the Co-chair of the Professional Development Task Force and previously served as Co-chair (2011-2013) and Co-vice Chair (2008-2010) of the Truth in Lending Subcommittee of the American Bar Association’s Consumer Financial Services Committee and has authored numerous articles on consumer financial services.

Prior to joining Orrick, Jeff was a partner at Buckley LLP.

Laura Brooks Najemy Partner

Boston

Laura’s litigation experience spans the gamut from initial pleadings through trial and everything in between. She represents numerous clients in the technology, automotive, retail, consumer products, and real estate industries. Her clients appreciate her diligence, effective communication, and excellent strategic judgment. At Orrick, Laura leads the Women’s Initiative for the Boston office and co-chairs the firm’s Middle East & North African inclusion network. She also co-chairs the Boston Bar Association’s Intellectual Property section.

Laura served as a Special District Attorney for Middlesex County in 2014. In that capacity, she prosecuted felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, trying jury and bench trials to final verdict and arguing dispositive and evidentiary motions. In 2010–2011, Laura completed a yearlong fellowship at the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation (PAIR) Project in Boston, where she assisted individuals who were affirmatively seeking asylum as well as defended individuals who were in removal proceedings in front of the Immigration Court. Through her pro bono practice, Laura continues to be committed to working to help individuals with various immigration matters.

Anri Nakamoto Partner

Tokyo; Washington, D.C.

Anri brings a combination of unique skills and attributes which, collectively, make him essential to both maintaining and growing Orrick's longstanding successful practice representing Japanese clients in high-value IP litigation matters as well as serving Orrick's clients worldwide who have needs in Japan.  Unlike the limited role of most lawyers in Japan who focus on U.S. IP litigation to client relationship management, Anri is adept at both client relationship and substantive litigation work including briefing and taking witness at trials.  

In addition to many patent cases at district courts, USITC and before the US Patent and Trademark Office, Anri is also an experienced practitioner in international arbitration practice. Most recently, he played a huge role in a massive international arbitration matter, which resulted in a complete victory for his client.

John Narducci Partner

New York

John has extensive experience in stock and asset acquisitions, including tax-free reorganizations. He has represented purchasers, sellers and lenders in structuring acquisitions and negotiating the tax aspects of stock purchase and asset purchase agreements. Many of these acquisitions involved cross-border transactions.

Working with issuers, underwriters and investment funds, John has advised clients on numerous securities offerings, including securitization transactions, tender option bonds and high yield debt. Such offerings involved issuers in more than 40 countries.

John regularly works on the restructuring of transactions, including structured financings, project financings and energy and infrastructure projects. He advises on the tax planning aspects of such transactions.

Mr. Narducci has been involved in the development of tax-efficient financial structures, particularly in the cross-border context. For example, he has created tax-efficient structures for several investment funds. He also advises several financial institutions with respect to derivatives transactions, including the tax aspects of ISDA Master Agreements.

He also works with regulated and unregulated participants in the energy market on financings and a wide range of other transactions. Some of these transactions involve rural electric cooperatives.

John also advises on the tax aspects of pass-through entities, project financings and a broad range of other matters. He worked on the sovereign debt restructurings of Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Nigeria, Poland and Vietnam.

Elise Naudin Managing Associate

Paris

Elise advises French and international companies on all employment law matters. She intervenes on collective and individual dismissals, as well as litigation and pre-litigation issues.

Prior to joining Orrick, Elise worked as a trainee in the Employment, Pensions & Benefits department of Hogan Lovells and Chanel’s social affairs department. She graduated from the Professional Master II Law and Practice of Labor Relations from the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas.

Mitchell Naumoff Partner

Washington, D.C.

His experience includes securitizing a diverse range of assets, including credit cards, personal loans, corporate loans, oil and gas wellbores, and cell tower ground leases. Mitch leverages his deep finance background and creative structuring skills in advising investors in 4(a)(2) transactions, particularly in the securitization of emerging esoteric asset classes.

In addition to his investor-side practice, Mitch represents issuers and underwriters in securities backed by credit card and other consumer receivables. These transactions often involve master trust structures and span publicly registered, 144A, and private placements.

Mitch also advises on regulatory considerations, such as application of risk-retention requirements, the Volcker Rule, and other aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act.

Before joining Orrick, Mitch was a partner in Chapman and Cutler’s Asset Securitization Department.

Sushila Nayak Partner

London; New York

She has a broad range of experience in debt financing transactions, including structured credit and corporate finance. She represents issuers, arrangers and collateral managers in connection with the issuance and restructuring of various structured finance products, derivatives transactions and debt issuances in Europe and the United States.

Sushila also provides counsel to technology and other companies on trade finance matters, including receivables financing arrangements, vendor financing, and supply chain financing.

Active in pro bono work, she leads the London office’s pro bono efforts.

Engagements:

Sushila's experience includes advising:

• Arrangers on European CLOs
• Issuers, arrangers and investors in connection with the warehousing and securitisation of various assets, including receivables, tax credits and loans
• Issuers, arrangers and investors on compliance with European risk retention requirements
• Borrowers and lenders on corporate bonds and private debt and bank lending transactions
• Corporates and lenders on supply chain, customer finance and receivables financing arrangements

Sushila's recent engagements include:

• Representing Morgan Stanley as arranger of the North Westerly V European CLO transaction
• Representing Enel Finance International N.V. and Enel S.p.A. in connection with the issuance of a $4 billion U.S. dollar sustainability linked bond
• Representing the purchaser in a cross-border private securitisation of diamond receivables
• Representing Millicom International Cellular S.A. on a $1.65 billion bridge loan
• Representing Millicom International Cellular S.A. in connection with its issuance of a $500 million bond issued under Rule 144A/Regulation S, and its $600 million tender and redemption of existing bonds

Anika Nayyar Managing Associate

San Francisco

Anika's practice focuses on corporate and securities law, including general corporate representation, domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions transactions on both the buy side and sell side, and public offerings.

Prior to joining Orrick, Anika was a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

Matthew Nesburn Partner

Santa Monica

Matt represents major financial institutions (cash and tax equity investors and infrastructure funds), developers, sponsors and lenders across the full project lifecycle. With experience in all renewables sectors, including solar, wind and storage, Matt provides comprehensive guidance from project inception to financing (tax equity, tax credit monetization and debt), corporate planning, equity investment and M&A transactions.

Recognized in Chambers USA, Matt is praised by clients as “super responsive, pragmatic, and skilled at blending business and legal” and “notable for his expertise across the full range of renewables asset types.”

Nico Neukam Partner

Düsseldorf

His experience spans various industries, with a particular focus on advising companies in the growth and financial services sectors, often with an international scope.

Nico is listed by Legal 500 as a "Rising Star" and a "Recommended Lawyer" in tax law. His clients appreciate his forward-thinking solutions, which he develops proactively and in consensus with the tax authorities to ensure the best outcome for his clients.  

Nico Neukam joined Orrick in April 2024 after working for another international law firm for many years.