People

Amy Ansbro Managing Associate

London

Amy joined Orrick as a trainee in August 2015 and also has experience working in the Finance, Restructuring, Corporate, Employment and Real Estate groups.

Julia Apostle Partner

Paris

Julia counsels on compliance issues in relation to European and French tech and data regulations, including:

• the GDPR;
• the Digital Services Act;
• the EU AI Act and the regulation of AI more generally,
• the Data Act;
• the Cyber Resilience Act;
• the NIS2 Directive;

and other new and emerging legislation impacting online platforms, technology developers, and eCommerce businesses. She advises companies of all sizes on a wide range of compliance matters, ranging the drafting of internal policies, to assisting with regulatory investigations, product counseling and regulatory engagement.

In the context of strategic transactions covering significant and complex technological issues, she is involved in the drafting and negotiation of agreements relating to data transfer, IT, software, content and brand licensing.

Julia is deeply familiar with the commercial considerations’ clients face, having practiced in-house at Twitter, Financial Times and CBS for more than a decade prior to joining Orrick. Julia also teaches a course on AI contracts for the Master's program in AI Law at a leading French university and acts as a mentor for students.

Alexandra Aquilina-Piscitello Associate

Santa Monica

Alexandra advises companies at all stages of growth on corporate formations, general corporate governance matters, venture capital financings and exit transactions.

Alexandra received her J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, where she served as a Managing Editor for the Journal of Law and Technology. Prior to law school, Alexandra graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar College where she earned her B.A. in Psychological Sciences and Political Science.

Matthew Archer Partner

Houston

Matt's practice is centered on project development and mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) in the energy industry, with a particular focus on electric power and midstream projects. He regularly advises clients on the development, construction, operation, purchase and disposition of conventional power, renewable and midstream projects. His experience includes each stage, from early development, construction, offtake agreements, through commercial operation, financing, repowering and disposition. Matt also regularly represents clients in the development, structuring and construction of large natural gas pipeline, renewable and gas-fired power projects in Mexico.

Matt’s experience encompasses all manner of revenue and construction contracts; equipment supply and warranty agreements, long-term parts and services agreements; operating and maintenance agreements; electric interconnection and transmission agreements; fuel supply and transportation agreements; and ownership, joint venture and equity participation agreements.

Kristina Arianina Of Counsel

Washington, D.C.

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.

Kevin Arlyck Associated Law Professor

Washington, D.C.

Kevin has experience in a wide range of subject areas, including class actions, securities, bankruptcy, and patents. He has co-authored numerous appellate briefs, including briefs to the Supreme Court of the United States at the certiorari and merits stages, on subjects including consumer protection, Indian law, criminal forfeiture, federal court jurisdiction, and foreign sovereign immunity. Kevin has also engaged in strategic planning and motions practice at the trial stage in both federal and state courts.

Prior to joining Orrick, Kevin clerked for Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor of the Supreme Court of the United States and Circuit Judge Robert Katzmann of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He has a Ph.D. in history from NYU, where he concentrated on the history of the federal courts in the early national period.

Chase Armbrust Partner

Houston

Specializing in debt finance with a strong understanding of tax-driven strategies, Chase works with developers, sponsors, lenders and utilities across the renewable energy sector. He has extensive experience guiding clients on debt transactions to finance renewable energy infrastructure, including utility-scale solar and wind, distributed solar, fuel cell and biomass projects.

His broad debt experience includes negotiating credit facilities, structuring intercreditor arrangements and ISDA documentation and advising on financial restructuring strategies.

Reflecting his excellent client relationships and strong commitment to successful outcomes, Chase was recognized as a 2022 Client Service All-Star by BTI Consulting Group.

Anna Aryankalayil Partner

Washington, D.C.

Having returned to private practice, Anna focuses on merger clearance and litigation, government conduct investigations, and antitrust counseling and compliance.

During her time at the FTC from March 2020 to September 2022, Anna advised on merger and anticompetitive conduct investigations and enforcement actions across a wide range of sectors, including tech, pharmaceutical and life sciences, healthcare, defense, oil & gas, retail, and consumer goods. She also advised on litigation and appellate strategy, the FTC’s advocacy through amicus briefs, and other cutting edge competition policy matters, such as, merger policy, digital platforms, intellectual property, and nascent competition in innovative industries.

Prior to joining the FTC, Anna was a senior associate in private practice where she focused on antitrust litigation, government conduct investigations and compliance, and the antitrust aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. In litigation, Anna has experience defending high-profile transactions against government challenge from the FTC and the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division.

Dr. Daniel Ashkar Counsel

Munich

Having focused on privacy law since 2012, Daniel provides comprehensive privacy and cybersecurity advisory support to clients. He further advises on AI, data, and other technology-related matters. Daniel also possesses significant experience regarding legal disputes and litigation matters as well as authority proceedings.

He is a Co-Chair of the International Association of Privacy Professionals’ (IAPP) KnowledgeNet Chapter in Munich and holds the designations Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E), Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US), Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM), and Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP) from the IAPP.

Daniel is recommended in the 2025 Legal 500 Data protection rankings as a key lawyer of Orrick’s related German practice. Testimonials from the Legal 500 rankings state: “Daniel Ashkar is an outstanding lawyer with outstanding knowledge of current developments in the field of data protection law. His passion for data protection law and precision in his advice is unmatched. It is a pleasure to work with him.”; “Daniel Ashkar: Partner material, binding, creative, and practice-oriented.”

Daniel wrote his doctoral thesis on data privacy law and regularly publishes and speaks on privacy and AI related topics.

Kevin M. Askew Partner

Los Angeles

Kevin has extensive experience defending securities class actions, including on behalf of high-profile clients in the technology and finance sectors. He also regularly represents clients in shareholder derivative suits, including actions alleging breaches of fiduciary duty and failures of oversight.

Kevin has handled a wide range of other complex litigation matters, including contract disputes, civil RICO actions, and cases related to corporate breakups.

Clients also turn to Kevin when they face scrutiny from government regulators. Kevin represents companies, and their officers and directors, when they receive subpoenas in connection with investigations by the SEC and other agencies. And when necessary, Kevin defends his clients in regulatory enforcement actions, including cases brought by the SEC and state Attorneys General.

Kevin devotes significant time to pro bono matters. Public Counsel’s Immigrants’ Rights Project awarded Kevin its annual Pro Bono Award in recognition of his representation of an asylum seeker in a long-running Immigration Court matter.

Kevin has authored articles on securities-related topics in numerous publications, including the Daily Journal, the National Law Journal, and Bloomberg BNA.

Giulio Asquini Of Counsel

Milan; Rome

Giulio has developed strong experience in all types of acquisition financings and leveraged buyouts transactions both in the syndicated and in the take-and-hold space, including senior debt, unitranche financings, high yield debt and mezzanine capital, structured as loan facilities as well as bonds issuances.

Giulio has also gained significant experience in refinancings, corporate financings (including revolving and capex facilities) and real estate finance transactions.

Prior to joining Orrick, Giulio was an associate in a leading Italian law firm, where he also gained experience on M&A and private equity deals, assisting Italian and foreign companies and private equity investment vehicles in acquisition and investment transactions.

Shawn Atkinson Partner

London

In addition to sheer volume of deals, Shawn's incomparable market insight stems from his leadership roles at Orrick, the only global firm focused on technology, and his experience working throughout the UK & Europe, North America and Asia. Shawn leads Orrick's London Corporate practice, its Global Emerging Markets practice and co-leads the Global Fintech team and the Global Technology Companies Practice Group. These complement his practice serving public and private companies in UK multi-jurisdictional and complex corporate transactions, including countless acquisitions and disposals, cross-border mergers, bankruptcy infused asset sales, recapitalisations and reorganisations. He is also a recognised leader in late stage venture transactions and in early stage private equity transactions in Europe and the emerging markets. Shawn has been recognised as a leading individual in several legal directories, including Chambers and Legal 500, for his expertise and excellence in venture capital, M&A, emerging markets, and fintech. In addition, he has been ranked as a top 5 (by volume) UK M&A lawyer in each of 2017, 2020-2024 by Mergermarket, including a #1 ranking in 2021, 2022 and 2024.

Shawn also advises early stage businesses across a number of sectors – including insurtech, Fintech, Crypto, SaaS, EdTech, HRTech, Marketplace and EnergyTech. He assists them from incorporation through to M&A exit, initial public offerings and other growth opportunities. His participation in the private equity and venture capital sector spans his entire career - with time spent in private practice, in-house and advising investors as well as investor-backed businesses-and affords him a deep knowledge and understanding of the industry and client needs and expectations.

Among the leading investment funds he has represented are ABN Amro Ventures, Acton Capital Partners, ABRY Partners, Accel Partners, Apax Partners, Bain Capital, Balderton Capital, Battery Ventures, Beringea, Bessemer Venture Partners, Black Pearls VC, Black Sheep Ventures, BMWi Ventures, Coatue Management, Columbia Capital, CommerzVentures, Evolvence, FTV Capital, Golden Gate Capital, Stepstone Group, Headway Capital Partners, Innova Capital, Kinnevik, KPS Capital Partners, Marlin Equity Partners, Mangrove Capital Partners, M/C Partners, One Peak, Oxx, Pearson Ventures, Piper Private Equity, Piton Capital, Salesforce Ventures, Sprints Capital, Summit Partners, Updata Partners, VNV Global and VEF.