People

Jonas Banse Associate

Düsseldorf

Prior to joining Orrick, Jonas had already been involved in employment law matters for several years in the course of his study-related work. During his legal clerkship, he worked, inter alia, in the policy department for collective employment law of a German multinational law firm.

Lisandre Bedard-Venne Managing Associate

Paris

Lisandre advises French and international companies on all aspects of French employment and labor law.

Prior to joining Orrick, Lisandre worked as an associate in the employment teams of provincial and international law firms based in Montreal and Paris. Lisandre earned her LL.B. and J.D. from University of Montreal and is admitted to both Paris and Quebec Bars.

Anissa Benadda Managing Associate

Paris

Anissa advises French and international companies on all aspects of French employment and labor law. 

Prior to joining Orrick, Anissa worked on employment matters as a trainee at Allen & Overy, and as a legal intern and legal specialist at Skadden and CMS in Paris.

Emmanuel Benard Partner

Paris

Emmanuel represents numerous French and international companies on all aspects of employment law including international and cross-border issues.

His practice focuses on reorganizations, collective redundancies. He notably advised key players of the Financial, Metal, Food and Beverages, Pharmaceutical, Technology, Leisure and Music Industries in implementing economic dismissals and voluntary departures. He also assists these clients with employee representation and collective bargaining and sensitive individual cases.

Emmanuel has a strong proficiency in collective litigation as well as criminal litigation and currently handles a number of sensitive cases arising from works council and health and safety committee information consultation procedure, professional elections, collective bargaining agreements and employees performance appraisal system.

With a long-standing experience on landmark M&A, he regularly supports HR Directors in dealing with works council information and consultation procedures and transfer of employees triggered by such complex projects, helping them achieving their strategic objectives.

Co-author of an insightful and pedagogic book on all labor and employment facets of companies’ reorganization, Emmanuel is described by his clients as “a guru in the field of employment law” and praised for his “business sense”.

Before joining Orrick in 2016, Emmanuel was a partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Paris, where he was in charge of the Employment, Pension and Benefits Department. Prior to that he was partner at the boutique employment law firm Bélier et Associés where he started his career.

Mariam Bicknell Managing Associate

Orange County

Mariam has experience defending employers in the retail, financial, real estate, and healthcare industries in a broad range of employment issues, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, as well as wage-and-hour class and representative actions. She also advises employers regarding compliance with employment laws, including leave of absence issues, requests for accommodations, employee terminations, and employee handbook and personnel policies.

Mariam earned her Juris Doctor degree from the UC Irvine School of Law. While in law school, Mariam was the Editor-in-Chief for the UC Irvine Journal of International, Transnational, and Comparative Law and led the publication of the Journal’s inaugural volumes. She also served as a judicial extern to The Honorable James J. Di Cesare at the Orange County Superior Court.

Solène Blandin Senior Associate

Paris

Solène assists French and international clients on all aspects of French employment law both in contentious and non-contentious matters.

Her area of expertise covers collective aspects of employment law (professional elections, relationships with the employee representatives, collective agreements, working time, reorganisations, mass redundancies, post-acquisition integrations, internal investigations, background checks and monitoring) and individual aspects (drafting employment documentation, dismissals, negotiation and settlement agreements, bonus schemes and restrictive covenants).

Solène has been a French-qualified lawyer (Avocat à la Cour) since February 2018. Prior to joining Orrick, she was an associate for 7 years within a global UK law firm's employment team.

In addition, she holds a Master’s Degree in Employment law from the University of Paris II Panthéon- Assas. Solène is also an alumna of the Oxford University (Diploma of Legal Studies - 2014).

Christina Bouchot Partner

Los Angeles

Christina counsels clients on their most critical employment and compliance issues, whether that means addressing founder disputes, drafting employment policies, making recommendations on the use of restrictive covenants, advising on compliance with wage-and-hour laws, or making recommendations on reductions in force. She also handles investigations and complaints involving allegations of sexual harassment, whistleblowing and discrimination. While she has experience representing companies in many industries, she has a particular focus on technology companies and private equity firms, and understands the nuances of their cultures and unique employment challenges.

Christina also has ample experience supporting and advising on corporate transactions. This includes analyzing the impact of employment considerations on deal strategy and structure, drafting and negotiating employment agreements, non-competes and separation agreements and providing advice on post-closing workforce integration.

Christina is very active in the legal community within the Employment Bar and within various Hispanic and Women’s Lawyer’s Associations.

Hélène Boukez Of Counsel

Paris

Hélène advises French and international firms on all employment matters.

Prior to joining Orrick, Hélène was an associate in the Employment, Pensions & Benefits department of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for six years.

Lisa M. Bowman Of Counsel

San Francisco

Lisa partners with companies of all stages to refine their policies and practices—with a goal of deterring unnecessary litigation. Lisa strives to gain in-depth knowledge of the culture and business goals of her clients, so she can be responsive and efficient.

Lisa has significant experience advising employers on complex issues, including wage and hour compliance and audits, worker classification, disability accommodation, employee leaves, commissions and bonuses, misappropriation of trade secrets, employment agreements, onboarding, employee discipline and terminations, and managing and/or conducting sensitive workplace investigations.

As a litigator of high-stakes employment cases, Lisa secured many victories for her clients, including a complete defense verdict in a disability discrimination arbitration, dismissal of a disparate impact age discrimination claim in a collective action brought against a high-profile tech client, and successful oppositions to motions to certify wage and hour classes. Lisa’s background as an employment litigator helps her identify issues for her clients before they become a problem.

Before attending law school, Lisa worked as a journalist covering law and policy. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNET, and Bloomberg. Lisa draws upon this experience to guide clients with strategic internal and external messaging when complicated legal challenges arise.

Francesco Brandi Managing Associate

Milan

Francesco deals with labor law and industrial relations, assisting Italian and foreign clients, both in judicial and out-of-court matters, related to every aspect of the management of employment relationship, agency relationship and self-employment relationship in all its forms.

Katie E. Briscoe Partner

Sacramento

Katie collaborates with employers to resolve challenging litigation and avoid risky compliance issues. She defends employers against PAGA, class, multi-plaintiff, and single plaintiff actions involving a variety of claims ranging from complex wage and hour disputes to contentious discrimination and harassment claims. Katie has jury trial experience and practices before a variety of forums, including state and federal trial courts, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and private arbitration and mediation. She understands the challenges that employers face and helps them to navigate ever-changing state, federal, and local laws. Katie has significant experience litigating and advising on wage and hour issues; exempt/non-exempt classification; discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; arbitration agreements; independent contractor classification; business expense reimbursement; compensation; Section 17200, and more. She also works with clients to resolve employment disputes prior to litigation.

Katie earned her J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law, where she graduated Order of the Coif.

Rachel Capler Senior Associate

San Francisco

Rachel has defended financial services, technology, and retail industry clients on a broad range of employment law issues in federal and state courts and administrative agencies in California and throughout the country. She has significant experience with single plaintiff and class action litigation involving wage and hour claims, collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and representative actions under the California Private Attorneys General Act.

In addition to her extensive litigation practice, Rachel also provides employers with advice and counsel on employment law issues, including best employment practices, at-will employment, compensation and equity, reductions in force, and employee classifications.

Rachel maintains an active pro bono practice by providing advice and counsel on employment matters to non-profit organizations, as well as volunteering with a number of non-profit organizations committed to advancing the right to vote and voting accessibility.