Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe is a global law firm headquartered in San Francisco, California, known for its work in technology, finance, and energy sectors. The firm serves clients ranging from startups and venture capital firms to multinational corporations and sovereign entities, and it participates in high-profile matters across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Attorneys from the firm have engaged with major transactions, regulatory disputes, and infrastructure projects that intersect with institutions such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, European Commission, United States Department of Justice, International Finance Corporation, and World Bank.

History

Founded in 1863 in San Francisco during the era of the American Civil War and California's rapid post-Gold Rush growth, the firm evolved alongside institutions like the Union Pacific Railroad, Transcontinental Railroad, Bank of California (1864–1893), and later Silicon Valley enterprises. Over the 20th century the firm expanded through mergers and lateral hires involving lawyers who had backgrounds with entities such as the Federal Reserve Board, Internal Revenue Service, Treasury Department (United States), and state supreme courts. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries the firm increased its international footprint with openings timed to global events including the formation of the European Union, the rise of the World Trade Organization, and the growth of the Asian financial markets. Partners and alumni have moved between the firm and public service roles in offices such as the U.S. Attorney General, the California Governor's Office, the Department of Energy (United States), and diplomatic posts associated with the United Nations.

Practice areas and notable matters

The firm advises clients in practice areas tied to technology and finance, often intersecting with actors such as Apple Inc., Google, Facebook, Amazon (company), Intel, and major venture capital firms like Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz. In capital markets and corporate finance the firm has represented underwriters and issuers in offerings that engaged the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, London Stock Exchange Group, and sovereign wealth funds such as the Government Pension Fund of Norway. In litigation and regulatory work attorneys have litigated matters involving the United States Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and regulatory agencies like the Federal Trade Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission. In energy and infrastructure the firm has advised on projects with developers, utilities, and multilateral lenders, intersecting with groups such as the California Independent System Operator, European Investment Bank, Asian Development Bank, and major oil and gas companies like ExxonMobil and BP. Intellectual property work has connected the firm to standards organizations and patent disputes involving firms like Qualcomm, Samsung, and Cisco Systems. The firm has participated in diligence and deals tied to mergers and acquisitions announced alongside companies such as Uber Technologies, Twitter, Netflix, and NVIDIA.

Offices and global presence

Orrick maintains offices across North America, Europe, and Asia, positioning lawyers near financial centers and industry clusters including New York City, San Francisco, London, Paris, Dublin, Berlin, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Singapore. Regional offices collaborate with local counsel and international institutions such as the European Central Bank, Bank of England, and national ministries in jurisdictions including France, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The global platform supports cross-border transactions involving multinationals headquartered with ties to China Investment Corporation, Temasek Holdings, and major asset managers like BlackRock and Vanguard. The firm's office openings and strategic hires have followed market shifts such as the expansion of the European Union single market and the liberalization of financial services in Asia-Pacific jurisdictions.

Leadership and organization

The firm is led by an executive leadership team including a chair and chief executive roles, practice group chairs, and regional managing partners who coordinate with committees focused on finance, litigation, and international operations. Leadership appointments have included partners with prior experience at institutions such as the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, California Public Utilities Commission, and corporate general counsel roles at technology and energy companies like Cisco Systems and Chevron. The firm's governance structure uses partnership agreements, management committees, and compensation committees similar to other global firms with comparisons to institutions like Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Latham & Watkins, and Baker McKenzie.

Pro bono, diversity, and corporate responsibility

The firm maintains pro bono programs collaborating with nonprofits and public-interest organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union, Legal Aid Society, and advocacy groups focused on civil rights and immigrant rights. Diversity initiatives include recruiting and retention efforts aimed at increasing representation from affinity organizations like the National Association for Law Placement, the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, and law school chapters at institutions such as Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Corporate responsibility work aligns with environmental, social, and governance standards promoted by investors like CalPERS, regulatory frameworks from the European Commission sustainable finance agenda, and reporting practices influenced by frameworks such as the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.

Category:Law firms based in California