What Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe does

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a global law firm founded in 1863 and headquartered in San Francisco, operating as a limited liability partnership across four sector verticals: Technology & Innovation, Energy & Infrastructure, Finance, and Life Sciences & HealthTech. The firm maintains 20+ offices spanning North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, employing between 1,001 and 5,000 people globally. Its client portfolio includes nearly 5,000 high-growth technology companies, 100+ unicorns, 13 of the 25 largest public technology companies, 12 of the 20 largest US biopharma companies by market cap, and major Wall Street institutions. PitchBook ranks Orrick #1 in Europe for venture capital deal volume for ten consecutive years and Top 5 globally since 2018.

The firm's core offerings span transactional, regulatory, and litigation services, delivered through dedicated groups including the 150+-lawyer Technology Companies Group, the AI Law Center, the Online Safety Law Center, the Orrick Tech Studio, and Tariff Watch. Technology infrastructure includes the proprietary Observatory (a tracker of 1,000+ legal tech tools), the PII predictive analytics solution achieving 40% attorney-time reduction and 60% faster delivery, and adoption of Intapp's Open business acceptance suite and Alta Claro's DepoSim AI deposition simulator. The firm has been recognized by the Financial Times as a Top 10 Most Innovative Law Firm globally for 20 consecutive years, ranking #6 in 2025, and advised on over $157 billion in venture financings through nearly 3,000 transactions from 2023-2025. Recent notable transactions include representing Anthropic on its record $65 billion Series H financing and advising on $32 billion+ in AI venture financings with 55 M&A transactions over a 15-month period.

Orrick generates revenue through professional services billing using hourly, fixed-fee, success-fee, and hybrid arrangements depending on matter type and client complexity. The firm serves enterprise clients primarily through relationship-based, partner-led engagements, with sector-focused teams spanning the corporate lifecycle from startup formation through exit. Distribution combines direct relationship sales with content marketing (insights, podcasts, webinars), event sponsorship, and accelerator partnerships (Y Combinator, Atomico, Founder Institute, Gutter Capital). Strategic capital deployment includes investments in legal tech and AI ecosystem players — The LegalTech Fund II ($110M) and Sigma360 ($17.3M) — positioning the firm as both customer and investor in the next-generation legal tooling stack.

Name

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe

Legal name

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Website

https://orrick.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1863

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe is a global law firm serving technology, energy & infrastructure, finance, and life sciences sectors via 20+ offices across the US, Europe, and Asia. It represents nearly 5,000 tech companies, 100+ unicorns, and major financial institutions, with leading venture capital and M&A expertise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111), Offices of Lawyers (541110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs) (BPAHAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Capital Markets Advisory (IPO Readiness, SPAC, ECM/DCM Advisory) (BPAHAOAL), Structured Finance Legal, Trustee & Administration (FSACACAJ)

Keywords

• Corporate legal services
• Venture capital law
• Technology law advisory
• Energy infrastructure law
• Litigation dispute resolution

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices27 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Transactional: Full-service law firm providing transactional legal services including M&A, venture capital financing, private equity, capital markets, and corporate transactions. Revenue derived from hourly billing, fixed fees, and success fees depending on matter type.
2. Legal Services - Litigation: High-stakes litigation and dispute resolution including Supreme Court and appellate work, international arbitration, commercial litigation, and white collar matters. Clients include Fortune 100, Wall Street institutions, and major technology companies.
3. Regulatory and Advisory Services: Strategic advisory services including regulatory compliance, government enforcement defense, cybersecurity, and data privacy advisory across technology, finance, energy, and life sciences sectors.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe is a global law firm providing transactional, litigation, regulatory, and advisory legal services to clients in technology, energy and infrastructure, finance, and life sciences sectors. The firm delivers services through 20+ offices across the US, UK, continental Europe, and Asia, with sector-focused teams handling venture financings, M&A, capital markets, structured finance, energy project development, international arbitration, and strategic advisory. Revenue is generated through hourly billing, fixed fees, success fees, and hybrid arrangements tied to specific client matters.

Product overview

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe is a global law firm organized around four key sectors: Technology & Innovation, Energy & Infrastructure, Finance, and Life Sciences & HealthTech. The firm's technology offering centers on its Technology Companies Group (150+ lawyers serving nearly 5,000 tech clients including 100+ unicorns), supported by specialized resource hubs including the Orrick Tech Studio, AI Law Center, Online Safety Law Center, and Tariff Watch. The firm provides tools such as the European Startup Health Check and Series A Ready hub for startup clients, while The Observatory tracks over 1,000 legal tech tools. Advisory capabilities are complemented by the RegFi Podcast series and Life Sciences VC Quarterly Report publications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Technology Companies Group Global team of 150+ lawyers dedicated to serving technology companies at all stages, handling venture capital financings, M&A, corporate matters, IP protection, and regulatory compliance for nearly 5,000 high-growth tech companies including 100+ unicorns.
• Energy & Infrastructure Practice Legal services across the full project lifecycle for utilities, global investors, developers, asset managers, and major corporates in offshore wind, solar, LNG, power, petrochemical, energy transition, battery storage, and PPP transport projects.
• Finance Practice Legal services for Wall Street institutions, funds, and fintech companies covering CLO structuring, ABS, CMBS, esoteric securitizations, private credit, fund finance, and cross-border lending, with one of the largest alternative credit practices in the US and 20+ private credit fund clients.
• Life Sciences & HealthTech Practice Legal services for life sciences, biopharma, healthtech, medical device, digital health, and healthcare innovation providers, including 12 of the 20 largest biopharma companies by US market cap and 350+ venture-backed life sciences companies.
• Litigation & IP Practice High-stakes litigation and dispute resolution including Supreme Court and appellate work, international arbitration, commercial litigation, intellectual property litigation, and white collar matters.
• Strategic Advisory & Government Enforcement (SAGE) Strategic advisory services including regulatory compliance, government enforcement defense, cybersecurity, and data privacy advisory across technology, finance, energy, and life sciences sectors.
• AI Law Practice Dedicated AI Law Center and practice advising on AI-related venture financing, regulation, and commercial matters, having advised on over $32 billion in AI venture financing and 55 M&A transactions in a 15-month period for clients including Anthropic, Microsoft, SAP, and Mistral AI.
• International Arbitration Practice Global international arbitration practice recognized by Global Arbitration Review as a top 30 firm, representing businesses, sovereign states, and nation states in complex cross-border disputes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% reduction in attorney time through PII predictive analytics solution
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ABIONYX PharmaminorOthers · 18 June 2026ABIONYX Pharma is mentioned in context of news about financing - Orrick is not identified as their legal advisor in this source
• Gutter CapitalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 June 2026Orrick is a sponsor of the Elbow Grease accelerator run by Gutter Capital, which closed Fund III at $75 million. The 10-week accelerator in New York City supports up to 15 teams with $300,000 initial investments each. Orrick sponsors the program alongside Mercury.
• ODEV.techminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 April 2026ODEV.tech is listed alongside Orrick as local partners supporting the Founder Institute's Germany Fall 2026 startup accelerator program.
• Alta ClarocoreTechnology or Integration · 25 March 2026Orrick has partnered with and invested in Alta Claro for simulation-based training. Orrick participated in the five-week beta pilot of DepoSim, an AI-powered deposition simulator, with 97% of participants strongly agreeing the tool is valuable for litigation training. DepoSim uses text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and large language models to create realistic simulations.
• IntappcoreTechnology or Integration · 10 March 2026Orrick is implementing the complete Intapp Open business acceptance suite, the first Intapp product that can be deployed on premises or in the cloud. The system aims to reduce risk, save time, and improve efficiency through searchable terms databases, automated notifications, and law firm workflow integration.
• Founder InstituteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 January 2026Orrick is listed as a local partner supporting the Founder Institute's Germany Fall 2026 startup accelerator program. The program offers entrepreneurs structured process and lifetime support from Germany's top investors and entrepreneurs, featuring FI Core accelerator and access to Founder Lab accelerators.
• AtomicocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025Orrick partners with Atomico on the annual State of European Tech report, a flagship publication capturing pivotal moments for Europe's innovation economy. The partnership positions Orrick as thought leader in European tech ecosystem, with Orrick providing insights on Europe's 4.6 million people employed in venture-backed companies and $44 billion projected venture investment in 2025.
• Inc. MagazineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 November 2025Orrick was featured in Inc.'s 2025 Power Partners in Legal Services, profiling 24 law firms recognized as recommended partners for entrepreneurs. This is a curated branding feature rather than a formal partnership.
• Y CombinatorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2025Orrick has developed special technology solutions to provide efficient legal services for Y Combinator and other startup companies. The firm has deep relationships with major accelerators and startup ecosystems globally.
• DentonsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2025Orrick and Dentons are highlighted as major law firms supporting LegalTech startups through incubators and innovation labs, with both firms investing in legal technology innovation.
• Allen & OveryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2025Allen & Overy is mentioned alongside Orrick as major law firms supporting LegalTech startups through incubators and innovation labs.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati: Premier West Coast-founded tech and life sciences law firm and longstanding #1 in US venture capital law. Directly competes with Orrick in representing tech companies, VCs, and growth-stage unicorns in financings, M&A, and IPOs.
• Cooley LLP: Major technology and life sciences-focused law firm with leading venture capital and emerging companies practice. Directly competes with Orrick in startup financings, public offerings, and tech M&A across the US and Europe.
• Goodwin Procter LLP: Full-service firm with deep technology, life sciences, and private equity practices that overlap with Orrick's sector specializations. Regularly competes for VC financings, growth equity deals, and tech M&A mandates.
• Fenwick & West LLP: West Coast technology-focused law firm with leading venture capital and startup practice. Directly competes with Orrick in Silicon Valley venture financings and tech company M&A.

Broad incumbents

• Latham & Watkins LLP: Global AmLaw leader with broad corporate, M&A, capital markets, and energy practices. Overlaps with Orrick in tech M&A, VC financing, and energy/infrastructure work as one of the world's largest law firms.
• Kirkland & Ellis LLP: Dominant global law firm in private equity and M&A. Overlaps with Orrick in private equity transactions, M&A, and structured finance but is far larger by revenue and headcount.
• Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP: Major global law firm with leading M&A, capital markets, and corporate practices. Competes with Orrick in tech M&A, IPO readiness, and corporate governance advisory.
• Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP: Premier Wall Street law firm with leading capital markets, M&A, and finance practices. Competes with Orrick in high-end IPO advisory, SEC matters, and structured finance for major tech issuers and banks.
• Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP: Elite New York-based international law firm with leading M&A, capital markets, and regulatory practices. Competes with Orrick in cross-border M&A, international arbitration, and financial regulation.
• Allen & Overy Shearman Sterling: Global magic circle firm with leading capital markets, finance, and energy practices. Competes with Orrick in structured finance (CLOs), energy project finance, and cross-border transactions; both firms also support LegalTech ecosystems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Orrick
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@orricklawfirm
• Facebookfacebook.com/Orrick
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/5833
• Instagraminstagram.com/orrickcareers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments6 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe