Benjamin Cichostepski
OrrickThe practice group at Orrick is regularly instructed by investors and startups alike to act on cross-border and domestic equity financing transactions involving the tech, biotech and fintech sectors. The practice is jointly directed by Benjamin Cichostepski, who splits his time between Paris and San Francisco; and Olivier Vuillod. Both are well-versed in assisting tech companies throughout their lifecycle, namely with fundraising, external growth, industrial exits and public offerings. A recent standout matter saw the team advise Bpifrance on its investment in the $126m Series A financing of Poolside, a France-based company that developed an artificial intelligence platform.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The Orrick team stands out for being a particularly dynamic team, with a spirit of innovation and in-depth expertise in structuring venture capital funds and direct investments in startups. What makes them unique is their ability to anticipate the specific needs of clients while offering creative solutions.'
'The team is proactive, responsive, and very available. Their collaborative approach and effective use of technology make them a trusted partner in a highly competitive sector.'
'Their diversity and openness to new practices, both in terms of billing and collaboration, are major assets that differentiate them on the market.'
‘Within the team, Olivier Vuillod, Manon Speich and Léa Fiorenza stand out in particular for their professionalism and expertise. Olivier brings a high-level strategic vision and a deep understanding of complex issues. Manon is extremely rigorous, always attentive, and demonstrates a great ability to adapt to legal issues. Léa, for her part, excels in her responsiveness and attention to detail, ensuring that everything is executed with precision.'
‘The team is very available and dedicated to its clients and has very good technical skills in different areas of business law. The team is made up of lawyers from different backgrounds and stands out from other competing teams precisely because of its diversity.'
Key clients
- Aledia
- Amo
- Cathay Capital Private Equity
- Crescent Cove
- EDF Pulse Holding
- Fabric Ventures Group
- FlexAI
- Ganymed Robotics
- Janngo Capital Partners
- May Health
- Mistral AI
- Orthopus
- Open CNP
- Pasqal
- Play Ventures Pte
- Permutation / Dust
- Renaissance Fusion
- Sequoia Capital Operations
- SESAMm
- SiPearl
- TILT Capital
- UPFRONT VI LP
- Yescapa
Lawyers
Leading partners
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Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Benjamin Cichostepski, Olivier Vuillod