Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe‘s merger control team is increasingly sought out for complex, high-profile transactions in the technology and life sciences sectors, particularly where fast-moving innovation and AI-related investments attract heightened regulatory scrutiny. The practice is jointly steered by Amy Ray in Washington DC, and Eric Hochstadt in New York. Ray advises on complex merger reviews and competition investigations, drawing on deep agency-facing experience to guide clients through high-stakes regulatory scrutiny, while Hochstadt stands out for his work assisting clients in the tech, life sciences and financial services sectors. DC-based Craig Falls advises on complex merger clearances and contested reviews, with experience defending transactions before antitrust enforcers across the life sciences, technology and energy sectors.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Key clients
- Microsoft Corporation
- SAP SE
- HPS Investment Partners
- Weights & Biases
- Protect AI
- Ipsen Pharma
- Toyota
- Workday Inc.
- K5 Global
Work highlights
Advised SAP SE in its $1.5 billion acquisition of WalkMe – the largest cross-border acquisition of an AI company in 2024 and that closed in 2025.
Advised a leading innovator in enterprise resource planning software in its acquisitions of multiple agentic AI companies.
Advised SGS & Co and HPS Investment Partners on the acquisition of Matthews International Corporation’s SGK Brand Solutions business and the formation of a new entity incorporating SGS and SGK, with an enterprise value of approximately US$900 million.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Amy Ray; Eric Hochstadt
Other key lawyers
Craig Falls