2019 Partner Class Bolsters Pillsbury’s Strengths Across Broad Spectrum of Practices and Industries

“This accomplished group demonstrates a breadth of experience and skill that helps further strengthen Pillsbury in areas where we are a market leader and supports our growth strategy, all in service of our clients’ needs,” said Firm Chair Dave Dekker. “They have achieved this milestone through hard work and determination, and we are pleased to welcome them to the partnership.”

These partners have guided complex transactions in the technology and aviation industries; steered nuclear energy projects through transactional, regulatory and compliance issues; and won high-stakes disputes involving, among other things, insurance coverage, government contracts, tax assessments and intellectual property. The members of Pillsbury’s 2019 partner class are:

Gurpreet Bal (Corporate & Securities-Technology, Silicon Valley) Bal advises technology companies on a wide array of corporate matters in all stages of their business life cycle, including formation, governance and capital raises in private and public markets, as well as day-to-day legal challenges. His clients include innovative companies in AI, semiconductors, biotech, software and consumer tech. He also leads deal teams in M&A transactions, representing private and public companies in mergers, asset purchases, cross-border transactions and other strategic transactions. Since 2010, Bal has closed more than a forty such transactions, with an aggregate deal value of well over $10 billion.

Steven Farmer (Global Sourcing & Technology Transactions, London) Farmer advises clients on the legal and compliance issues of doing business in and out of Europe, with a primary focus on the technology industry. His capabilities span data privacy, international trade, intellectual property and corporate advice. He is a certified information privacy specialist for Europe and was recognized by Global Data Review as one of the world’s 40 leading data lawyers under 40.  He was also recognized by Legal 500 UK in Brand Management as a “Next Generation Lawyer” and by World Export Control Review for international trade work.

William Fork (Energy, Washington, DC) Fork represents clients on international energy transactions, export control, nuclear liability and U.S. regulatory issues. He has played lead roles in high-profile nuclear industry transactions and regularly advises on the development of nuclear programs for countries around the world. He was recently elected to the International Nuclear Law Association’s board of directors.

Alexander Ginsberg (Government Contracts & Disputes, Northern Virginia) Ginsberg counsels clients in all areas of government contract law, including bid protests, contract disputes, enforcement defense, small business issues, cost accounting, compliance efforts and mergers and acquisitions involving government contractors. He has successfully represented clients in government contract litigation before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the Boards of Contract Appeals and the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Ginsberg leads Pillsbury’s Government Contracts Bid Protest Team and is a recipient of the American Bar Association’s Military Pro Bono Project Outstanding Services Award.

Matthew Jeweler (Litigation, Washington, DC) Jeweler’s practice focuses on representing companies in complex insurance coverage disputes against their insurers. He is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Insurance Recovery & Advisory groups and has represented clients in a broad range of industries, including energy, financial services, technology, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, construction and healthcare. He represents clients through all phases of the insurance claims process, from initial claim presentation to insurers through litigation and trial. Currently he represents a leading utility in litigation against more than 25 insurers regarding insurance coverage for environmental liability relating to coal ash at 15 power plants. Super Lawyers has recognized him as a Rising Star in Insurance Coverage every year since 2014. He earned his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2008.

Melissa Jones-Prus (Finance, New York) Jones-Prus’ practice centers on asset finance, focusing on the financing, leasing and trading of aircraft and other aviation-related assets. She represents lenders, underwriters, lessors, asset managers and airlines in connection with all forms of transportation asset-backed financings, operating leases, and capital markets offerings. Jones-Prus has been named a Rising Star by Airfinance Journal.

Aryeh Kaplan (Litigation, Miami) Aryeh is an experienced trial lawyer and has served as counsel in more than 30 jury trials, ranging from prosecuting large consumer class action lawsuits to defending Fortune 100 companies. His clients include real estate developers, ventures in the growing medical cannabis industry, and companies in the hemp industry. He is a former state prosecutor and was a recipient of the William M. Pomerantz Trial Advocacy Prize.

Jessica Lutrin (Executive Compensation & Benefits, New York) Lutrin has broad executive compensation and benefits experience spanning transactional, counseling and advisory matters. She advises on issues arising in qualified retirement, global equity and deferred compensation plans under the Internal Revenue Code, ERISA and the Securities Act of 1933. Lutrin also regularly provides counsel on the executive compensation and benefits aspects of corporate transactions as well as federal securities law and stock exchange requirements related to executive compensation arrangements. She has been selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and has been recognized as a top employee benefits lawyer by the publication for three straight years.

Brian Nash (Intellectual Property, Austin) Nash is a trial lawyer and registered patent attorney whose cases involve a wide range of technologies. He has appeared in district courts nationwide, before the International Trade Commission and in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office proceedings and also advises on IP portfolios and licensing. Nash is recognized as a Rising Star by Managing Intellectual Property, is a past president of the Austin Intellectual Property Law Association and is currently president of the Austin Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Meighan O’Reardon (Global Sourcing & Technology Transactions, Washington, DC) O’Reardon is a technology and data privacy lawyer focused on structuring, negotiating and managing complex services transactions. She advises clients across multiple industries including Fortune 500 corporations, financial institutions and large healthcare organizations. O’Reardon’s practice also involves counseling clients of all sizes on data privacy and protection issues. She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional through the International Association of Privacy Professionals and is recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. and by Chambers USA as a leading lawyer in her field.

Breann Robowski (Tax, Silicon Valley) Robowski handles state and local tax controversy work with an emphasis on property tax and transfer tax. She has resolved property tax appeals in nearly all of California’s 58 counties, including a recent multimillion-dollar settlement in Los Angeles County and San Francisco County. She has substantial experience with taxation of personal property and real property and is particularly adept at resolving issues of taxation of property owned by technology companies.

Craig Saperstein (Public Policy, Washington, DC) Saperstein assists clients in developing and implementing sophisticated government relations strategies at the federal and state levels. He lobbies on behalf of corporate, nonprofit, foreign sovereign and public-sector clients before Congress, the Executive Branch, and state legislatures on a wide variety of policy issues, including financial services, cybersecurity, labor, international relations and congressional investigations. He also leads Pillsbury’s state government relations practice, serving as a political and policy strategist for clients affected by state legislation, regulation or enforcement activity. He is recognized in Chambers USA and is a lead member of the team that received the LEAP for Justice Award from the Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project for efforts that led to passage of legislation in Congress to protect victims of domestic violence.

Ngai Zhang (Intellectual Property, Northern Virginia) Zhang advises clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies on intellectual property, internet and technology law, including patents, trademarks, open source, technology transactions, user agreements, and contests and sweepstakes. He has a keen understanding of diverse areas of technology and how they interface with intellectual property and has developed a reputation for creative strategies to overcome patent ineligibility challenges. He is a board member for the Asian Pacific American Bar Association for the Greater Washington, DC area and has been recognized in Chambers USA.