Identifying, Developing & Retaining Minority Talent

Andr? represents private and public clients, including owners, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers, regarding all aspects of construction law. Andr?'s practice includes bidding and protest issues, as well as government contract law, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation and its supplements. His work encompasses drafting and negotiating contracts, counseling clients as issues arise during projects, and the litigation, arbitration and mediation of disputes.

Previously, Andr? served as a Major in the United States Air Force. As a contracting officer he drafted, negotiated, reviewed and awarded complex, multi-million-dollar contracts for research and development and space hardware.

Andr? has been a speaker on construction law topics for the Associated General Contractors of California, Lorman Education Services, and Continuing Education of the Bar.

As an experienced litigator now serving as Nixon Peabody’s firmwide Diversity & Inclusion Manager, Rekha brings her career-spanning passion for diversity and inclusion in the legal profession to oversee the firm’s diversity initiatives. She develops trainings and other programming featuring inspiring thought leaders, and works with the firm’s practice groups and recruiting, professional development and business development teams to ensure that diversity and inclusion are woven into all aspects of the firm.

Additionally, Rekha frequently assists firm clients with the development of their own diversity and inclusion programming, trainings and related initiatives.

Rekha is an attorney who practiced litigation for almost 10 years. During this time, she was very active in various minority bar associations, advocating for greater diversity and inclusion in the profession. Prior to joining Nixon Peabody, Rekha was the Assistant Director of the Office of Career Services at the University of California—Los Angeles School of Law. In that role she worked closely with employers and various bar associations to implement programming and initiatives for diverse law students and graduates.

Rekha is also active in various diversity-related bar organizations. She currently serves as the Vice President of Sponsorship and Development for the South Asian Bar Association of North America.

Joshua, Managing Member of the firm’s LA office, is a highly experienced trial lawyer with a national practice. He has received awards and national recognition for his innovative approach to the defense of bet-the-company class actions. He has served as lead defense counsel on over 200 alleged class actions in state and federal courts across the country.

Betty Chen, a Principal in the Silicon Valley and Austin offices of Fish & Richardson, is the firm’s Global Hiring Principal and has an expansive litigation practice that spans all areas of intellectual property litigation and complex commercial litigation. Ms. Chen has successfully tried and managed matters through all phases of litigation in a variety of forums, including federal district courts, state courts, the International Trade Commission, and arbitration. She has substantial experience in patent litigation involving a myriad of technologies, particularly in the fields of computer software, computer hardware, medical devices, and consumer products. Ms. Chen has also successfully represented clients in trademark, copyright, licensing, trade secrets, contracts, and employment disputes. Recently, Ms. Chen was recognized by the Silicon Valley Business Journal as a 2017 “Women of Influence” and distinguished as a “Top 40 Under 40” in 2016. Ms. Chen also won the 2017 “Women Worth Watching in STEM” Award presented by Profiles in Diversity Journal.

Ms. Chen’s courtroom work includes conducting witness examinations at trial as well as arguing disputed motions at pre-trial hearings. Ms. Chen has also handled pre-suit investigations, managed complex discovery, defended and taken numerous depositions, including expert depositions, drafted appellate briefs and assisted her clients in managing post grant proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board.

Ms. Chen is also committed to giving back to the legal community by increasing diversity within the profession. She is on the Board of Directors of the Bay Area non-profit organization, Asian Law Alliance. She also co-leads the office’s Women’s Initiative Program, serves on the firm’s Diversity Committee, and is Fish’s 2016 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow. Furthermore, Ms. Chen serves as a Group Leader for litigation associates in Fish’s Silicon Valley office and provides mentorship and guidance to junior attorneys through that role.

Previously, Ms. Chen was a law clerk to the Honorable Ron Clark, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and a judicial intern for the Honorable William Wayne Justice, United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. Ms. Chen is part of the planning committee for the Eastern District of Texas Bench and Bar Conference. During law school, Ms. Chen obtained the Best Brief award for the Moot Court Competition, was a Judging Director on the Board of Advocates, and received a Texas Law Fellowship. Ms. Chen has also worked in the legal department at Devon Energy.