"U.S. Trial Firm of the Year" – 3 Consecutive Years (Benchmark; Law360)

Rayburn and Foran Elevated to Partner

Partner Announcement - Christy Rayburn and Pad Foran

Hueston Hennigan is pleased to announce that Christina Von der Ahe Rayburn and Padraic Foran have been elevated to partner.

“Christy and Pad are trial lawyers who are already trusted by many clients for their sage advice,” said managing partner Brian Hennigan. “We are extremely excited to have them join the partnership, and we look forward to the continued contributions of our colleagues and friends.”

Christina Von der Ahe Rayburn
Ms. Rayburn litigates high-profile, high-stakes technology disputes for companies of all sizes, including Monster Energy, Amazon.com, BlackBerry, ClearOne, and Acorn Technologies. Described by clients as “a fierce advocate” and “intensely brilliant at understanding the detail and complexity of the subject matter, while retaining a clear view of the big issues and its impact on strategy,” she has a depth of experience in patent, copyright, and trade secret litigation at every stage. As a member of the patent bar and as a Stanford-trained mechanical engineer, Ms. Rayburn is quick to understand the technology at issue in her clients’ matters.

Ms. Rayburn is a force in the courtroom, as evidenced by her recent performance at a patent trial that resulted in a $25 million verdict for Acorn Technologies against Samsung. In addition, as co-lead counsel for ClearOne, she won a finding of contempt against a large multinational competitor’s marketing of a competing product against the terms of a preliminary injunction and defended that contempt finding in the Federal Circuit’s first live argument after the pandemic. Also on behalf of ClearOne, and against the same large competitor, she has defeated requests for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction based on alleged patent infringement.

Ms. Rayburn is a founding member of the Howard T. Markey Intellectual Property Inn of Court in Orange County, and has served that organization as its secretary, membership chair, and programs chair and as a member of the board. Ms. Rayburn serves as a member of the Steering Committee for the ABA Death Penalty Representation Project.

Ms. Rayburn clerked for the Honorable Andrew J. Guilford for the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. She earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School, cum laude. She earned her undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and political science from Stanford University with distinction.

Ms. Rayburn has been recognized as a rising star on the “40 & Under Hot List” by Benchmark Litigation and has repeatedly been named to the Southern California Rising Stars list.

Padraic Foran
Mr. Foran is a creative and forceful litigator focusing on complex civil litigation and trials—primarily fraud, trade secret, and professional liability matters—in California and across the country.

Mr. Foran has guided a wide variety of clients—from Qualcomm to SpaceX, Tesla, Willis Towers Watson, and GlaxoSmithKline—through sensitive, high-stakes litigation. He also advises corporate officers and directors in a broad range of industries, such as telecommunications, real estate, and financial services, on their most important and urgent matters.

With experience managing the litigation process from pleadings to verdict to appeal, Mr. Foran brings an abundance of courtroom experience and insight to every case. Working closely with clients, he develops innovative approaches and case strategies designed to achieve clearly articulated goals. He streamlines complex fact and expert discovery, avoids unnecessary disputes, and focuses on what matters: favorable resolution.

Mr. Foran is currently in trial representing Endo Pharmaceuticals in the most significant litigation in its history: lawsuits brought by various California jurisdictions related to the sale of opioid pharmaceutical products. Four plaintiff jurisdictions (Orange County, Los Angeles County, Santa Clara County, and Oakland City) brought claims on behalf of the people of the state of California for public nuisance, unfair competition, and false advertising.

Mr. Foran served as a law clerk to the Honorable Jerome Farris, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He earned his J.D. from USC Gould School of Law, Order of the Coif, and his undergraduate degree in English from the University of Southern California, magna cum laude.

Mr. Foran has been repeatedly named to the Southern California Rising Stars list and most recently to the Southern California Super Lawyers list.