McDermott Will & Emery LLP > San Francisco, United States > Firm Profile

McDermott Will & Emery LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Healthcare > Health insurers Tier 1

Primarily based in Washington DC, McDermott Will & Emery LLP‘s team handles the full gamut of issues relating to ERISA class actions and M&A for primary care companies, health insurers, and pharmacy benefits managers. Practice head Jerry Sokol works out of the Florida office, and is known for his expansive knowledge of healthcare-related private equity transactions, and Chicago’s Lisa Mazur is a digital health specialist who focuses on professional licensure and reimbursement. Regulatory expert Jeremy Earl often assists insurers with matters governed by the Affordable Care Act, and the interaction between federal standards and state laws regarding insurance, while Kate McDonald is recommended for her expertise in Medicare Advantage, Part D, and managed care matters. Caroline Reignley often handles government investigations and cases relating to the FCA. Anisa Mohanty left the firm in February 2024.

Healthcare > Life sciences Tier 1

One client suggests that McDermott Will & Emery LLP fields ‘best trial team in the patent litigation space,’ and the practice is sought after by clients seeking both to protect their novel drugs and enforce them in the face of infringements. Beyond this, the firm is able to provide support across myriad matters, including stock and asset deals, M&As and partnerships in the industry. Jointly leading the team alongside her are Douglas Carsten, an Orange County-based specialist in life sciences patent disputes who helps clients protect pharmaceuticals, biologics and medical devices, and Silicon Valley’s William Gaede, a fellow patent litigator who specializes in antibodies, proteins and small molecules. Also in Silicon Valley, Bhanu Sadasivan litigates patent disputes concerning recombinant DNA technology. Vernessa Pollard and Anisa Mohanty departed the firm in February 2024.

Healthcare > Service providers Tier 1

Predominantly based in Illinois, the broad team at McDermott Will & Emery LLP handles the full spectrum of matters within the healthcare industry, notably including women’s healthcare delivery models, and the expansion of telehealth businesses. Jerry Sokol leads the team from Florida and is known for his vast expertise in healthcare-related private equity transactions, with a strong focus on ambulatory surgery centers, while Gary Scott Davis maintains a managed care-focused practice, routinely advising on reorganizations and joint ventures. Noted for her longstanding expertise, Bernadette Broccolo stands out for her knowledge of healthcare delivery from a privacy perspective, and Monica Wallace is particularly adept at handling fraud and abuse issues, and reimbursement and billing matters. Sandra DiVarco routinely advises healthcare facilities and health systems on the full gamut of transactional issues, in addition to handling Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) investigations. Gregory Fosheim utilizes his scientific background to advise on outbreak responses and emergency preparedness, in addition to assisting with licensing and accreditation matters, while Boston’s Christopher Jedrey handles transactional issues for both nonprofit and for-profit providers, and faculty practice plan structures for academic medical centers. Kerrin Slattery regularly assists clients with major transactions, with a niche focus on the interplay between corporate and Canon legislation, and Jiayan Chen is a key name for privacy compliance and data transactions within the healthcare and life sciences spaces in Washington DC.

Media, technology and telecoms > Outsourcing Tier 1

Acting for domestic and international clients alike, the growing outsourcing team at McDermott Will & Emery LLP counts service providers as well as domestic and international buy-side corporations amongst its key roster of clients. The firm handles sophisticated outsourcing projects involving AI technology and blockchain-powered projects, and has illustrated niche expertise in advising healthcare providers on revenue cycle management outsourcings. The team is jointly led by Shawn Helms, who has a strategic focus on complex ITO, BPO, and cloud computing arrangements, and Jason Krieser, who is a key contact for tech development, SaaS, and licensing matters. Industry veteran David Guedry has a depth of experience in managing complex IT outsourcing agreements for leading tech providers, while Heather Bethancourt assists healthcare providers with a wide range of transactions. Caitlin Howe’s scope of work includes cloud computing, e-commerce arrangements and service agreements, while Raja Chatterjee focuses on domestic and cross-border commercial transactions. The department is further strengthened by the recent arrival of Los Angeles-based Matthew King, who frequently negotiates IP and IT transition services agreements, from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Unless otherwise stated, all individuals are based in Dallas.

Tax > US taxes: contentious Tier 1

McDermott Will & Emery LLP fields a large team active nationwide in the full range of contentious tax issues, including audits, appeals, and litigation. Digital tax matters are a key area of expertise for the team, which acts on behalf of numerous prominent companies with interests in this sector. The group is led by Catherine Battin, a Chicago-based SALT expert with a strong record in tax disputes at all levels. Senior partner Jane Wells May, who is a former team lead, is also active in the Chicago office. Other key names include Charles Moll in San Francisco, who is a SALT specialist with experience litigating before the US Supreme Court, Stephen Kranz, who works from Washington DC and is particularly active on behalf of tech companies, and the Boston-based Richard Call. The team saw significant growth over 2023 with the additions of Shawn O’Brien, who joined the Houston office from Mayer Brown, Edward Froelich, new to the DC team from Morrison Foerster, and New York-based lawyer Michael Scarduzio, formerly of Jones Day.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 1

McDermott Will & Emery LLP’s transactional tax practice, with offices in Chicago, Boston, California, Washington DC, Dallas, and Miami, offers broad expertise to blue-chip clients, focusing on the tax aspects of corporate restructurings and M&A. Timothy Shuman in Washington DC, advising on domestic and cross-border acquisitions, dispositions, and restructurings, leads the global group alongside Jane Wells May in Chicago, who focuses on state and local tax issues. Miami-based Steven Hadjilogiou specializes in tax optimization, while Brian Jenn in Chicago represents companies on tax-driven restructurings, foreign tax credits, and global tax policies, among other issues. San Francisco’s Dominika Korytek offers expertise in federal tax planning, especially to clients in the tech sector. John Lutz in New York is strong in the financial sector, regularly representing banks in connection with a wide range of matters, including municipal derivatives and tax-exempt bond securitizations. Damon Lyon in Chicago is well known for handling tax issues in cross-border restructurings. Lowell Yoder, also in Chicago, continues to leverage his considerable experience in cross-border transactions. DC’s David Noren is excellent in matters concerning subpart F rules, bilateral income tax treaties, and transfer pricing issues. Shawn O’Brien in Houston and Frank Jackson in New York joined the firm in October 2023 from Mayer Brown and Jones Day, respectively. Manuel Rajunov has left the firm.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort Tier 2

McDermott Will & Emery LLP remains a popular choice among energy, agrichemical and life sciences clients seeking representation in the defense of high-profile toxic tort/environmental claims. Many of these are in the form of large-scale aggregated litigation, with the firm able to amass cohesive multi-office teams working with clients on cases brought in federal and state courts throughout the country, including in traditionally-plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions. In this context, the firm is not only able to drive the overarching litigation strategy, frequently achieving notable victories at the motions stage, but also has the courtroom firepower to succeed in high-profile trial situations. A testament to the firm’s skill in the area is the longevity of its client relationships, with clients including ExxonMobil choosing the firm as national strategic and trial counsel in class action, mass tort, environmental and product liability cases litigated in state and federal courts throughout the country. New York-based litigator James Pardo has been at the forefront of this work, representing not only ExxonMobil but alongside Lisa Gerson, who is also based in New York, the entire petroleum industry in relation to their past use of MTBE in reformulated gasoline. Splitting his time between Washington DC and Miami, team head Anthony Upshaw is also a key member of the team and continues to try cases for Monsanto/Bayer in relation to alleged PCB contamination and on Roundup-related matters.  

Energy > Energy regulation: electric power Tier 2

McDermott Will & Emery LLP‘s energy regulation offering comprises transmission, interconnection, and reliability issues in addition to litigation and investigations by authorities such as FERC and CFTC. The firm also covers renewable energy generation and transactions within the power market. The Washington DC-based team is headed jointly by Neil Levy, who counts independent power producers, marketers, and merchant transmission developers among his clients, and David Tewksbury, who is particularly well versed in regulatory issues pertaining to rules for organized bid-based electricity markets. Operational, compliance, and regulatory matters are routinely handled by Stephanie Lim, while Bruce Richardson stands out for his expertise relating to cost-based ratemaking and reliability must-run. Robert Lamkin left the team in May 2024.

Energy > Renewable/alternative power Tier 2

McDermott Will & Emery LLP is often involved in some of the most significant renewables and alternative energy projects in the US, and stands out for its policy-related work in the industry. The Inflation Reduction Act and related tax equity investments have been a major source of recent work for the team, and clients include a wide variety of stakeholders in renewable energy. Co-chair of the practice group Philip Tingle is one of the go-to figures in the market for tax-related issues and has supported heavyweight clients on the IRA and related incentives, tax credits and technologies. Fellow chair Edward Zaelke is based in Washington DC and has vast experience with the full spectrum of alternative energy development and finance matters. Alongside him in Washington DC is Carl Fleming, a transactional lawyer and policy advisor, and Christopher Gladbach, who is well versed in energy industry M&A, project finance transactions, project development, and tax equity matters. Heather Cooper in Miami ‘can provide a quick high-level analysis‘ on the range of tax issues in the energy industry, and New York-based Joel Hugenberger and James Salerno both handle financing and development for solar and wind projects.

Intellectual property > Trademarks: non-contentious (including prosecution, portfolio management and licensing) Tier 2

Acting for a diverse consortium of clients across fintech, insurance, transport and pharma sectors, among others, McDermott Will & Emery LLP capitalizes on its deep bench strength across the North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific regions to manage and safeguard brands through strategic counselling and enforcement. The practice is jointly spearheaded by Chicago-based Christina Martini, who bolsters the practice with her expansive expertise across trademark, copyright, social media and domain name mandates, and Silicon Valley-based William Gaede, who deploys his vast experience in the medical industry to assist high-profile clients. Chicago’s Jennifer Mikulina contributes her wide-ranging expertise across trademark counselling, prosecution, licensing, and enforcement to the practice, while Orange County’s Sarah Bro operates for a plethora of clients across life sciences, fintech, media, real estate sectors. Other key figures include Robert Zelnick and Eleanor Atkins from Washington DC.

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design Tier 2

McDermott Will & Emery LLP has a well-regarded employee benefits and executive compensation practice that specializes in both plan design work, as well as offering support for complex corporate M&A transactions. In Boston, practice head Andrew Liazos is a key contact for numerous Fortune 500 companies. In December 2022, the Boston office was strengthened with the arrival of Alden Bianchi, who is a standout talent in designing health and welfare plans. Working from the Chicago office, Todd Solomon often represents clients regarding ERISA fiduciary issues and employee benefits issues. Also supporting the Chicago office, Jeffrey Holdvogt assists clients with ERISA fiduciary and plan investment matters. In Dallas, Allison Wilkerson excels in designing qualified retirement plans, including pension plans and 401(k)s. In September 2023, Kate Vera, an experienced practitioner in executive compensation issues in the context of bankruptcy, restructuring, and insolvency, joined the New York office.  

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional Tier 2

McDermott Will & Emery LLP boasts significant expertise in ESOPs, health and welfare benefits, and retirement plans, with a strong track record in the healthcare sector, as exemplified by its role advising Novant Health on the compensation and benefits elements of its new for-profit subsidiary. The practice, under Andrew Liazos’s leadership from Boston, assists private entities and compensation committees with ERISA fiduciary duties and compensation plan governance. In Dallas, the ‘brilliant’ Allison Wilkerson specializes in qualified retirement plans, including ESOPs, pension plans, and 401(k) schemes. In September 2023 the New York office was strengthened with the addition of Kate Vera from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, who advises private equity clients and their portfolio companies on executive employment contracts, incentive equity arrangements, and severance deals. Based in Chicago, Todd Solomon manages employee benefits matters in corporate deals, demonstrating extensive ERISA Title I expertise. Lisa Loesel, also in Chicago, provides advice to both private and public companies on the design and transition of employee benefits following M&A and divestitures. The team saw the departure of Judith Wethall and Erin Turley in January 2023.

Labor and employment > Immigration Tier 2

New York headquartered with a strong presence in the German market, McDermott Will & Emery LLP is a full-service corporate immigration practice well-placed to handle visa applications, executive transfers, I-9 compliance programs and government audits. The group also works closely with its private client practice to offer immigration advice to wealthy families and advises on immigration aspects arising from mergers and acquisitions. Strengthened by the considerable expertise of New York-based Joan-Elisse Carpentier, regarded by many as a leading figure in immigration and nationality law, leads the firm’s business immigration practice, supported by immigration-related disputes expert, Paul Hughes, who operates from Washington DC.  

Labor and employment > Workplace and employment counseling Tier 2

The McDermott Will & Emery LLP US employment practice has a strong focus on M&A and private equity, regularly advising significant corporate clients on the employment aspects of major deals. In Chicago, Michael Sheehan leads the practice, while Rachel Cowen has a track record of work on cases concerning gender and pay equity and sensitive internal investigations, among other employment matters. Meanwhile, in New York, Linsay Ditlow  has deep experience of employment matters relating to corporate restructurings workforce reductions. The Los Angeles team contains individuals including Maria Rodriguez and Yesenia Gallegos. Rodriguez focuses her practice on clients in the media, entertainment, and sports industries; while Gallegos recently led the team which advised CVS Health on its acquisition of Signify Health.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market ($500m-999m) Tier 2

Covering the full spectrum of M&A, joint ventures, and acquisition finance matters, the McDermott Will & Emery LLP team demonstrates strong cross-border capabilities in its advice to major pharmaceutical, beverage, and construction companies. Located in Miami, Harris Siskind, who is experienced with both corporate and private equity-backed transactions, co-heads the group with New York-based Todd Finger, who is noted for his expertise in leveraged buyout transactions and restructurings, and Miami lawyer Frederic Levenson, who focuses on private equity matters. Thomas Conaghan acts on behalf of tech and hospitality clients from both Washington DC and New York, while Chicago-based John Tamisiea and Ann Marie Brodarick focus on strategic investments and divestitures. From Boston, Brian Bunn advises early-stage companies on financing matters, and in Chicago, Heidi Steele concentrates on corporate securities affairs. In Dallas, Joanna Jung-Erh Lin handles multi-jurisdictional venture financings.

Tax > Financial products Tier 2

McDermott Will & Emery LLP advises on asset-backed structures, commercial paper programs, securitizations, credit default swaps, structured products, derivatives and tax-advantaged financings and is particularly active in the energy and insurance sectors. The team also advises investors and fintech and cryptocurrency companies on tax-efficient corporate structuring. The practice is headed by New York-based John Lutz and Washington DC-based Timothy Shuman. Lutz advises major banks on the taxation of sophisticated financial transactions and products such as municipal derivatives, tax-exempt bond securitizations and tax equity structures to fund renewable energy developments. Alongside his broad financial products practice, William Pomierski, who is located in Chicago, also has particular expertise in the derivatives space often advising on a wide range of commodities, along with interest rate, currency, credit default, equity and weather derivatives.

Tax > International tax Tier 2

McDermott Will & Emery LLP ‘excels in navigating complex global tax landscapes for multinational corporations’, supporting with M&A, private equity buyouts, and IPO transactions as well as handling complex transfer pricing matters and guiding clients through domestic and global tax policy developments. Practice head Timothy Shuman, who sits in the Washington DC office, has significant expertise handling corporate and international tax matters for acquisitions, dispositions, and restructurings. Also in Washington DC, Michael Wilder supports clients with a wide range of transactional tax matters and routinely represents clients seeking private letter rulings from the IRS and in audit and appeal matters and Caroline Ngo has a special focus on tax planning and structuring work for multinational corporations but regularly litigates in the US tax court. David Noren advises on outbound and inbound tax issues, with a focus on subpart F rules, bilateral income tax treaties, and transfer pricing. In Chicago, Jeffery Maydew advises on business taxation, particularly domestic and international tax planning for mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs and other major corporate transactions and Lowell Yoder assists with tax-beneficial planning for intangible holding companies, global supply chains and multi-jurisdictional service arrangements. New York-based John Lutz has a strong practice in the financial sector, advising major banks on the taxation of sophisticated financial transactions and products such as municipal derivatives, tax-exempt bond securitizations and tax equity structures to fund renewable energy developments. In San Francisco, Dominika Korytek is experienced in developing tax strategies for international expansion, domestic and international acquisitions, reorganizations and dispositions and post-acquisition restructurings. Miami-based Steven Hadjilogiou represents Fortune 500 companies and major privately held businesses in their tax planning and supply chain projects. Manuel Rajunov has left the firm.

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 3

McDermott Will & Emery LLP houses an ‘exceptional’ team, noted for its specialism in the healthcare and tech industries where it advises domestic and international names on merger clearances, government merger investigations and litigation. The team combines a solid deal flow from the firm’s active transactional practices with regular destination instructions for business-critical strategic deals. Raymond Jacobsen secures approvals for deals in a diverse range of sectors, including healthcare, life sciences and energy, while Stephen Wu, based in Chicago, focuses on antitrust litigation, advising clients on antitrust enforcement agencies investigations. The team has grown in 2023 with the addition of Elai Katz, formely of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, and Ryan Tisch, who joined from Crowell & Moring LLP. New York-based Katz is regularly involved in high-profile FTC and state regulatory matters, and Tisch advised on complex operational issues such as joint ventures, trade association activities and other competitor collaborations. Attorneys are based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)

Over the past year, McDermott Will & Emery LLP’s national appellate practice has had strong showings before the DC and Fourth Circuits, and also scored a win at the US Supreme Court. Department co-chair Paul Hughes secured the SCOTUS victory when he successfully represented an individual in seeking relief from deportation on account of her gender identity—he has now argued ten times before SCOTUS. Increasingly prominent appellate specialist Michael Kimberly co-chairs the group and has clocked up eight arguments before the US Supreme Court; he has carved a significant niche in advising on issues concerning the Medicare Act, among other matters. The Washington DC-based group also includes younger partners Andrew Lyonsberg and Sarah Hogarth, who provide specialist support on appellate matters.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 3

Praised as ‘top notch litigators’ with an ‘excellent level of professionalism’, the team of expert practitioners fielded by McDermott Will & Emery LLP is extremely well-versed in handling high value, complex litigation, particularly in connection with IP and class action matters across the technology and healthcare sectors. In the firm’s New York office, Seth Friedman and Joshua Simon are key contacts: Friedman predominantly counsels accountancy clients, while Simon focuses on disputes arising out of the healthcare, telecommunications, and financial services industries. The pair jointly lead the practice alongside Jon Dean in Los Angeles, Laura McLane in Boston, and Chicago’s Steven Scholes. New York's John Calandra has carved out a niche in space law and satellite technology in addition to handling energy and financial services matters.

Insurance > Advice to insurers Tier 3

With a consistent record of advising and representing clients in complex insurance matters, McDermott Will & Emery LLP demonstrates strength in handling diverse insurance and reinsurance disputes. These include cases related to bankruptcy appellate, insurance coverage, and inter-insurer contributions across various sectors such as sexual abuse claims, clergy abuse cases, precision manufacturing, and professional sports leagues. The practice, with the ability to handle both trial and appeal proceedings, securing first-chair trial and appellate victories for top names in the insurance sector, provides comprehensive expertise to industry stakeholders, emphasizing notable strength in healthcare sector. Serving as trusted advisors to significant clients like Allianz, Enstart, Marsh, and Nationwide, practice head Margaret Warner, based in Washington, brings deep experience to the table. Working alongside her in Washington, Ryan Smethurst, a litigation specialist, supports the practice across a broad spectrum of insurance litigation, from regulatory issues to high-profile class actions and ERISA disputes.

Insurance > Insurance: non-contentious Tier 3

McDermott Will & Emery LLP‘s insurance team brings seasoned expertise to transactional, regulatory, and dispute resolution matters. Supported by a cross-border team, it offers practical support to insurers, private equity investors, and holding companies, guiding them through sales, purchases, and mergers while navigating regulatory complexities. The team also specializes in insurtech, tackling challenges such as multi-state regulatory approvals, cybersecurity, social media, intellectual property, and big data ownership. Based in New York, Michael Halsband leads the practice, bringing deep experience covering a wide array of areas within the insurance industry, from insurance broker and carrier M&A to new company formation, capital raises, complex structured transactions, and insurance-linked securities. Supporting the practice from New York, Michael Byrne represents domestic and international clients in change of control transactions, licensing and structuring, product development, and regulatory approvals, while also being a recognized leader in the insurtech space. Additionally, Thomas Dawson serves as a trusted advisor on regulatory approvals and compliance matters, with a particular focus on ESG issues, further enhancing the team’s capabilities.  

Intellectual property > Patents: prosecution (including re-examination and post-grant proceedings) Tier 3

Global head of the IP practice group William Gaede who splits his time between Silicon Valley and San Franciso, and global head of the patent prosecution group and ‘well-recognized thought leader’ Ahsan Shaikh who splits his time between Silicon Valley and Chicago, oversee the practice at McDermott Will & Emery LLP. The team is highlighted for its ‘distinctive ability to focus on their client’s key value drivers’. The design and implementation of patent filing strategies and the management of portfolios forms a predominant portion of the team’s workload; it notably works on patent application drafting and examination strategies for Meta Platforms. Life sciences and tech are the focus areas for the group. Team changes include the departures of Michael Fogarty, Tokashi Saito, Tomoki Tanida, Jenny Chen, and Michael Siekman.

Labor and employment > ERISA litigation Tier 3

Working across several sectors, McDermott Will & Emery LLP possess key strengths in ERISA litigation, ESOPs, and DOL investigations and IRS audits. The team recently defended Tharanco Group and Genentech in a class action lawsuits alleging violation of ERISA fiduciary allegations. With a balanced advisory and litigation practice, the group is experienced in advising boards, executives and HR departments on the resilience of their ERISA plan audits.  Chicago-based Ted Becker leads the firm, skilled in both ERISA litigation and government investigations and audits, with Christian Nemeth, who splits his time between Chicago and Miami representing major clients such as Google, HEICO and Target. Joshua Simon specializes in litigation relating to the healthcare industry.

Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions) Tier 3

The ‘exceptional’ practice at McDermott Will & Emery LLP is equipped to handle the defense of class action, wage-and-hour, and single plaintiff actions, as well as dealing with executive compensation disputes, trade secrets litigation, and discrimination mandates. ‘Exceptional employment litigator’ Michael Sheehan steers the group from Chicago and garners client praise for his ‘incredibly practical and commercial advice’. Sheehan specializes in trade secrets litigation, and has additional experience defending companies against age, gender, and race discrimination claims, as well as wage-and-hour class actions. Also based in Chicago, Rachel Cowen majors on employment discrimination and wrongful termination cases. The department welcomed Jim Nicholas to the Boston office from Foley & Lardner LLP in April 2023.

Labor and employment > Labor-management relations Tier 3

Michael Sheehan in Chicago and Christopher Foster in San Francisco lead McDermott Will & Emery LLP‘s team. The group is an active in the technology, transportation, airline, retail, beverages, and entertainment industries and regularly advises regular advice and representation around the National Labor Relations Act. Rachel Cowen, who works out in the firm’s Chicago office, is a key name to note, and has carved a niche in the area of gender equality and pay equity. Elsewhere, the group sees restructurings, workforce management issues and an increase in M&A activity among its most recent workload.

Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) Tier 3

Combining a ‘collaborative spirit’, a ‘deep understanding of people‘, and ‘significant knowledge and experience in the healthcare data privacy area’, the global privacy and cybersecurity group at McDermott Will & Emery LLP acts in transactional, compliance-based and risk management matters for a range of global clients. Practice head Michael Morgan works out of California, and is noted for his experience advising on the legal issues arising out of advanced technologies. Washington DC-based Elliot Golding, ‘a brilliant attorney that always comes up with practical, actionable solutions’, also stands out for his work with emerging technologies, while DC colleague Jiayan Chen is praised for the ‘practical and commercial approach‘ she takes to healthcare technology matters. In Boston, Edward Zacharias is a go-to for healthcare industry clients.

Real estate > Real estate finance Tier 3

McDermott Will & Emery LLP has a sizeable nationwide team, with practice heads David Herman, Mal Serure, and David Wolff located across New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago respectively. The practice is active in financings, restructurings, workouts, joint ventures, construction projects and loans. The firm has diverse clientele ranging from buyers, sellers, borrowers, lenders to landlords and tenants. Wolff has advised a number of private equity sponsors, develops, capital providers, and REITs with commercial real estate transactions. Joining the firm from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, Herman is the go-to for real estate-related companies seeking assistance with M&A, acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, and other transactions.  Representing a range of real estate companies, REITs, and banks, Serure advises both lenders and borrowers on mortgage and mezzanine loan financing. Real estate finance specialists Jeffrey Steiner and Scott Weinberg are key names to note in the New York office. David Broderick left the firm in March 2024.

Antitrust > Cartel Tier 4

Comfortably acting across a wide spectrum of industries, including telecommunications, agriculture, aerospace, financial services and defense, McDermott Will & Emery LLP is best known for vast experience in the healthcare sector with particular proficiency at the overlap with technology-related matters. Key contacts for such matters are Chicago’s Stephen Wu and Michelle Lowery, who splits her time between Los Angeles and Chicago. Washington DC-based practice head Raymond Jacobsen’s specialisms include the representation of clients in the defense industry, while Ryan Tisch, who joined the firm from Crowell & Moring LLP in May 2023 and is also based in Washington DC, is adept at antitrust-related regulatory reviews across multiple jurisdictions. New York’s Elai Katz joined the team in August 2023 from Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, strengthening the team’s expertise in the financial services, retail and pharmaceuticals segments. Andrew Lee departed in June 2023.

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 4

The ‘consistently excellent’ team at McDermott Will & Emery LLP leverages its strength across the full spectrum of antitrust issues to offer a strong litigation practice with notable strength advising on civil class actions and price-fixing allegations. Global practice co-head Raymond Jacobsen, in Washington DC, has a strong track record acting for clients in the defense industry. Katharine O’Connor, in Chicago, handles antitrust compliance and litigated merger work for clients in the healthcare, food, and manufacturing sectors; also in Chicago is Stephen Wu, who co-chairs the firm’s healthcare antitrust sub-group. Michelle Lowery splits her time between Los Angeles and Chicago and heads the firm’s West Coast antitrust offering. In New York, Nicole Castle is another key contact for healthcare antitrust work, working alongside seasoned antitrust expert Elai Katz, who joined the team from Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP  in August 2023. Another new arrival is Ryan Tisch, who joined the Washington DC office from Crowell & Moring LLP in May 2023, strengthening the team’s merger clearance offering.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 4

McDermott Will & Emery LLP has ‘a very capable securities litigation and regulatory practice‘. Increasingly visible in complex securities disputes at both trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts nationwide, the firm handles class actions, derivative cases, and SEC enforcement matters. ‘Savvy and practical‘ global head of litigation Steven Scholes is based in Chicago. He leads a ‘smart, hardworking talented team‘ alongside Timothy Hoeffner in New York, who frequently acts for accounting firms, major banks and underwriters, and large insurers. New York’s Joel Haims and David Momborquette, Boston-based former SEC enforcement attorney Caitlyn Campbell, and up-and-coming partner Paul Helms, in Washington DC are all central figures in the practice.

Energy > Energy transactions: electric power Tier 4

A team with a ‘good mix of project finance, M&A and corporate legal expertise’, McDermott Will & Emery LLP is well positioned to advise its host of energy companies, utilities, developers and large-cap sponsors for an array of transactions in the conventional and renewable energy space. The firm particularly stands out for its work with private equity and infrastructure funds, and also has the ability to handle complex tax issues relating to energy transition assets. Practice heads Edward Zaelke and Philip Tingle operate out of Los Angeles and Miami respectively, with the former focused on M&A and joint ventures and the latter on financings and equity investments. Frederick Lark, based in New York, is the key advisor to key client Argo Infrastructure Partners and their M&A requirements. Debra Harrison is a renewables and tax equity expert and works out of Washington DC. Robert Lamkin  has left the firm.

Energy > Energy transactions: oil and gas Tier 4

McDermott Will & Emery LLP continues to advise major oil and gas clients across the full spectrum of traditional energy transactions, including upstream assets, midstream gas gathering and processing assets, and chemical and fuel storage terminals. The team routinely handles complex M&A between large oil majors, joint venture agreements, service contracts as well as acquisitions and divestitures. From the Houston office, team lead Jack Langlois is regularly sought out by a number of both public and private companies, private equity investors, lenders and national oil companies for his knowledge of energy-related investments and financing, while Kevin Brophy‘s focus is on the upstream and midstream oil and gas industry. Parker Lee departed the firm in March 2024.

Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings Tier 4

McDermott Will & Emery LLP has made its mark in SPAC IPOs and de-SPAC deals over recent years and has demonstrated further expertise in mainstream IPOs, follow-on offerings, private placements and at-the-market programs. Much of its equity offerings work has centred on the healthcare, fintech and technology industries of late; the firm is a market leader in the healthcare sector. Washington DC partner Thomas Conaghan co-heads the capital markets and public companies group alongside Eric Orsic in Chicago. The team was further reinforced by the recruitment of Howard Kleinman from Dechert LLP in 2023, while former head of the SPAC group Ari Edelman left the firm in March 2024. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 4

McDermott Will & Emery LLP‘s restructuring and insolvency practice is skilled in all aspects in distressed transactions, with the team acting for publicly and privately owned companies going through financial challenges in-court and out-of-court, as well as significant experience in cryptocurrency-related bankruptcy. In Chicago, Felicia Perlman heads the practice and represents clients in industry sectors including healthcare and energy, while Bradley Giordano has worked on multi-jurisdictional and cross-border matters. Jay Kapp is focused on all aspects of corporate bankruptcies and reorganizations, with Kristin Going and Darren Azman key names in New York.

Finance > Structured finance: derivatives and structured products Tier 4

McDermott Will & Emery LLP boasts a strong municipal derivatives practice, advising leading multinational banks in this space. In addition, the firm is well-versed in more traditional derivatives transactions, including OTC and exchange-traded derivatives. Its structured products practice is as developed, with experience in transactional, tax and regulatory matters affecting the space. Jonathan Ching, joining from Linklaters LLP in May 2023, brings expertise in complex structured transactions across a swathe of industries, especially the natural resources as well as the cryptocurrencies fields. He leads the practice alongside David Taub, advising banks and private investors on his area of expertise: primary and secondary market municipal product transactions. Andrew Kummer also joined the firm from Linklaters LLP in May 2023. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.

Government > Government contracts Tier 4

The fledgling government contracts practice at McDermott Will & Emery LLP is rapidly gaining ground in bid protests and claims litigation, inspiring the confidence of prominent names in the tech, professional services, and healthcare industries. Collaboration with the firm’s wider corporate, government investigations, employment, and cybersecurity specialists ensures a comprehensive service across all elements of the contracting life cycle. Leading the Washington DC-based team are Daniel Graham, a seasoned bid protests and prime/sub disputes litigator who also advises on compliance, transactions, and accounting, and Tara Ward, who is sought out for her specialized knowledge of the tech, defense, healthcare, and accountancy sectors.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 4

Fielding a team of ‘experts in multiple patent lawsuits in pharmaceutical field‘, McDermott Will & Emery LLP represents global and domestic clients in patent litigation across industry sectors, with particular emphasis on the life sciences space. William Gaede in San Francisco leads the global intellectual property practice and acts for biotech, pharma, and medical device companies. Patent litigator Douglas Carsten in Orange County is a life sciences expert, Boston-based IP attorney Sarah Columbia works across the pharma and tech sectors, and Michael Chu in Chicago has a broad IP practice. The group also includes IP litigators Thomas Steindler in Washington DC, Shane Nichols in Atlanta, and Kevin Meek in Austin, and New-York based lawyer Simon Roberts, who handles patent infringement cases for major pharma companies.

International trade and national security > Trade remedies and trade policy Tier 4

McDermott Will & Emery LLP’s trade remedies and trade policy group is well versed across the full gamut of related matters, with its recent experience spanning antidumping and countervailing duty cases and WTO dispute settlement proceedings, among other work. Following the 2023 departure of former practice co-chair Joanne Osendarp, Carolyn Gleason now solely heads the practice and brings to bear significant experience in all areas of trade relief. The Washington DC-centered group also draws on the experience of seasoned counsels Raymond Paretzky and David Levine, who together represent long-standing client, Illinois Tool Works, on international trade policy, import relief cases and tariff actions.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

McDermott Will & Emery LLP is experienced at handling major investigations and enforcement proceedings, especially within the healthcare industry. Based in Boston, Laura McLane focuses on FCA litigation, while Benton Curtis in Miami is recommended for his experience representing high-profile individuals and companies with government investigations. Practicing out of the firm’s New York office, Edward Diskant is highly skilled at advising on matters relating to bribery, money laundering, and other financial crimes. Also based in New York, Joseph Evans is another well-regarded lawyer with expertise in cryptocurrency litigation and fraud. Boston-based lawyer Dana McSherry focuses on false claims within the healthcare sector. Sarah Walters left the firm in April 2024.

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 5

Demonstrating a growing focus on energy and construction disputes, McDermott Will & Emery LLP is equipped to advise on both commercial and investor-state cases. Split between Washington DC and New York, the two-partner team also benefits from its ability to lean on partners across Europe. Washington DC-based global department co-head Lisa Richman impresses with her ‘friendly but deadly and effective cross-examination style’; she has recently handled a slew of cases in the energy and life sciences spheres. In New York, David Kiefer specializes in judicial and arbitral matters arising out of construction and engineering disputes.

Finance > Commercial lending Tier 5

Maintaining a strong footing on the lender side, McDermott Will & Emery LLP‘s banking and finance practice offers expertise in leveraged finance, alternative lenders, high-yield financings and restructurings. The team is a popular choice among healthcare providers and investors in the healthcare sector. Jointly leading the practice is respected transactional advisor, Michael Boykins who routinely handles insurance industry financings and venture capital transactions; Stephanie McCann whose broad practice encompasses acquisition financings, recapitalizations and loan workouts; and Los Angeles-based Gary Rosenbaum who is a key name for matters relating to the healthcare, life sciences, technology, TMT and manufacturing sectors. All lawyers mentioned are based in Chicago, unless stated otherwise.      

Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital) Tier 5

McDermott Will & Emery LLP has extensive experience acting as investment fund counsel over the entire lifecycle of a fund; from the initial fund raise, through to the operation and eventual exit. The firm acts for clients across the mid-upper market segment across various asset classes, most notably those in connection with the healthcare sector. Ian Schwartz leads the New York-based team and advises boutique sponsors and institutional investors across all private fund related matters, including regulatory and compliance. Further names to note are Luc Jansen and Prem Amarnani, who are both well versed in transactional matters, Erica Moscarello who specializes in hybrid funds, including those in the credit and real estate space and David Nestler who continues to advise on private investment funds for a growing mid-market client base.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: large deals ($500m+) Tier 5

McDermott Will & Emery LLP‘s private equity team maintains a strong focus on the life sciences and pharma sectors, acting on a broad range of growth capital investments, buyouts, exits, recapitalizations, and add-on deals. The team’s workload, which spans middle-market and bulge-bracket transactions, also encompasses a growing number of deals in sectors such as aviation, logistics, and tech, owing in part to the broad expertise of New York-based M&A expert Frank Steinherr, who handles a large volume of complex leveraged buyouts, mergers, and take-private transactions. Steinherr co-leads the team with Chicago-based lawyers Kristian Werling, who focuses on healthcare transactions, and Gregory Metz, who handles a diverse array of LBOs and restructurings, as well as with Miami-based lawyer Frederic Levenson. Further key contacts include corporate experts Kevin Sullivan, who is based in Boston, and Brooks Gruemmer, who practices from Chicago. Miami lawyer Harris Siskind maintains close relationships with clients such as H.I.G. and is also highly recommended.

Real estate Tier 5

McDermott Will & Emery LLP regularly represents tenants, landlords, developers and sponsors on transactions, leasing, joint ventures, and financings across all asset classes. The firm is particularly notable for its advice to large private equity and asset management companies, as well as its broader experience on behalf of REITs, developers, and lenders. Co-head David Wolff is located in Chicago, with fellow co-heads David Herman in New York, and Mal Serure between New York and Los Angeles. Wolff is particularly experienced on structuring, negotiations, and transactions, while Herman brings expertise covering the likes of IPOs, special purpose acquisition companies, workouts and restructurings. Serure, meanwhile, is well-versed across a range of loan work that encompasses the areas of mortgage and mezzanine loan financings, among others. In 2023, Marshall Brozost, Alykhan Shivji, and David Neville left the firm.

Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions

Finance > Fintech