Firm Overview

TACKLING YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE TODAY IN PURSUIT OF YOUR BOLDEST VISION OF TOMORROW

Our dedicated lawyers combine their passion for business with a deep understanding of the law to help you knock down barriers to success.

WE HELP YOU

FOCUSED ON RESULTS THAT MATTER

Move Faster

Dig Deeper

Go Further

When you partner with us, you don’t just receive access at your fingertips to a global network of diverse, industry-leading legal talent. You also get our personal commitment to you, your team and your vision. Our team works together every day across geographies, practices and industries to deliver the insights and results that matter to your business and to the people you serve. Our service is personalized and personable. That’s because we care deeply about what we do and who we do it for.

"They are professional, very responsive and they definitely do their homework in order to give us the most detailed and comprehensive answers to our questions."

Chambers USA, Client Reference

GOING ABOVE & BEYOND FOR OUR CLIENTS, OUR PEOPLE & THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE

Integrity. Creativity. Passion. They underpin everything we do and set McDermott apart. From committing to diversity in our hiring practices and embracing Firm-wide pro bono goals to providing time for mindfulness and sponsoring days of service in our communities around the world, we know that our best work isn’t limited to the boardroom or the courtroom. 100% Score on Corporate Equality Index 15 years running Mansfield Certification Plus Status Learn How We Helped the Sikh Coalition Eliminate Barriers to Equality.

OUR VISION IS TO PROPEL YOURS

Together, we fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Pride and determination abound at McDermott because every member of our team is respected, supported and inspired to exceed.

Lawyers

Years of legal & industry experience

Locations

Pro bono & community service hours

THE SIKH COALITION: ELIMINATING BARRIERS to equality

The US Army’s uniform and grooming rules forced observant Sikhs to deny their articles of faith before they could serve.

We secured religious accommodations for individual Sikh soldiers while steadily and publicly advocating for widespread policy reform. After 27 retired generals joined 120 congressional leaders in calling for change, the Army issued a meaningful policy change allowing Sikhs and other religious minorities to serve with their articles of faith intact—the most significant step forward for religious accommodations in the US Armed Forces in more than 30 years.

THE CHALLENGE

THE sOLUTION

1,200

56,000

A GLOBAL TEAM INSPIRED TO EXCEED

Our team collaborates across practice groups and geographies to deliver nuanced perspectives to elevate strategy and surface highly effective solutions. More than 1,200 lawyers strong, there isn’t a legal issue we haven’t discussed or an industry segment into which we haven’t delved, and we thrive on working together to find the right answer for our clients. Explore Our Services & Industries:

Anticipate change, adapt quickly and keep you ahead of the curve.

Learn How We Helped Praxair Move at the Speed of Business

PRAXAIR: MOVING AT THE SPEED OF BUSINESS

THE CHALLENGE

THE sOLUTION

In order to proceed with its planned $90 billion merger with Linde, Praxair had to complete strategic asset divestitures in 15 jurisdictions within one year to meet strict German financial market rules.

McDermott fielded a team of more than 100 lawyers across Europe and the United States, and led 9 other law firms in additional jurisdictions, to coordinate a competitive auction process involving 70 bidders around the world. The successful and on-time divestments secured all regulatory approvals, clearing the path for the merger that created the world’s largest supplier of industrial gases.

ABBOTT LABORATORIES: TURNING BIG IDEAS INTO ACTIONABLE PLANS

THE CHALLENGE

THE sOLUTION

Faced with an increasingly competitive labor market, long-term client Abbott Laboratories wanted to develop a creative way to build a sustainable talent pipeline while addressing the heavy burden of student loan debt on early-career professionals.

We partnered with Abbott in developing an innovative student loan repayment benefit as part of Abbott’s 401(k) plan: if employees contribute at least 2% of their salary to paying off student loans, Abbott provides a tax-exempt 5% retirement contribution that mirrors its 401(k) match. Our skilled employee benefits lawyers secured a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service granting Abbott permission to launch this ground-breaking benefit, which differentiates Abbott in the talent market and contributes to its culture of employee loyalty.

GDPR READINESS: PROPELLING CROSS-BORDER SUCCESS

THE CHALLENGE

THE sOLUTION

As the 2018 implementation deadline for the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) loomed, all organizations with data subjects in the European Union had to swiftly achieve compliance with the complex new rules—or face devastating fines.

Our highly skilled EU-based lawyers put their deep familiarity with EU regulations to work, in partnership with the Firm’s cutting-edge data privacy and digital health teams, to create an innovative microsite housing a complete set of GDPR resources for our clients. We sponsored an in-depth research survey cited extensively in global news outlets, and provided a toolkit, detailed thought leadership and continuing web-based education, all designed to minimize compliance headaches and ensure our clients’ success.

Uncover inventive—and often unexpected—solutions to your most complex problems.

See How We Partnered with Abbott to Launch a Ground-Breaking Student Loan Benefit

Turn big ideas into practical, actionable plans that let you make real progress toward your goals.

Explore How We Helped Clients Navigate GDPR

Explore Our Social Responsibility

Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation

Employment

Global Privacy & Cybersecurity

Intellectual Property

Health & Life Sciences

Private Client & Wealth Management

Regulatory

Tax

Corporate & Transactional

Antitrust & Competition

“McDermott’s team is very commercially focused, understands clients’ priorities as a business and is flexible in how it staffs to suit budget and transaction type.”

Corporate & Transactional

Legal 500 US, Client Reference

Top 5 most active law firm in private equity globally

Pitchbook 2019 League Tables

Tier 2 in Corporate and Commercial: M&A – Midmarket

Legal 500 UK 2020

Named to the Global Competition Review Global Elite for the seventh consecutive year

Ranked Tier 1 Nationally in Antitrust Law – Best Law Firms 2020

Antitrust & Competition

11 years in Band 1 Healthcare; the only Band 1 for 2020

Chambers USA 2020

Law Firm of the Year for Healthcare Law, 2020

U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”

Health Group of the Year 2019

Law360

Health & Life Sciences

Among the few practices nationally ranked in Best Law Firms in America

Chambers and Legal 500 US

Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation

“They are professional, very responsive and they definitely do their homework in order to give us the most detailed and comprehensive answers to our questions.”

Chambers USA, Client Reference

Employment

Ranked by

Chambers Global 2020; Chambers USA 2020 and Legal 500 US 2020

Global Privacy & Cybersecurity

Litigation & Dispute Resolution/ White-Collar

“They hit that sweet spot of high-quality, efficient, practical and strong institutional knowledge.”

Chambers USA, Client Reference

Intellectual Property

Recognized for healthcare in Germany

Chambers Europe 2020 (Band 1) Legal 500 EMEA 2020 (Tier 2) Ranked in JUVE 2019/2020

Tier 1 for healthcare and life sciences in France

Legal 500 EMEA 2020

Recognized for Dispute Resolution: White-Collar Crime

Legal 500 EMEA 2020

Recognized for our know-how and credibility with international arbitrations

Global Arbitration Review GAR100

Recognized for Corporate Investigations, White-Collar Criminal Defense and General Commercial Disputes

Legal 500 US 2020

Litigation & Dispute Resolution / White-Collar

The only national Band 1 Firm in

Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2020

Private Client & Wealth Management

Top marks year after year from

Regulatory

Tax Practice Group of the Year, 2019

Law360

National Tier 1 in Tax Law and Tier 1 in Litigation - Tax

Best Law Firms 2020

Top marks year after year from

Chambers, U.S. News – Best Lawyers, International Tax Review/World Tax Guide, Legal 500 and JUVE German Commercial Law Firms

Tax

BTI Consulting Group, Chambers, U.S. News-Best Lawyers etc.

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Discover How We Knocked Down Barriers for Olive Growers

OLIVE GROWERS: DIGGING DEEPER TO DELIVER

THE CHALLENGE

THE sOLUTION

Spanish ripe olive producers were gaining US market share at the expense of the US industry by undercutting US prices and taking large customers. The situation created an unsustainable competitive environment for US processors and growers.

We drew on our wide-ranging experience with US trade remedy law and our deep understanding of EU agriculture subsidy practices to craft a US import relief action on behalf of the US industry that targeted the Spanish industry’s unfair pricing and unfair benefits from vast EU and Spanish government subsidies. We refuted arguments by not only the Spanish industry, but also the governments of the European Union and Spain, in persuading the US Department of Commerce to find unfair pricing (dumping) and unfair subsidization of Spanish ripe olive imports into the United States, and we persuaded the US International Trade Commission that the unfairly traded imports were a cause of “material injury” to the US industry. Our client had hoped to secure remedial tariffs (antidumping and countervailing duties) of 30% on the incoming olives. Our trade action resulted in a net 35% tariff.

Antitrust & Competition

Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation

Employment

Global Privacy & Cybersecurity

Intellectual Property

Litigation & Dispute Resolution/ White-Collar

Private Client & Wealth Management

Regulatory

Real Estate

Health & Life Sciences

Corporate & Transactional

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OUR APPROACH

our people

OUR LOCATIONS

OUR COMMITMENT TO OTHERS

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Explore Careers

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"Our goal is to fully understand your world–from how you approach your market to the internal challenges you face–and determine how we can best help you knock down barriers and achieve success."

Ira Coleman, Chairman McDermott Will & Emery

Hear from Our Chairman Ira Coleman

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE McDERMOTT ADVANTAGE

A Letter from the Chair

At McDermott, our mantra is “AlwaysBetter.” It means that we wake up each morning thinking about how we can be that much better than the day before. This drive for constant improvement is in our DNA—and it pushes us, every day, to be a better partner for you. We do this by working to fully understand your world—from the markets you operate in to the internal dynamics you face. It’s about going beyond delivering exceptional legal work to supporting your enduring success. In doing this, we strive to be your indispensable partner.

Antitrust & Competition

Corporate & Transactional

Employee Benefits

Employment

Global Privacy & Cybersecurity

Health & Life Sciences

Intellectual Property

Litigation & Dispute Resolution/ White-Collar

Private Client & Wealth Management

Regulatory

Tax

11. Tax

9. Private Client & Wealth Management

8. Litigation & Dispute Resolution/ White-Collar

7. Intellectual Property

6. Health & Life Sciences

5. Global Privacy & Cybersecurity

4. Employment

3. Employee Benefits

2. Corporate & Transactional

1. Antitrust & Competition

Tap to learn more

Explore Our Social Responsibility

A Letter from the Chair

Hear from Our Chairman Ira Coleman

Ira Coleman, Chairman McDermott Will & Emery

Tax Practice Group of the Year, 2019

Law360

Law Firm of the Year for Tax Litigation, 2018

U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”

Top marks year after year from

Chambers, U.S. News – Best Lawyers, International Tax Review/World Tax Guide, Legal 500 and JUVE German Commercial Law Firms

Tax

LEARN MORE

Ira Coleman, Chairman McDermott Will & Emery

Learn More on the Global View of GDPR Progress and Download the Full Report.

“…know-how and legal knowledge is really an invaluable skill-set.”

Chambers USA, Client Reference

Tier 1: Real Estate - New York City

U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”

“The lawyers have very quick comprehension, can easily support several transactions and have very fast reaction times, but with the highest accuracy."

Real Estate

LEARN MORE

Tax

Chambers Europe, Client Reference

11. Tax

“…know-how and legal knowledge is really an invaluable skill-set.”

Chambers USA, Client Reference

“The lawyers have very quick comprehension, can easily support several transactions and have very fast reaction times, but with the highest accuracy."

Chambers Europe, Client Reference

Tier 1: Real Estate - New York City

U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”

Real Estate

11. Tax

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Our ongoing efforts continue to help break down barriers in the remaining branches of the US military. Several years after the Army announced its policy change, the Air Force followed suit with a revision to its uniform and grooming accommodation policy for religious minorities who wish to enlist and serve, including Sikh Americans.

MOTOROLA: KNOCKING DOWN BARRIERS TO SUCCESS

THE CHALLENGE

THE sOLUTION

Motorola, along with all other major cell phone manufacturers, faced lawsuits in the District of Columbia claiming brain cancer caused by cell phones. The district court ruled that some of the plaintiffs’ experts satisfied the Frye standard for determining the admissibility of expert opinion testimony, but would likely be excluded under Daubert.

Learn How We Helped Motorola Knock Down Barriers to Success

In Motorola v. Murray, after almost 100 years of applying the Frye standard, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit rejected Frye and adopted the federal Daubert standard.

The ruling has had a significant impact not only for cell phone cases in the District of Columbia, but litigation across the United States.

Restructuring & Insolvency

“They got great results for us in our toughest litigation. In court, they are fierce competitors and well-prepared advocates.”

Benchmark Litigation 2020

Tier 1 in M&A: Middle-Market

Legal 500 US 2020

“The entire team is very knowledgeable, responsive, practical, forward-thinking and meets deadlines.”

Chambers USA 2020

“A very thoughtful team that outlines points and issues clearly and has a depth of knowledge.”

Legal 500 US 2020

Recommended Firm – Benchmark Labor & Employment 2020

“Our McDermott Will & Emery team is incredible. They make us feel like we are their top priority and have always done so. We also appreciated the fact that they listen carefully to and take into account the business concerns.”

Best Law Firms 2020, Client Reference

Ranked as a Leading Firm in Intellectual Property: Trade Secrets, Trademarks: Non-contentious; Patents: Litigation and Patents: Prosecution

Legal 500 US 2020

Ranked among the IAM Patent 1000 2020: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals

Nationally Tier 1 ranked in Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense and General Commercial Disputes

Best Law Firms US 2020

Highly Recommended Firm

Benchmark Litigation US 2020

“By any criteria, they are one of the top firms you would mention when it comes to private wealth, particularly for challenging, larger and international matters. They have a terrific senior group of attorneys.”

Chambers High Net Worth, Client Reference

“There is no denying their depth and bench size, and those people are the best of the best. They are extremely prominent and well-respected attorneys across the group.”

Chambers High Net Worth 2020

Tier 1 : Real Estate Law Nationally

Best Law Firms 2020

“Highest quality in the market, always available and due to its technically excellent and pragmatic advice, the team has clearly become the number 1 in the market”

Legal 500 EMEA 2020 (Germany)

“The practice has a very good understanding of the economically relevant matters and offers a very solution-oriented approach.”

Legal 500 EMEA 2020 (Germany)

“Expertly and efficiently guided my firm through the maze of a legal restructuring.”

Best Law Firms 2020, Client Reference

Restructuring & Insolvency

LEARN MORE

Tax Practice Group of the Year, 2019

Law360

Top marks year after year from

Chambers, U.S. News – Best Lawyers, International Tax Review/World Tax Guide, Legal 500 and JUVE German Commercial Law Firms

National Tier 1 in Tax Law and Tier 1 in Litigation - Tax

Best Law Firms 2020

Learn How We Helped Motorola Knock Down Barriers to Success

MOTOROLA: KNOCKING DOWN BARRIERS TO SUCCESS

THE CHALLENGE

THE sOLUTION

Building on decades of successfully defending Motorola against personal and class action lawsuits challenging the safety of wireless phones, we secured a landmark ruling for Motorola and the wireless telephone industry. In Motorola v. Murray, after almost 100 years of applying the Frye standard, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit rejected Frye and adopted the federal Daubert standard. The ruling has had a significant impact not only for cell phone cases in the District of Columbia, but litigation across the United States.

12. Tax

“The practice has a very good understanding of the economically relevant matters and offers a very solution-oriented approach.

Legal 500 EMEA 2020 (Germany)

RESTRUCTURING & INSOLVENCY

12. Tax

LEARN MORE

“They got great results for us in our toughest litigation. In court, they are fierce competitors and well-prepared advocates.”

Benchmark Litigation 2020

Tier 1 in M&A: Middle Market

Legal 500 US 2020

“A very thoughtful team that outlines points and issues clearly and has a depth of knowledge.”

Legal 500 US 2020

“The entire team is very knowledgeable, responsive, practical, forward-thinking and meets deadlines.”

Chambers USA 2020

Recommended Firm – Benchmark Labor & Employment 2020

Best Law Firms 2020, Client Reference

Ranked as a Leading Firm in Intellectual Property: Trade Secrets, Trademarks: Non-contentious; Patents: Litigation and Patents: Prosecution

Legal 500 US 2020

Ranked among the IAM Patent 1000 2020: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals

Nationally Tier 1 ranked in Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense and General Commercial Disputes

Best Law Firms US 2020

Highly Recommended Firm

Benchmark Litigation USS 2020

Chambers High Net Worth, Client Reference

“There is no denying their depth and bench size, and those people are the best of the best. They are extremely prominent and well-respected attorneys across the group.”

Chambers High Net Worth 2020

Tier 1 : Real Estate Law Nationally

Best Law Firms 2020

“Highest quality in the market, always available and due to its technically excellent and pragmatic advice, the team has clearly become the number 1 in the market”

Chambers Europe, Client Reference

“Expertly and efficiently guided my firm through the maze of a legal restructuring.”

Best Law Firms 2020, Client Reference