Defends clients across industry sectors in privacy-related litigation and regulatory investigations including involving data breaches, website tracking, ambient recording and biometric data 

Counsels clients on data privacy, cybersecurity, and compliance matters across the full data lifecycle, providing a litigator’s perspective on compliance and incident response 

Assists clients with privacy and cybersecurity due diligence in corporate transactions and private equity investments 

Counsels clients on privacy risks raised by artificial intelligence (AI) tools and ambient recording technologies and defends them in related litigations

Simon Airey focuses his practice on global, cross-border and internal investigations, financial and regulatory crime, bribery and corruption, money laundering, tax and fraud inquiries, data breaches, dawn raids, asset tracing, international enforcement and corporate compliance issues. Simon serves as co-head of McDermott Will & Schulte’s global investigations and compliance practice.

He has conducted a wide range of investigations and corporate defence assignments in different sectors, including construction, defence, financial services, gambling, oil and gas, logistics, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications. Simon represents both companies and individuals in criminal and regulatory proceedings and in associated litigation.

Simon advises a large number of multinational groups on their global compliance programs and assists clients with corporate risk assessments and pre- and post- M&A due diligence. He conducts tailored training for boards and senior management and has lectured around the world on a range of topics including the UK Bribery Act and the UK Criminal Finances Act. He advises a number of organisations on the corporate criminal offence of failing to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion and served on the UK Law Society committee which devised related guidance for the legal profession.

In addition to leading various major tax, fraud and bribery investigations, Simon has recently defended multi-party litigation in relation to a significant data breach in the UK, dealt with an FCA investigation relating to a global payment services provider and represented a high-profile individual in relation to a multi-million pound D&O insurance dispute in the context of a US DoJ prosecution. He has also advised a foreign government in relation to various tax and transparency issues and represented over 50 financial institutions served with data production orders by HM Revenue & Customs in the UK.

Handles complex, global criminal and civil matters, including internal investigations, and investigations conducted by the Department of Justice

Focuses on healthcare enforcement and compliance, including False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, and Stark Law matters

Represents clients in antitrust criminal investigations and related class actions, and advises on global compliance programs

Has extensive experience with Japanese clients, including in global investigations and implementation and updating of global compliance programs

Brings extensive appellate experience, having served as lead appellate counsel in more than 100 cases in nearly all of the US courts of appeals and before the US Supreme Court

Handles pro bono litigation projects in a wide array of substantive areas, including civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, children’s rights, disabilities’ rights, and immigration as the firm’s pro bono litigation partner

Thomas Sauermilch concentrates in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other complex cross-border corporate/commercial transactions for major multinational corporations, private equity funds and their portfolio companies and medium-sized businesses. He also advises clients in corporate governance and compliance matters. He has led transactions in a wide range of sectors, including aerospace and avionics, automotive industries, chemicals, energy, engineering, food and beverage, manufacturing, media, medical devices and scientific instruments, metals and natural resources, packaging, pharmaceuticals, semiconductor equipment, software, technology and trading in North and South America, Europe and Asia. He has been recognized over many years by leading legal directories and nominated as Lawyer of the Year by The Deal (2018) and Dealmaker of the Year by M&A Advisor (2017). He has also been recognized as a BTI Client Service All-Star 2020 (BTI Consulting Group) and led the McDermott teams winning both the 2020 M&A Advisor Deal of the Year Awards in two categories (Cross-Border Deal of the Year and Materials Deal of the Year; $500million to $1billion) for Evonik Industries’ acquisition of PeroxyChem and the 2021 M&A Advisor Award for M&A Deal of the Year ($500million to $1billion) for Kaiser Aluminum’s acquisition of Alcoa Warrick. Thomas has held various leadership positions in the Firm, including former chair of its global M&A Practice and its Global Industrials Practice as well as a former member of the Firm’s Corporate Practice Leadership Team and its Management Committee.

To read Thomas’ full biography in Japanese please click here.

Thomas is a former chair of the Firm’s Global M&A Practice.

Dr. Boris Uphoff has 24 years of experience representing companies in both court and arbitration proceedings. His practice focuses on intellectual property disputes (patents, trademarks, unfair competition), product liability law, insurance law and D&O disputes.

Many of the disputes he handles are cross-jurisdictional and involve other European countries, the US or Japan. He represents national and international companies, particularly within the automotive, electronics, food and insurance sectors.

To read Boris’ full biography in Japanese please click here.

He also regularly acts as an arbitrator in international arbitration proceedings.

Boris is admitted as a lawyer (Rechtsanwalt) in Germany and as a solicitor in England and Wales. He is a certified specialist in intellectual property law (Fachanwalt für gewerblichen Rechtsschutz) and acts as an honorary judge at the Lawyers’ Disciplinary Court (Anwaltsgericht) for the District of the Munich Bar.

Stephen Wu is a nationally recognized antitrust lawyer with more than twenty-five years’ experience defending clients against antitrust litigation and government investigations into mergers and acquisitions and business practices. Stephen is also a trusted strategic advisor who counsels clients on antitrust compliance issues.

Stephen has successfully defended clients in class actions and other complex litigation brought by purchasers, competitors, and employees alleging unlawful price-fixing, wage-fixing, exclusive dealing, group boycott, market allocation, tying, and monopolization claims in federal courts around the country. In addition, Stephen has successfully defended numerous mergers and acquisitions and clients’ business practices from Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Department of Justice, and State Attorneys General investigations. He also regularly advises clients on pricing, distribution, and joint venture matters.

Stephen represents clients in a wide variety of industries, ranging from consumer goods to healthcare to packaging. He is co-head of the Firm’s Health Antitrust Practice Group.

Stephen has been recognized as a leading antitrust lawyer by The Best Lawyers in America, BTI Consulting, Chambers USA, Global Competition Review, Lawyers of Color, The Legal 500 USA, LMG Life Sciences, The National Law Journal, Super Lawyers, and Thomson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyers.

Prior to joining the Firm, Stephen was an attorney for the FTC, where he received its Award for Meritorious Service. At the Firm, Stephen received McDermott’s Pro Bono and Community Service Award for his pro bono efforts.