Fran Forte focuses her practice on privacy and data security matters, advising clients on domestic and international privacy and cybersecurity laws and regulations, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
- Advised an agribusiness and food ingredient company on GDPR and CCPA compliance work, negotiated outsourcing agreement, and provided general privacy and cybersecurity counseling*
- Advised multinational automobile manufacturer on compliance with privacy and cybersecurity regulations, including the CCPA and GDPR*
- Advised a leading alcohol beverage company on CCPA & GDPR compliance, setting up data transfer mechanisms (including negotiating GDPR data controller and data processor compliant contract terms), drafting policies and procedures and providing day-to-day privacy counsel*
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, Privacy and Data Security, 2023 to 2024
- Georgia Super Lawyers, “Rising Star”, technology transactions, 2020, 2021 and 2023
- Georgia’s High School Mock Trial Competition, volunteer
- Mercer University, JD, magna cum laude
- George Washington University, BAccty, magna cum laude
- Georgia
- Georgia Court of Appeals

Gabriella Batista
Gabriella Batista focuses her practice on private client and wealth management, with a particular focus on cross-border taxation issues.
While in law school, Gabriella served as Academic Events Editor of Journal of Law and Business and Development Chair of Law Women.
- New York University School of Law, LLM, summa cum laude
- New York University School of Law, JD
- University of Florida, BA
- Florida
- Englisch
- Spanish

Peter Mezey
Peter Mezey focuses his practice on domestic and international tax and estate planning for high-net-worth families and individuals.
Prior to joining McDermott, Peter was an associate in the land use practice of an international law firm. While in law school, Peter was an Articles Editor for The Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law and a Law Fellow for the Legal Research and Writing Department.
- Super Lawyers, Rising Star, New York Metro, 2022–2023
- National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, member
- New York University School of Law, LLM in Taxation, magna cum laude
- Georgetown University Law Center, JD
- New York University, BA
- Connecticut
- New York
Leigh Jackman
Leigh Jackman focuses her practice on corporate and transactional matters, particularly in the insurance industry.
Leigh previously served as an attorney in the Office of General Counsel for the New York State Department of Financial Services. While in law school, she served as an editor for the Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal and as a teaching assistant for “Lawyering Skills and Legal Writing.“
- Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, JD
- Emory University, BA
- New York
- New Jersey
- New York Supreme Court Appellate Division, First Department

Hannah Henseling
Hannah Henseling ist im Bereich Investment Funds und Real Estate tätig. Sie berät Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaften, institutionelle Investoren, Asset Manager sowie deren regulierte und unregulierte Fondsvehikel bei investmentrechtlichen und immobilienrechtlichen Fragestellungen.
Ihre Beratungspraxis umfasst insbesondere die regulatorische Beratung von Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaften und Investmentvermögen im Zusammenhang mit der Verwaltung und Auflage von Investmentfonds (Publikums- und Spezialfonds). Sie berät darüber hinaus institutionelle Investoren im Rahmen von Einzel- und Portfoliotransaktionen sowie im laufenden Asset Management.
- Deutsch-Amerikanische Juristen-Vereinigung
- Oberlandesgericht Frankfurt am Main, Zweites Staatsexamen
- Universität Leipzig, Erstes Staatsexamen
- Deutschland
- Deutsch
- Englisch

Julia Külzer
Julia Külzer berät Private-Equity-Fonds und strategische Investoren bei Private-Equity-Transaktionen sowie im allgemeinen Gesellschaftsrecht. Zudem berät sie institutionelle Investoren und Projektentwickler bei Immobilientransaktionen.
Bevor sie zu McDermott kam, war Julia Külzer in einem internationalen Handelsunternehmen tätig.
Julia Külzer beriet:
- NORD Holding bei dem Erwerb der sedevo IT Consulting GmbH durch den IT-Dienstleister EWERK
- Helaba Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen bei der Vermietung von mehr als 73.000 qm im Central Business Tower an die Commerzbank AG
- NORD Holding bei der Investition in HKS health solutions
- Hannover Finanz-Portfoliogesellschaft Lacon beim Erwerb von Montronic
- Oberlandesgericht Köln, Zweites Staatsexamen
- Universität Bonn, Erstes Staatsexamen
- Deutschland
- Deutsch
- Englisch
Dominique J. Torsiello
Dominique Torsiello focuses her practice on energy-related transactional matters. She represents clients in renewable energy transactions, including project finance, mergers and acquisitions, and power procurement. She also regularly advises clients on general corporate matters and tax equity investments.
- Represented Doral Renewables and its affiliates in a series of complex and layered financing transactions aggregating $685 million for the development, construction and operation of the 400-megwatt (MW) Mammoth North Solar project located in Starke County, Indiana. This was the first of three phases of what will become the 1.3-gigawatt Mammoth Solar Farm, the largest integrated photovoltaic solar electricity generating facility in the United States
- Represented a project developer in connection with the construction, bridge and term loan financing of a 50MW/200-megawatt hour lithium-ion battery-based energy storage system project in Arizona
- Represented a project developer in connection with the construction, bridge and term loan financing of a utility-scale solar photovoltaic project with a coupled battery energy storage system located in Arizona
- District of Columbia Courts, Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll, 2023
- Super Lawyers, Florida Rising Star, 2021
- Super Lawyers, Top Rated Business & Corporate Attorney –West Palm Beach, Florida, 2021
- Florida Bar Young Lawyers Section, member
- Florida Bar Animal Law Section, member
- University of Florida Levin College of Law, JD
- University of Central Florida, BA
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- US Tax Court
- US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- US District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- US District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Joshua Domb
Joshua Domb focuses his practice on a wide range of domestic and international issues involving bribery, corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, and associated regulatory and compliance matters. His practice includes assisting with and advising on internal investigations, Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigations, enquiries by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), anti-bribery and corruption compliance, whistleblowing, anti-money laundering (AML) issues and tax fraud investigations. He also has experience of acting for gambling companies on a range of compliance matters.
Anti-Bribery & Corruption
- Advising several clients in relation to SFO investigations concerning suspicions of bribery in the oil & gas industry in various jurisdictions throughout the Middle East*
- Acting as counsel to a major investment fund in relation to an SFO raid and investigation concerning a wholly owned subsidiary involved in the fuel distribution and biofuel industries*
- Acting for a leading international media company on a complex, cross-border investigation, concerning multiple serious allegations including potential corruption of public bidding procedures in Brazil, possible anti-trust issues, substantial internal frauds and conflicts of interests and multiple potential internal controls issues*
- Representing one of the world’s largest sporting and gaming companies in an investigation regarding potential fraud and money laundering and potential criminal proceedings by a UK prosecuting agency*
- Advising a former employee of a global oil company in relation to a high profile criminal trial in Italy, and related matters London*
- The Legal 500 UK, 2022, Gaming and Betting
- The Legal 500 UK, 2020, Regulatory Investigations & Corporate Crime
- Young Fraud Lawyers Association
- University of Law, LPC
- Nottingham Law School, LLB
- England and Wales

Sheldon S. Hughes
Sheldon S. Hughes focuses his practice on corporate and transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions.
During law school, Sheldon was a senior notes and comments editor for the Howard Law Journal and was the judicial law clerk for the Honorable Karla N. Smith of the Montgomery County Circuit Court. Sheldon was also selected from a group of the law school’s highest performing third-year students to serve as a Henry Ramsey Dean’s fellow.
- Represented Merck KGaA in its acquisition of Exelead for $780 million.
- Represented Baker Hughes in its acquisition of Quest Integrity, a subsidiary of Team, Inc., for $280 million.
- Represented NationsBenefits®, in a $275 million issuance and sale of Series B Preferred securities to General Atlantic.
- National Black Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40, 2023-2024
- National Bar Association
- Caribbean Bar Association
- Gate City Bar Association
- Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
- Howard University School of Law, JD, magna cum laude
- Florida Atlantic University, BA
- Georgia
- New York

Madison Lupino
Madison Lupino focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation matters and internal investigations with experience in drafting pleadings, motions and discovery requests and responses in bankruptcy matters. She has represented clients across a wide array of industries including healthcare and financial services.
While in law school, Madison was a student-attorney at the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, member of the black law students association, member on the sports and entertainment committee, technical and submissions editor for Harvard Negotiation Law Review and also graduated with 1,000 hours of pro bono work, which included representing clients in various family law proceedings.
- Harvard Law School, JD, cum laude
- University of Miami, BA
- Florida
- New York
