DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Represents Mullen Automotive in its Controlling Interest Acquisition in EV Truck Innovator Bollinger Motors
September 9, 2022
Read time: 3 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery represented Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, in its acquisition of a controlling interest in Bollinger Motors, an EV truck innovator. The purchase price is $148.2 million in cash and stock for a 60% controlling interest.
This is Mullen’s first EV acquisition and propels the company into the medium duty truck classes 3-6, along with the B1 and B2 sport utility trucks and positions Bollinger to capture the electric sport utility and commercial vehicle markets.
The McDermott team advising Mullen Automotive is led by Bob Cohen and Eric Klee and includes Jeronimo Soares de Sousa, Alex Laznovsky, Darren Yang, Cristell Fortune, Michael Siekman, Evan Belosa, Stephanie Stein, Mark Bilut and Ty Carson.
For more details, read Mullen Automotive’s press release.
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices, industries and more than 20 locations to deliver highly effective solutions that propel success. More than 1,200 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
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McDermott Represents CVS Health in $8 Billion Definitive Agreement to Acquire Signify Health
DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Represents CVS Health in $8 Billion Definitive Agreement to Acquire Signify Health
September 8, 2022
Read time: 3 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery represented CVS Health in its definitive agreement to acquire Signify Health, Inc., a leader in Health Risk Assessments, value-based care and provider enablement. This deal represents an important acquisition by CVS to advance its stated goal to develop in-home and managed care service offerings. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2023.
McDermott represented CVS Health as healthcare regulatory counsel in deal diligence and the negotiation and execution of the definitive agreement. The team was led by Jeremy Earl, Mimi Alexandre and Sarah Kitchell and included Jiayan Chen, Li Wang, Yesenia Gallegos, Paulina Chau, Patrick Zanayed, Lisa Mazur, Moyo Koya, Danielle Scheer, Grayson Dimick and Ming Chuang.
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices and industries to deliver highly effective solutions that propel success. More than 1,200 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
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Amended Petition Filed in Tulsa Race Massacre Lawsuit
PRESS RELEASE
Amended Petition Filed in Tulsa Race Massacre Lawsuit
September 6, 2022
Read time: 5 min
In a significant step forward for the historic Tulsa Race Massacre lawsuit, an amended petition has been filed calling for abatement to the public nuisance that began with the Tulsa Race Massacre and continues to impact survivors and the Greenwood community to this day. The petition also seeks to recover the defendants’ unjust exploitation of the Massacre for their own economic and political gain.
Amendments to this petition include measures to correct technical matters previously agreed upon by defendants and changes to align with Tulsa County Judge Caroline Wall’s most recent order.
On August 3, 2022, Judge Wall denied the defendants’ efforts to entirely dismiss plaintiffs’ claim that the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre was a public nuisance under Oklahoma law, finding that plaintiffs 108-year-old Lessie Benningfield “Mother” Randle, 107-year-old Viola “Mother” Fletcher, and 101-year-old Hughes Van Ellis are entitled to proceed to discovery and prove that the Tulsa Race Massacre was a public nuisance that continues to impact Black Tulsans today.
“This is a critical step forward in the road to justice as the defendants are now required to answer this petition, allowing the plaintiffs to engage in discovery that will finally reveal the abject horrors of the Tulsa Race Massacre and the continued harm to survivors and members of the Greenwood community,” said Ekenedilichukwu (Keni) Ukabiala, Associate for Schulte Roth & Zabel.
The lawsuit demands the City of Tulsa and other defendants fix the public nuisance that they caused by their destruction of the Black community of Greenwood in 1921, their continuing failure to rebuild the community and their audacity in seeking to reap benefits from their violent acts. Building on admissions from defendants and the City of Tulsa Mayor, as well as the testimony of living survivors of the Massacre, the complaint sets forth the reality that the racial and economic disparities that exist in Tulsa’s Black community today can be traced to the 1921 race massacre.
“We have now reached an important milestone in bringing accountability to those responsible for one of the worst acts of domestic terrorism in this country’s history,” said Damario Solomon-Simmons, co-counsel and founder of Justice for Greenwood. “We look forward to the discovery process as the public deserves to know the complete truth of not just the Massacre, but the aftermath of more than 100 years that has brought continued harm to Black Tulsans.”
About the Tulsa Race Massacre
From May 31 through June 1, 1921, a large white mob completely decimated Tulsa’s thriving, all-Black community of Greenwood. The mob, which included members of the Tulsa Police Department, the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Department and the Oklahoma National Guard, as well as other city and county leaders, overwhelmed the approximately 40-square-block community, killing hundreds of Black residents, injuring thousands more, burning down over one thousand homes and businesses and stealing residents’ personal property. The damage caused during the Massacre is estimated to be approximately $200 million in today’s dollars.
In addition to Solomon-Simmons and Ukabiala, the plaintiffs are represented by SRZ lawyers Michael Swartz, Sara Solfanelli, Randall T. Adams, McKenzie Haynes, Angela Garcia, Alex Wharton, Erika L. Simonson, Vincent W. Moccio, and Melanie S. Collins, and attorneys J. Spencer Bryan and Steven Terrill of Bryan & Terrill Law, PLLC, Professor Eric Miller of Loyola Marymount College of Law, Maynard M. Henry, Sr., Lashandra Peoples-Johnson and Cordal Cephas of Johnson Cephas Law PLLC, and Kymberli J. M. Heckenkemper of SolomonSimmonsLaw.
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McDermott and Civil Rights Lawyers File Supreme Court Brief Supporting Public Accommodation Laws
PRESS RELEASE
McDermott and Civil Rights Lawyers File Supreme Court Brief Supporting Public Accommodation Laws
September 6, 2022
Read time: 4 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery is proud to announce their partnership with The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, asking the Court to uphold a Colorado law that makes it illegal for private businesses to deny goods or services to anyone on the basis of their disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, or ancestry.
A website design company is challenging the law as a violation of free speech, so it can have the right to deny services and to advertise that it refuses to provide services to same-sex couples who wish to purchase the company’s wedding websites. The brief argues that the government’s interest in preventing and eradicating discrimination against historically marginalized groups outweighs a business owner’s right to discriminate in the provision of goods or services. The brief explains the historical roots of public accommodation laws, and the role they continue to play in preventing businesses from depriving individuals of dignity and equality on the basis of their identity. It argues that a ruling allowing the website designer to lawfully withhold services from LGBTQ+ persons on the grounds of free speech would open the door for other businesses to deny services on the basis of other protected characteristics, such as race and national origin.
Ethan Townsend and Sarah Hogarth, both litigation partners at McDermott and members of the Supreme Court and Appellate group served as co-leads on this project, with support from associate Crystal Fomba.
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices and industries to deliver highly effective solutions that propel success. More than 1,200 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
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Anh Lee Recognized as Notable Women In Law by Crain’s Chicago Business
AWARDS & RANKINGS / PRESS RELEASE
Anh Lee Recognized as Notable Women In Law by Crain’s Chicago Business
September 2, 2022
Read time: 3 min
CHICAGO (September 2, 2022) – International law firm McDermott Will & Emery is proud to announce Anh Lee has been recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business’ annual Notable Women In Law list.
Anh focuses her practice on corporate transactions with particular emphasis in debt financing. Anh represents private equity and investment funds, real estate investment funds, alternative and direct lenders, and capital sources. Anh also has an active pro bono practice, having obtained clients U-visas, legal permanent residency and relief under the Violence Against Women Act.
The Crain’s Chicago Business’ Notable Women In Law list highlights women in in the Chicago region who not only serve as role models in their workplace, but who also have contributed to their communities through their personal and philanthropic activities.
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices and industries to deliver highly effective solutions that propel success. More than 1,200 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
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McDermott Bolsters its International Arbitration Practice with Arrival of Experienced Partner in Paris
DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Bolsters its International Arbitration Practice with Arrival of Experienced Partner in Paris
September 2, 2022
Read time: 5 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery announced today the appointment of Amy Frey as partner in its Paris office. As demand for international dispute resolution advice continues to soar, Amy joins the Firm to further strengthen its French and international arbitration and litigation offering alongside Paris partner Nicolas Faguer.
Amy has a wealth of experience in international disputes. She acts for major groups and international companies in all industries, particularly in investment and commercial arbitrations. She also advises in institutional arbitration proceedings including on cases before the ICSID, ICC, LCIA and Swedish Chamber of Commerce, among others.
‘As we are committed to offering our clients the highest level of expertise, we are delighted to expand our team with the addition of a specialist of Amy’s calibre,’ said Grégoire Andrieux, Managing Partner of the Paris office. ‘Her deep arbitration experience, in Paris and internationally, will bring tremendous value to our clients whose dispute resolution needs are becoming increasingly complex.’
Amy also advises clients on foreign investment structuring, in domestic litigation proceedings to challenge foreign arbitral awards or their enforcement, in European state aid disputes and in intra-European arbitrations. In addition, she has specific expertise in the handling of applications for interim and injunctive relief and ICSID annulment proceedings. Her impressive range of experience also extends to public international law and human rights litigation.
‘I was impressed by the firm’s energy, which has led it to become strongly established in the French market in only ten years, by its entrepreneurial spirit and by the high level of experience of its members. I am looking forward to the opportunity to develop the arbitration practice in France, a practice that is strong in the firm’s other offices, and to contribute to the development of the litigation practice internationally,’ said Amy.
Amy has spent her entire career at King & Spalding, which she joined in 2006. She became a partner in 2016. She is a graduate of Oxford University, where she studied International Human Rights (2010), and also holds a doctorate in law from Tulane University in International and Comparative Law (2006).
Amy was admitted to the Paris Bar in 2016, the Texas Bar in 2006 and the District of Columbia Bar in 2010. Amy is quoted in several international rankings (Law360 Rising Star, Legal 500 EMEA) and is a member of various professional associations such as EFILA, Arbitral Women and USCIB (United States Council for International Business).
This appointment follows the recent additions of partners Jack Thorne in London, Joel Haims in New York and Jonathan (Jon) Henry in Washington, DC into the Firm’s growing Dispute Resolution team.
McDermott’s global Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice includes many recognized litigators in the United States and Europe. They advise clients from most industries and have earned a particularly strong reputation for helping major, multinational clients win big-ticket cases. They regularly collaborate with specialty groups across the firm to provide comprehensive litigation strategies in a variety of areas including corporate, private equity, finance, health, IP, employment, antitrust, benefits, privacy and tax. This synthesis of skill and experience, along with a record of success in high-stakes controversies, makes McDermott a go-to-firm for large-scale, complex litigation.
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices and industries to deliver highly effective solutions that propel success. More than 1,200 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
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McDermott Represents Main Capital Partners on Takeovers and Business Combination of PLATO und iqs Software
DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Represents Main Capital Partners on Takeovers and Business Combination of PLATO und iqs Software
September 1, 2022
Read time: 4 min
Frankfurt, September 1, 2022 – International law firm McDermott Will & Emery represented Main Capital Partners on the majority acquisitions of PLATO AG and iqs Software GmbH.
The combination of the two companies will create a leading software group for engineering and quality management processes with around 140 staff and over 750 customers worldwide.
Main Capital Partners acquired a strategic stake in PLATO AG in June 2022 and completed, in agreement with PLATO, the majority acquisition of iqs Software GmbH end August.
Main Capital Partners is a strategic investor focusing on enterprise software in Benelux, DACH and Scandinavia. The company manages assets of around EUR 2.2 billion.
PLATO AG headquartered in Lübeck, is an internationally active software company in the field of engineering, risk and quality management with four locations in Germany and a US office. Customers are companies from the automotive industry, medical technology, semiconductor industry, pharmaceutical industry and mechanical engineering.
iqs Software GmbH, founded in 1995, develops quality management software solutions. From its headquarters in Bühl, Germany, iqs serves and supports more than 400 clients across all industries.
McDermott advised Main Capital Partners on the acquisition and combination of the two companies with two teams led by partner Norman Wasse. The firm regularly advises the financial investor on transactions.
The McDermott team was led by partner Norman Wasse and included Dustin Schwerdtfeger, Gudrun Germakowski, counsel Marcus Fischer as well as associates Marion von Grönheim, Lisa Schickling, Isabelle Müller, Markus Hunkenschröder, Lukas Deutzmann and Lukas Wasylow-Neuhaus (all PLATO transaction). The team advising on the iqs transaction also comprised partners Oliver Hahnelt, Philipp Schäuble, Johannes Honzen, Christian L. Masch and associates Felicitas Faber, Johanna Greißel, Hannah Henseling, Dorothea Zimny.
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices, industries and more than 20 locations to deliver highly effective—and often unexpected—solutions that propel success. More than 1,200 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
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McDermott Lawyers Recognized as DC Rising Stars by The National Law Journal
AWARDS & RANKINGS / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Lawyers Recognized as DC Rising Stars by The National Law Journal
September 1, 2022
Read time: 3 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce that Elliot Golding and Marshall Jackson have been named DC Rising Stars as part of The National Law Journal’s Legal Awards 2022.
A partner in McDermott’s Global Privacy & Cybersecurity practice, Elliot focuses on providing business-oriented privacy and cybersecurity advice to global companies spanning virtually every sector of the economy, with particular skill in the technology, health care/life sciences, retail/ecommerce, automotive and financial sectors.
Health partner Marshall focuses his practice on transactional and regulatory counseling for clients in the healthcare industry, as well as advising clients on the legal, regulatory and compliance aspects of digital health.
The National Law Journal’s DC Rising Stars awards recognize lawyers who have wielded influence in their practice areas in the DC area and beyond. Honorees were touted for developing unique practice niches, securing wins for clients, cultivating robust books of business and demonstrating strong leadership qualities.
You can read more about The National Law Journal Legal Awards here.
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices and industries to deliver highly effective solutions that propel success. More than 1,200 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
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McDermott Represents Private Equity Client Revelstoke in its Acquisition of Monte Nido
DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Represents Private Equity Client Revelstoke in its Acquisition of Monte Nido
August 29, 2022
Read time: 3 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery represented Revelstoke Capital Partners, a Denver-based health care-focused private equity firm, in its acquisition of Monte Nido Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries, a leading eating disorder treatment provider serving patients across the full continuum of care.
The transaction closed on August 25, 2022. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The McDermott deal team was led by Gregory Metz, Jason Caron, Michael McStay, Joshua Samis and Eric Preston and included Greg Fosheim, Larry Guess, Jacob Hollinger, David Ivill, Brian Mead, David Neville, Caroline Reignley, Alex Ruiz, David Saunders, Hunter Sharp, Allison Wilkerson, Ty Carson, Diann Smith, Sarah Ahmed, Nicole Briody, Haley Caradonna, Brian Casillas, Megan Cheney, Dexter Golinghorst, Caitlin Harrington, Jennifer Hill, Graham Hyman, Moyosore Koya, Alex Laznovsky, Niya Mack, Emily Mussio, Mike Rostov, Sam Siegfried, Anna Sikorski, Colin Stalter, Deepak Tamasker, Kate Williams, Kwabena Yeboah and John Zukin.
Read Revelstoke’s press release.
McDermott’s private equity practice is among the top four most active PE law firms globally and in the US with more than 160 dedicated private equity lawyers in 21 locations globally. In addition to being Pitchbook’s top Healthcare PE firm for a fifth consecutive year and fifth in both IT and financial services private equity, we are named Energy & Industrials Law Firm of the Year (Large Cap) by The Deal, Top 10 in PE Buyouts by MergerMarket and Top 10 in US Mid-Market by Bloomberg. Learn more about our PE practice by visiting pe.mwe.com.
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices and industries to deliver highly effective solutions that propel success. More than 1,200 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
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McDermott Advises on Two InsurTech Deals
DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Advises on Two InsurTech Deals
August 29, 2022
Read time: 3 min
Continuing to demonstrate its deep reach in the InsurTech sector, international law firm McDermott Will & Emery wraps up guidance in closing two more groundbreaking InsurTech related transactions, representing:
- Israeli-based weSure Global Tech Ltd. (Global Tech)’s sub-subsidiaries weSure Digital Insurance Services Inc. and weSure USA Holdings, Ltd., in its investments from Technology Insurance Company Inc., a subsidiary of multinational insurance holding company, AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. This investment and collaboration will advance Global Tech’s expansion of weSure’s digital operations as a managing general agency into the US market. The transaction closed on August 23, 2022. The McDermott deal team was led by Michael Halsband and included Aroma Sharma, Michael Byrne and Leigh Solomon. McDermott’s involvement with Israeli-based weSure dates back to early 2020 and is part of the firm’s strong commitment to and involvement with the Israeli InsurTech community. Read weSure’s press release in English and in Hebrew.
- Tarmika, Inc., a leading commercial lines rating and quoting solution for small business insurance, in its acquisition by Applied Systems, a global provider of cloud-based software that powers the business of insurance. The transaction closed on August 12, 2022. The McDermott deal team was led by Michael Halsband and included Christopher Stacker, Smith Alpert, Leigh Solomon, Michelle Strowhiro, Abigail Kagan, Melis Solaksubasi, Jed Gordon, David Saunders, Erin Turley, Nick Paul, John Lutz, Andrew Granek and Nathan Barnett. Read Applied Systems’ press release.
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices and industries to deliver highly effective solutions that propel success. More than 1,200 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
