PRESS RELEASE
Rising Government Contracts Star Joins McDermott in Washington
April 15, 2022
Read time: 4 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce the addition of Tara L. Ward as a partner in its Regulatory Practice Group based in Washington, DC. Tara will serve as the government contracts practice vice-chair, and her broad practice knowledge will support and amplify the recent client demand following Dan Graham joining the Firm as government contracts practice head earlier this year.
“Our clients doing business with the federal government often face a complex web of legal requirements,” Ray Jacobsen, global head of McDermott’s regulatory practice, said. “Having deep experience advising on all aspects of the government contracts process, Tara understands comprehensive legal issues and is a proven and fierce client advocate. We are committed to making talent investments on our way to becoming the ‘go-to’ government contracts powerhouse in DC.”
“I joined McDermott because they are deeply committed to building a premier government contracts practice,” Dan said. “Adding Tara as vice-chair is a critical step toward that goal, and having worked with her for many years, I know our clients can depend on her for expert counsel and advocacy on any and every possible government contracts matter.”
Tara represents a wide variety of companies that do business with the federal government, ranging from small and emerging tech companies looking to break into or expand their stake in the federal marketplace, to well-established defense, professional services, and information technology contractors and subcontractors. Tara’s diverse practice covers the full range of government contracting issues, including litigation and counseling related to bid protests, contract claims and disputes, and teaming agreement and other strategic alliance issues. Tara regularly helps clients navigate some of the most nuanced areas of government contract law, including other transaction agreements, small business regulations, and supply chain issues.
“McDermott’s multidisciplinary approach to the practice of government contracts law is a true differentiator, and one that solidified my move to the Firm,” Tara said. “I am also thrilled to join forces again with Dan, as well as a true and tried team with a shared client-first approach.”
Tara is recognized as a top government contracts lawyer across notable publications, including Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, Law360 and Super Lawyers. She is a Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington Law School, the only law school with a nationally recognized Government Procurement Law LLM program. She also serves as editor-in-chief for Public Contract Law Journal. Tara received her AB (magna cum laude) from Princeton University and her JD (with honors) from The George Washington University Law School.
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—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 Recognized as a Top International Law Firm in Latin America by Latinvex
AWARDS & RANKINGS / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Recognized as a Top International Law Firm in Latin America by Latinvex
April 13, 2022
Read time: 3 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce that it has been recognized as a Top International Law Firm in Latin America by Latinvex. In addition to an overall firm ranking, McDermott was ranked in the Tax, Real Estate and Corporate/M&A subcategories.
Lawyers in McDermott’s Latin America Practice bring decades of cross-practice experience counseling multinational corporations, private equity funds, financial service firms and high-net-worth individuals. From real estate, manufacturing and technology to retail, aviation and gaming, McDermott is highly adept in strategically partnering with clients on complex and sophisticated legal and business matters.
The Latin America team has a presence across the United States and Europe with lawyers in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paris and Washington, DC.
The editorial and research staff of Latinvex ranks the top international law firms in Latin America, both overall and in 17 subcategories. The 2022 list – the ninth annual ranking of Latin America’s top law firms – is based on a combination of factors, including value, prominence and scope of work and references among clients and peers.
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McDermott Represents Aspirion Health Resources in Business Combination with ARx
DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Represents Aspirion Health Resources in Business Combination with ARx
April 13, 2022
Read time: 3 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery represented Aspirion Health Resources, a leader in technology-enabled healthcare revenue cycle management, in its business combination with ARx Healthcare, a revenue cycle management company dedicated to improving revenue cycle management financial performance for healthcare providers. The companies’ shared vision and cultural synergy of customer centricity, innovation and delivering superior results will facilitate optimal revenue recovery performance and financial success for their healthcare provider partners.
- The transaction closed on March 22, 2022.
- The addition of ARx will further reinforce Aspirion’s strong market position in aged accounts receivable collections and provide its hospital system clients with expanded capabilities to support a broader array of complex revenue cycle solutions.
- McDermott team was led by Jerry Sokol and Ibrahim Barakat and included Patrick Zanayed, Caitlyn Cullen, Alex Ruiz and Emily Mussio.
- Read Aspirion’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—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 Advised Gefco on its Sale to CMA-CGM
PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Advised Gefco on its Sale to CMA-CGM
April 12, 2022
Read time: 3 min
Paris, 12 April 2022 – McDermott Will & Emery has advised Gefco, the European leader in automotive logistics and an international expert in multimodal supply chain management, on the takeover of the group by CMA CGM, the world leader in maritime transport and logistics.
On this occasion, the CMA-CGM group is taking over almost 100% of Gefco’s shares from its historical shareholders, Stellantis and Russian Railways (RZD), which is on the list of companies targeted by Western sanctions due to the war in Ukraine.
The deal has been cleared by the European Commission under a derogation procedure and final approval will be given in the coming months.
McDermott advised Gefco with a team comprised of:
- Timothée Gagnepain, partner and Lucille Madariaga, and Anne-Sophie Diederichs, associates, in Restructuring;
- Henri Pieyre de Mandiargues, partner, and Sofiya Kachan, associate, in Corporate;
- Frédéric Pradelles, partner and Mary Hecht, associate, in competition law;
- Sabine Naugès, partner, and Charlotte Michellet, associate, in public law;
- Antoine Vergnat, partner, in tax law
- David Levine, McDermott Washington
The firm acted alongside Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier and Willkie Farr in this transaction.
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SEC Proposed Private Fund Rules: General Observations (Part One of Two)
PRESS RELEASE
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McDermott Selects Three Female Leaders to the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Pathfinders Programs
PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Selects Three Female Leaders to the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Pathfinders Programs
April 12, 2022
Read time: 4 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce the selection of three female lawyers to participate in the 2022 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) programs: partner Dana Dombey as LCLD Fellow and associates Marjorie Soto and Elle Hayes as LCLD Pathfinders.
“Our McDermott colleagues and clients alike care deeply about diversity and representation, and we know that enhanced efforts lead to better outcomes for everyone,” Anthony (Tony) Upshaw, said. McDermott’s Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion. “Dana, Marjorie and Elle are not only fantastic lawyers but fierce advocates for diversity in the legal industry and beyond, and they will pave paths to lessen these challenges for the next generation of lawyers.”
Dana is a healthcare transactions lawyer based in Miami who also leads the Firm’s Physician Practice Management practice. She represents private equity funds, strategic investors, ambulatory surgery centers and physician practices in a variety of transactional and regulatory matters. Dana regularly advises clients with respect to state licensure issues, compliance, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, corporate practice of medicine laws, the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Stark law and other federal and state legal, regulatory and business issues affecting healthcare providers.
Marjorie is based in Los Angeles and focuses her practice on labor and employment maters, including single plaintiff and class action litigation, employment counseling, traditional labor (including union activity and collective bargaining), and M&A and complex transactions. She regularly defends employers in state and federal lawsuits alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour violations, violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) actions and unfair labor practice charges under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
Miami-based Elle focuses her practice on renewable energy transactions and general corporate matters, representing clients on tax equity and project finance transactions. She also represents private equity sponsors and private companies in general corporate matters, particularly mergers and acquisitions.
The LCLD Fellows Program connects high-potential, diverse attorneys from LCLD Member organizations for a year-long professional development program focused on leadership and relationship building. The Pathfinder Program connects high-potential, early-career diverse attorneys from LCLD Member organizations for a seven–month professional development program focused on foundational leadership and relationship-building, offering promising diverse associates an opportunity to set themselves up for success.
Both programs offer a plethora of opportunities for Fellows and Pathfinders. Class meetings with their peers, interactive professional development events and leadership lunches are offered with the goal of networking and perfecting professional skills, including self-awareness, management skills and emotional intelligence.
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 Advises Hequet Therapeutics on its EUR 8m Funding Round
DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Advises Hequet Therapeutics on its EUR 8m Funding Round
April 11, 2022
Read time: 3 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery advised Heqet Therapeutics, a Turin-based start-up (a biotech spin-out from King’s College London) active in the field of regenerative medicine, in its EUR 8m Series A funding round to complete its RNA-based therapy programme for cardiac regeneration.
The group of new investors, led by Claris Ventures and 2Invest, assisted by I2I, also saw participation in the round from King’s College London, which licensed the start-up’s patents.
McDermott, Will & Emery advised the investors with a team headed by Ettore Scandale, partner in charge of the Italian corporate department, supported by associate Stefano Pardini and trainee Matteo Landini.
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 1,400 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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Managing IP Recognizes Sarah Chapin Columbia as a Litigator of the Year in Massachusetts
AWARDS & RANKINGS / PRESS RELEASE
Managing IP Recognizes Sarah Chapin Columbia as a Litigator of the Year in Massachusetts
April 8, 2022
Read time: 3 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce that Boston-based Partner Sarah Chapin Columbia has been named Litigator of the Year in Massachusetts as part of the Managing IP Americas Awards on April 7, 2022.
As a partner in the Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group, Sarah’s practice focuses on patent and trade secret cases. Over the last dozen years, she has led 16 patent infringement, trade secrets and invalidity trials (10 jury trials, six bench trials) across several jurisdictions, including the federal courts in Massachusetts, Florida, Delaware, Colorado, California and Texas.
In addition to Sarah’s recognition, McDermott was named a finalist for the Patent Prosecution (Northeast) category. Thomas Steindler was also recognized as a finalist for Litigator of the Year in Washington, DC, and Ahsan Shaikh was named a finalist for Practitioner of the Year (Patent Prosecution).
Now in its 17th year, the Managing IP Awards program covers several IP practice areas and more than 50 jurisdictions. The research for the program consists of information obtained from firms, IP practitioners, and clients through interviews and online surveys. You can view the full list of honorees 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—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 Advises Office Partner on Sale of Majority Stake to Printus Group
DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Advises Office Partner on Sale of Majority Stake to Printus Group
April 8, 2022
Read time: 3 min
Düsseldorf, April 8, 2022 – McDermott Will & Emery advised the founders and shareholders of Office Partner Group on the sale of a majority stake to Printus Group. The closing of the transaction is subject to antitrust approval.
Printus will acquire 70 percent of the shares in Office Partner. 30 percent will remain with the managing directors Peter Pölling and Sven Osterholt; both will continue to manage the business operations of Office Partner, which will remain operationally independent.
Founded in 1997, Office Partner GmbH specializes in online retailing of printers, computers, and other IT products. The company currently employs 160 people and achieved sales of 189 million euros in 2021.
Printus GmbH is one of the leading online and mail-order retailers for office supplies in Europe. The family-owned company was founded in 1977 and today generates annual sales of over 850 million euros with more than 1,600 employees.
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 Advised Figeac Aero on its Financial Restructuring
PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Advised Figeac Aero on its Financial Restructuring
April 7, 2022
Read time: 3 min
Paris, April 7, 2022 – McDermott Will & Emery has advised Figeac Aéro, a player in the aeronautical subcontracting industry, in the context of the agreement with all of its financial partners.
An agreement has been reached for conducting a series of indissociable operations leading to the financial restructuring of the Group, within the framework of an ad hoc mandate and under the aegis of CIRI.
These operations include:
- The consolidation of Figeac Aéro‘s equity capital via a reinforcement of Tikehau Ace Capital’s investment by means of a reserved capital increase;
- An agreement with Figeac Aéro‘s banking partners on the rescheduling of existing financing until 2028 and the obtaining of new EMPs;
- A partial buyback of the 2022 ORNANEs and a proposal to modify the terms of the 2022 ORNANEs, including (i) an extension of the maturity of the 2022 ORNANEs to October 2028, (ii) an increase in the conversion ratio, and (iii) an increase in the coupon rate;
- A strengthening of the Board of Directors.
These transactions are interrelated and remains subject to regulatory approvals.
McDermott also advised Mr Jean-Claude Maillard in the negotiations with Tikehau Ace Capital.
This financial restructuring should provide Figeac Aéro with the financial means necessary for its redeployment and enable it to meet its modified financial commitments in the short and medium term.
The McDermott team that advised Figeac Aéro comprised:
– Guillaume Kellner and Nicolas Lafont, partners.
