PRESS RELEASE
McDermott’s Health Practice Launches in Atlanta with Partner, Counsel Additions
August 13, 2021
Read time: 5 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery announced today that Phillip Street joined as partner and Craig Smith as counsel in its Health Practice Group. Both join McDermott’s rapidly growing Atlanta office from King & Spalding LLP.
“We couldn’t be more excited to add these widely-known and highly-respected health law attorneys to our bench, and to be building up our new Atlanta presence,” Eric Zimmerman, global chair of McDermott’s Health Practice Group, said. “Phillip and Craig are not only among the country’s leading lawyers for hospital and health system transactions, but they also possess unique experience and insight into the Southeastern U.S. healthcare market.”
Mike Poulos, McDermott’s Head of Strategy, added: “Our Global Health Practice has been at the vanguard of the industry for more than a decade and we are committed to continued growth of our offerings. Phillip and Craig join our existing roster of leading practitioners and immediately strengthen our strong position in Atlanta.”
Phillip is a seasoned industry operator with over 30 years of experience in helping organizations develop and execute strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures. His insights into the regulatory and business issues that arise during healthcare collaborations make him a valued partner to, among others, providers, clinically integrated networks, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, private equity investors and research consortiums working to drive healthcare innovation through novel transactions. His tax experience also provides him with a unique perspective among healthcare dealmakers.
“I’m thrilled to join McDermott – a Firm that offers a top-tier health brand, full-service health transactions capabilities and a commitment to ambitious growth,” Philip noted. “I’m looking forward to leveraging this superb platform to support my clients.”
Craig is also a deeply experienced transactional and corporate lawyer and represents all types of clients in the healthcare and life sciences space in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, business and regulatory matters (including for-profit and non-profit hospitals and health systems), physician groups, practice management companies, clinically integrated networks, continuing care retirement communities, home health and hospice providers and clinical research organizations. He also has extensive experience in a variety of financing matters, including commercial lending and bond, private equity and venture capital transactions.
McDermott Will & Emery is the nation’s leading health law firm and is the only health practice to receive top national rankings from U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms,” Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US and Law360. The practice was also recognized by Chambers as “Health Team of the Year” in 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019. McDermott has also held the top spot in PitchBook’s League Tables as the most active firm for healthcare private equity since 2017.
About McDermott
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.
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 Partners Recognized As Digital Health Power Players
AWARDS & RANKINGS / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Partners Recognized As Digital Health Power Players
August 11, 2021
Read time: 4 min
Washington (August 11, 2021) – McDermott Will & Emery partners Jennifer Geetter and Vernessa Pollard have been recognized within an Insider profile on the “9 behind-the-scenes players who can make or break your digital-health startup.” The pair discussed advising young companies on the regulatory hurdles they have to clear before tackling the healthcare market.
As part of the Firm’s industry-leading health practice, Jennifer advises digital health companies on the development, delivery and implementation of innovative healthcare solutions. Vernessa leads medical device and technology companies through US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations to bring products to market.
Vernessa explored with Insider how more tech companies are spreading into healthcare. These companies need assistance discussing the FDA’s newest regulations, including machine learning oversights or health-data privacy rules. If businesses are not knowledgeable about their regulatory requirements, it can make or break their investments.
“We have a number of what we’d consider to be nontraditionally FDA regulated entities, such as the large tech companies and even hospitals and healthcare providers, that are entering this space because they’re developing new tools or technology that may trigger FDA requirements,” Vernessa noted.
Jennifer explained that it’s not always clear if decade old FDA laws apply, so she advises her clients to prioritize building trust with patients through an emphasis of privacy and cybersecurity protection.
“There’s something about the intimacy of the standard doctor-patient relationship when you’re sitting across the room from your doctor that breeds trust,” Jennifer said. “When you’re in a digital healthcare system with distance, you don’t necessarily have that.”
McDermott Will & Emery is the nation’s leading health law firm. The Health Industry Advisory group is the only health practice to receive top national rankings from U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms,” Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US and Law360. The practice was also recognized by Chambers as “Health Team of the Year” in 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019. McDermott has also held the top spot in PitchBook’s League Tables as the most active firm for healthcare private equity since 2017.
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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EUR 727 Million Renewables Deal: McDermott advises Hanwha Solutions Corporation on its acquisition of RES Méditerranée SAS
DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT / PRESS RELEASE
EUR 727 Million Renewables Deal: McDermott advises Hanwha Solutions Corporation on its acquisition of RES Méditerranée SAS
August 13, 2021
Read time: 4 min
Hanwha Group massively expands its presence in the renewable energy market in Europe with its acquisition of RES Méditerranée SAS, a French developer and operator of wind and solar power plants
Frankfurt, Germany, 10 August 2021 – The Frankfurt and Paris office of McDermott Will & Emery are advising Hanwha Solutions Corporation (HSC) on the envisaged acquisition of RES Méditerranée SAS from Renewable Energy Systems Limited (RES Group).
The EUR 727 million acquisition is expected to close by the end of October 2021. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Avignon, RES Méditerranée SAS is active, inter alia, in onshore and offshore wind power, photovoltaics, energy storage and repowering. The acquisition of the French renewables project development company is part of Hanwha’s clear strategy to make a significant contribution to the energy transition and to complete its transformation into a leading full-service provider of renewable energy solutions. The acquisition will double Hanwha’s product pipeline in Europe to around ten gigawatts. Closing of the transaction is subject to the completion of the standard employee consultation process and customary regulatory approvals.
Hanwha Solutions Corporation is a multinational energy services, petrochemical and real estate development company headquartered in Seoul, South Korea and the parent company of Hanwha Q-Cells, one of the world’s leading solar companies. RES Group, which was founded in 1982 as part of the Sir Robert McAlpine Group is reportedly the world’s largest independent renewable energy company and headquartered in Kings Langley, England.
Advisors Hanwha Solutions Corporation:
McDermott Will & Emery, Frankfurt: Dr. Bernd Meyer-Witting, Florian Lechner (joint lead)
McDermott Will & Emery, Paris: Guillaume Kellner (Corporate/M&A), Jilali Maazouz (Employment), Laurent Ayache, Charlotte Michellet (both Regulatory), Associates: Boris Wolkoff (Corporate/M&A), Marion Schwartz (Regulatory), Abdel Abdellah (Employment), Charles de Raignac (IP)
McDermott Will & Emery, Brussels: Hendrik Viaene; Associates: Caroline Ruiz Palmer, Karolien Van der Putten (all Competition)
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 prow-ess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
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Schulte Advises 272 Capital in Sale to B. Riley
PRESS RELEASE
Schulte Advises 272 Capital in Sale to B. Riley
August 2021
Read time: 3 min
Schulte advises 272 Capital LP in connection with its sale to an affiliate of B. Riley Financial, Inc., a diversified provider of business advisory and financial services. 272 Capital currently manages over $270 million in assets. The transaction aims to strengthen both 272 Capital and B. Riley’s investment offerings for institutional and individual high-net-worth clients. In connection with the transaction, 272 Capital’s founder and CEO, Wes Cummins, will also serve as president of B. Riley Asset Management. The deal closed in August 2021.
The Schulte team advising 272 Capital was led by investment management partner Heather Wyckoff and M&A and securities partner Lawrence Natke. The team also included investment management associate Alexander Sussman; employment & employee benefits partner David Cohen; tax partner David Wermuth and associate Joseph Reich.
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McDermott Represents Acuity in its Acquisition of Catching Clouds
DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Represents Acuity in its Acquisition of Catching Clouds
August 6, 2021
Read time: 3 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery represented Acuity CFO Online Bookkeeping Accounting and Business Tax (Acuity), an online, full-service financial and accounting firm, in its acquisition of Catching Clouds, an ecommerce accounting tool. This merger brings together the two largest and technically advanced ecommerce firms and supports Amazon and Shopify sellers’ businesses.
- This transaction closed on August 4, 2021.
- McDermott Will & Emery acted as legal counsel to Acuity.
- Read Acuity’s announcement here.
- The McDermott team was led by Brian Gordon and included Leon Jun and Greg Weigand.
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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Covid-19 vaccination – In this case, a company might well say: access only for vaccinated people
PRESS RELEASE
Covid-19 vaccination – In this case, a company might well say: access only for vaccinated people
August 6, 2021
Read time: 2 min
Thomas Gennert, employment, partner in Munich was interview by Wirtschaftswoche. In this article he advises companies on all the issues that arise in dealing with the corona pandemic. The interview focuses on finding the right approach to dealing with employees without Covid 19 vaccination.
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Schulte Attorneys Participate in NYC Bar’s ALI and ALI LITE Programs
PRESS RELEASE
Schulte Attorneys Participate in NYC Bar’s ALI and ALI LITE Programs
August 3, 2021
Read time: 2 min
Schulte associates Abdulrahman Alwattar, Michelle Chang, Jina Choi, Ekenedilichukwu (Keni) E. Ukabiala and law clerk Darius Crolle participated in the NYC Bar’s 2021 Associate Leadership Institute (ALI) LITE program offered to junior associates and focused on developing skills imperative to their career progression such as business development, leadership, and management skills. The ALI LITE program includes an impressive array of keynote speakers.
Earlier this spring, associate Farzaan Ijaz was selected as a 2021 ALI Fellow. The NYC Bar ALI program is offered to mid-level and senior associates, who are invited to attend intensive training modules, hear from keynote speakers and participate in industry networking opportunities.
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McDermott Recognized with Greater Boston Legal Services Associates Drive Innovator Award
AWARDS & RANKINGS / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Recognized with Greater Boston Legal Services Associates Drive Innovator Award
August 2, 2021
Read time: 3 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce that it has been recognized with the Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) Associates Drive Innovator Award for its creative fundraising strategies in the 2021 Drive.
This year, co-captains Andrea Okoro and Jake Kuipers led a competition in the Firm’s Boston office, where litigation and transactions associates competed in weekly virtual games while staff professionals, counsel and partners bet on the winning teams by donating to GBLS. The Firm raised over $11,000 for the cause, placed third in its division (up from seventh last year) and had the highest participation rate of all 47 competing firms.
The Greater Boston Legal Services Associates Fund Drive is a grassroots fundraising effort, having been created and commenced by associates themselves in the 1990s. Through the Drive, Boston-area associates from mid- and large-size law firms raise hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to support GBLS’ work on behalf of domestic violence survivors.
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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Schulte Roth & Zabel Announces Addition of Leading M&A Lawyer Brian Miner
PRESS RELEASE
Schulte Roth & Zabel Announces Addition of Leading M&A Lawyer Brian Miner
August 2, 2021
Read time: 4 min
Schulte Roth & Zabel (SRZ) announces the addition of Brian C. Miner as a partner in the M&A and Securities Group. He joins the firm from Holland & Knight.
Mr. Miner concentrates his practice in private equity transactions and mergers and acquisitions involving public and private companies. He has substantial experience across a broad range of sectors, including financial services and asset management, life sciences and healthcare, energy and manufacturing. Mr. Miner frequently advises clients on acquisitions and dispositions of interests in alternative asset management firms, including structuring, negotiating and executing minority investments in private equity fund managers.
“We are excited to welcome Brian to the firm. His sophisticated private equity M&A practice and experience across a range of industries will be a tremendous asset to our group and our clients,” said Ele Klein, chair of the M&A and Securities Group, co-chair of the global Shareholder Activism Group and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.
“Brian has a great depth of practice advising on complex transactions, and his broad expertise and deep knowledge will further enhance our client offerings,” said David Efron, SRZ co-managing partner and co-head of the Investment Management Group.
“As SRZ continues to grow, we are proud to have Brian join our firm as we further strengthen our capabilities in a core practice area,” commented Marc Elovitz, SRZ co-managing partner and chair of the Investment Management Regulatory & Compliance Group.
“I am delighted to join SRZ and its talented team of lawyers to further grow the firm’s market-leading corporate practice while providing the best-in-class client service SRZ is known for,” said Mr. Miner.
SRZ’s M&A and securities lawyers regularly advise on complex deals for many of the world’s most active and influential private equity firms. The firm’s M&A transactions have been consistently recognized as “Deals of the Year” by industry rankings and the group is recognized by both Chambers and The Legal 500.
Mr. Miner received his J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law and his B.S. from Wake Forest University.
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Ted Becker Honored with The ESOP Association’s Lifetime Service Award
PRESS RELEASE
Ted Becker Honored with The ESOP Association’s Lifetime Service Award
July 29, 2021
Read time: 4 min
McDermott Will & Emery employee benefits partner Ted Becker recently received the 2021 Lifetime Service Award from The ESOP Association, the largest employee ownership advocacy organization in the world. For more than four decades, The ESOP Association has represented the interests of millions of employee owners and their companies that have established an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The award is the organization’s highest honor recognizing an individual for significant support and compelling contributions to employee ownership.
“The ESOP Association’s recognition of Ted’s contributions for over the past forty years is well deserved and reflects McDermott’s continued leadership in, and commitment to, the ESOP community,” said Andrew Liazos, head of McDermott’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice.
“I can’t think of a more deserving recipient of the Lifetime Service Award,” said Erin Turley, leader of McDermott’s ESOP practice. “Ted has immense experience and his work will have a lasting positive impact on the ESOP community.”
Ted is Co-Chair of McDermott’s Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Litigation Team and is a Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel. His practice focuses on litigation under ERISA and related federal and state actions, as well as defense of government investigations and audits relating to employee benefit, health and welfare, and retirement plans brought by the US Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service and the US Department of Justice.
Ted has represented public and private companies that sponsor employee benefit, health and welfare and retirement plans governed by ERISA. He has defended the highest profile ESOP-related lawsuits and has helped shape the law relating to ESOPs. During his career, Ted has devoted substantial time to speaking and writing on issues relating to employee benefits and ESOPs, and he has served in leadership roles in organizations that foster employee ownership.
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.
