AWARDS & RANKINGS / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Ranked Among Top 10 Most Innovative Law Firms in North America
December 7, 2023
Read time: 4 min
December 7, 2023 – International law firm McDermott Will & Emery has been recognized as a Top 10 Most Innovative Law Firm as part of the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards North America 2023.
The Firm was also recognized as a “Standout” for Practice of Law: Supreme Court; “Highly Commended” for Practice of Law: Access to Justice & Civil Rights; and “Commended” for Business of Law: Knowledge & Data. McDermott was shortlisted for Most Digital Law Firm of the Year in North America.
- Standout | Practice of Law: Supreme Court — Working in partnership with the Yale Supreme Court Clinic, a McDermott team led by Paul Hughes secured a unanimous reversal from the Supreme Court of the United States for a transgender immigrant seeking relief from deportation, and ultimately eased the procedural burdens for immigrants trying to navigate complex bureaucracy without counsel. Read the case study.
- Highly Commended | Practice of Law: Access to Justice & Civil Rights — A pro bono litigation team led by Daniel Campbell teamed up with Legal Action Chicago and the National Housing Law Project to secure a class action settlement and deliver better housing protections to the people in Chicago who need it most. The outcome serves as a guide for other cities and municipalities as they identify and remedy similar issues within their housing authorities. Read the case study.
- Commended | Business of Law: Knowledge & Data — Developed in-house by Knowledge Management, McDermott’s M&A/PE Deal Hub is a groundbreaking data collection project that offers a comprehensive 360-degree view of all the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and private equity (PE) deals our lawyers have closed since 2020. The Deal Hub incorporates multiple data sources such as iManage, Aderant, Foundation, Client/Matter Intake System and Salesforce that allow McDermott lawyers to search for purchase agreement data using a variety of dynamic filters.
The Innovative Lawyers North America 2023 report highlights digitally advanced firms and in-house teams that are using novel approaches to deliver exceptional value to businesses and society. The report also highlights outstanding leaders and individuals innovating in the legal space. View the report.
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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McDermott Advises Entain plc on Deferred Prosecution Agreement
PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Advises Entain plc on Deferred Prosecution Agreement
December 7, 2023
Read time: 4 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery in London, together with Addleshaw Goddard, jointly advised Entain plc on its negotiation of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the subsequent approval by the Court of the DPA. It is the first time the CPS has resolved an investigation with a DPA.
The £585 million financial penalty and disgorgement figure, approved on 5 December 2023 by Dame Victoria Sharp DBE, President of the King’s Bench Division, follows an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) into Entain’s legacy Turkish business, which it sold in 2017. The company announced in May 2023 that it had entered into DPA negotiations with the CPS to resolve the ongoing HMRC investigation in relation to alleged offences under section 7 of the UK Bribery Act 2010.
In addition to advising on the investigation and the DPA, McDermott also advised Entain on its global compliance framework.
The McDermott team worked alongside Entain’s Group General Counsel, Simon Zinger, who led the company’s efforts.
Simon Zinger, Group General Counsel of Entain, said:
“Entain’s exemplary co-operation, regulatory focus, and transformed compliance programme have been central to this outcome. We are committed to ensuring that Entain continues to implement the highest ethical, compliance and governance standards.”
James Dobias of McDermott said:
“As recognised by the Court, Entain has shown ‘exemplary co-operation and remediation’, which has been reflected in the full discount it received on the financial penalty. The DPA helps draw a line under these legacy issues and allows our client to concentrate on the future.”
Acknowledging the exemplary co-operation of Entain in the investigation, the Judge ruled in a public hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on 5 December 2023 that the DPA’s terms were fair, reasonable and proportionate and that the DPA was in the interests of justice.
Read Entain’s market disclosure 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 1,400 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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Schulte pro bono team requests injunction to stop further implementation of HB 1775
PRESS RELEASE
Schulte pro bono team requests injunction to stop further implementation of HB 1775
December 6, 2023
Read time: 3 min
The Schulte pro bono team recently requested an injunction to stop the further implementation of HB 1775 in Black Emergency Response Team v. Drummond. The lawsuit challenges HB 1775, Oklahoma’s classroom censorship law, which severely restricts university faculty, public school teachers and students from learning and talking about race and gender in the classroom.
Schulte and plaintiffs argue that such restrictions stifle free speech and discriminate on the basis of race, in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Schulte partner Doug Koff stated, “This case isn’t just important to the students and teachers of Oklahoma, but [also to] communities across the country.”
Read the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law press release .
Read the Oklahoma Voice article .
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McDermott Moves into New Atlanta Office Space, Setting the Stage for Future Growth
PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Moves into New Atlanta Office Space, Setting the Stage for Future Growth
December 4, 2023
Read time: 4 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery has relocated its Atlanta office to the 33rd floor of 1180 Peachtree Street NE, a preeminent high-rise office building in Midtown. The Firm first planted its flag in Atlanta in 2020, opening with five partners. The new space is now home to 24 lawyers and 17 professional staff.
“I’m proud to unveil this stunning office, inspired by the fresh, modern look of the surrounding city and our commitment to supporting clients in reaching new heights and achieving global aspirations,” said Frank Layson, managing partner of the Firm’s Atlanta office.
As a rapidly growing high-tech urban center and innovation hub in the Southeastern United States, Atlanta has a notably diverse economy and hosts the headquarters of several Fortune 500 companies. Against this backdrop, the office is primed for the continued expansion of its signature practices, including cross border mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital and intellectual property litigation.
The office space reflects the Midtown area’s prestige as a lively arts hub and busy commercial area, along with the Firm’s bold, leading-edge approach. Notable design elements include an open floor plan with glass conference rooms, exposed ductwork and a reception desk that gives a nod to the sloped shape of the building around it, all with stunning views of the Atlanta cityscape.
“We’ve created a high-energy atmosphere with all our design choices,” said Layson. “Our Atlanta team will thrive in this environment. It’s a true representation of the Firm’s vibrancy and #AlwaysBetter mantra.”
Built in 2006, the 41-story tower was the first high-rise office building in the Southeastern US to receive gold certification under the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Core & Shell rating system. This office move is part of the Firm’s global design strategy and growth mindset for the future, ensuring clients have the support and counsel they need in the geographies where they need it most.
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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Human Rights Campaign Foundation Recognizes McDermott as Champion of LGBTQ+ Workplace Equality
AWARDS & RANKINGS / PRESS RELEASE
Human Rights Campaign Foundation Recognizes McDermott as Champion of LGBTQ+ Workplace Equality
December 4, 2023
Read time: 3 min
December 4, 2023 – International law firm McDermott Will & Emery has received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The Firm has now been top ranked for 18 years on the CEI, which is the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.
“McDermott works to ensure that all differences among our personnel, including with regard to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, are embraced and consistent with our overall commitment to inclusion, which benefits our clients and our Firm culture,” said Maria Rodriguez, chair of McDermott’s LGBTQ+ Justice, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Subcommittee and managing partner of the Los Angeles office. “This recognition underscores our innovative strategies and unwavering commitment to LGBTQ+ equality.”
McDermott’s continued efforts in once again satisfying all the CEI’s criteria earned the Firm a score of 100 and the designation as recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion.
Learn more about our Justice, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion programs 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 1,400 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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McDermott Represents MTS-TBH, LLC in its Sale of Trumpet Behavioral Health, LLC
DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Represents MTS-TBH, LLC in its Sale of Trumpet Behavioral Health, LLC
December 1, 2023
Read time: 3 min
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery represented MTS-TBH, LLC, a portfolio company of private equity company WindRose Heath Investors, LLC, in its sale of Trumpet Behavioral Health, LLC, a leading provider of behavioral health services, to Blue Sprig, a premier provider of Applied Behavior Analysis therapy.
The McDermott team was led by Krist Werling and Jarrett Szczesny, with significant assistance from Adam Byrne, Anna Sikorski, Sarah Engle, Jennifer Hill, Sarah Bro, Maxwell Preston, Michelle Strowhiro, Cristell Fortune, Margaret Cremin, Ryan Higgins, Gregory Fosheim, Ashley Fischer, Alex Ruiz, and Kwabena Yeboah.
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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Jennifer Mikulina Receives Thomas R. Leavens Award for Her Service to the Arts Community
AWARDS & RANKINGS / PRESS RELEASE
Jennifer Mikulina Receives Thomas R. Leavens Award for Her Service to the Arts Community
December 1, 2023
Read time: 3 min
December 1, 2023 – International law firm McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce that Jennifer Mikulina received the Thomas R. Leavens Award during Lawyers for the Creative Arts’ (LCA) 2023 Benefit Luncheon. Each year, the award is given to a lawyer who has shown distinguished support for the arts in Chicago.
For nearly 20 years, Jennifer has partnered with LCA, which provides free legal services to financially eligible clients in all areas of the arts. Jennifer’s pro bono work covers a variety of matters, including trademark counseling and disputes, publishing agreements and copyright disputes. Her LCA clients include theater companies, film producers, authors, visual artists, musicians and stage performers, among others. Jennifer has been on LCA’s Board of Directors for more than 15 years and has served as secretary on LCA’s Executive Committee for more than 10 years.
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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McDermott Advises Pfeifer & Langen on the Acquisition of a Majority Stake in Rügenwalder Mühle
DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Advises Pfeifer & Langen on the Acquisition of a Majority Stake in Rügenwalder Mühle
November 28, 2023
Read time: 3 min
Düsseldorf, November 28, 2023 – McDermott Will & Emery has advised the family holding Pfeifer & Langen Industrie- und Handels-KG on the acquisition of a majority stake in the family-owned company Rügenwalder Mühle. The closing of the transaction is subject to approval by the antitrust authorities.
If the investment is approved, Rügenwalder Mühle will be organizationally linked to the business unit “The Nature’s Richness Group” of Pfeifer & Langen IHKG. This bundles various “from field to fork” investments, including “endori”, a manufacturer of meat alternatives made from plant protein. Both brands – “Rügenwalder Mühle” and “endori” – will continue to operate independently in the new constellation.
A McDermott team led by Dr Philipp Grenzebach advised Pfeifer & Langen IHKG and The Nature’s Richness Group on the bidding process, the due diligence and the negotiation of both the purchase agreement and the shareholders’ agreement.
Pfeifer & Langen Industrie- und Handels-KG is a family-owned company whose origins go back more than 150 years. The Pfeifer & Langen Group unites leading companies in the food industry, including the sugar and savory snacks sectors.
Rügenwalder Mühle Carl Müller GmbH & Co. KG has been offering vegetarian and vegan meat and sausage alternatives in addition to traditional meat and sausage products since the end of 2014 and is now one of the leading companies in Germany in this segment.
The McDermott team advising Pfeifer & Langen Industrie- und Handels-KG / Nature’s Richness Group was led by partner Dr Philipp Grenzebach and comprised partners Dr Norbert Schulte, Christian Krohs, Dr Sandra Urban-Crell, Dr Alexa Ningelgen and Thomas Beisken, counsels Carina Kant, Jana Grieb, Dr Antje Weiss and Marcus Fischer as well as associates Sebastian Klein, Annabelle Juliette Rau, Dr Alexander Hoppe, Dr Frederic Peine, Max Küttner, Lea Hauser, Julian Rößler-Weis, Dr Katharina Hoffmeister, Lukas Deutzmann, Dr Tim Weill, Tobias Zorn, Carolin Irla and Maximilian von den Benken.
Dr. Norbert, Schulte M.A.L.D. (The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy)
Partner
Düsseldorf, Cologne
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Schulte’s “blow-out success” secures nearly $18 million in legal fees for Politan Capital Management
PRESS RELEASE
Schulte’s “blow-out success” secures nearly $18 million in legal fees for Politan Capital Management
November 28, 2023
Read time: 3 min
Reuters featured Schulte Roth & Zabel’s latest victory for activist hedge fund Politan Capital Management in closely watched litigation with medical technology company Masimo Corporation, which Vice Chancellor Nathan Cook of the Delaware Court of Chancery called a “blow-out success” for Politan. In the latest win, Cook awarded Politan nearly $18 million in fees for forcing Masimo to abandon entrenchment tactics ahead of a shareholder vote on two Politan-backed candidates for Masimo’s board, a case that he also called a “cause celebre” and “consequential” for corporate governance.
Schulte partner Michael Swartz, who argued for Politan at the fee award hearing, told Reuters that Cook took a holistic approach to the fee request, disregarding Masimo’s hyper-technical arguments and focusing instead on the overall benefits the litigation brought to the company’s stockholders.
Swartz further stated that “The Chancery Court was frustrated that Masimo did not take a more reasonable approach.”
Read more here.
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McDermott Advises Main Capital Partners on Sale of its Stake in GBTEC
DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT / PRESS RELEASE
McDermott Advises Main Capital Partners on Sale of its Stake in GBTEC
November 24, 2023
Read time: 3 min
Munich/Düsseldorf, November 24, 2023 – McDermott Will & Emery has advised Main Capital Partners and the further shareholders on the sale of their respective stakes in the GBTEC group including GBTEC Software AG (“GBTEC”) to global investment firm Carlyle.
The equity for the investment is provided by Carlyle Europe Technology Partners V, a €3 billion fund that invests in technology companies in Europe.
GBTEC is a leading provider of SaaS software for intelligent business process management, digital process automation and process governance, risk and compliance. Founder and CEO Gregor Greinke remains the largest individual shareholder and CEO of GBTEC. Co-founder Marc-Oliver Stromberg and the extended GBTEC management team are (re-)investing significant stakes in the company.
Main Capital Partners is a leading software investor with over €2.2 billion under management and an active portfolio of more than 40 software companies in Northwest Europe and North America. Main Capital Partners invested in GBTEC in 2019 and has supported the company in its development.
McDermott regularly advises Main Capital Partners on transactions and financings.
The McDermott team was led by partners Hanno Witt (Private Equity, Munich) and Dustin Schwerdtfeger (Corporate/Finance, Dusseldorf), and included partners Deniz Tschammler (Commercial/Regulatory, Frankfurt) and Steffen Woitz (IP/IT, Munich), counsel Laura Stammwitz (Merger Control, Frankfurt) and Marcus Fischer (Tax, Frankfurt), as well as associates Manuel Weiß, Nicole Kaps, Berfin Sahin (all Private Equity, Munich) and Max Küttner (Merger Control, Dusseldorf).
