Job Title Category: Associate

  • Dr. Mara Sonnenberg

    Dr. Mara Sonnenberg

    People

    Dr. Mara Sonnenberg

    Associate
    Areas of focus

    Dr. Mara Sonnenberg focusses her practice on Real Estate. Prior to joining McDermott, Mara worked at a legal firm alongside her studies.

    Results
    Recognitions
    Capabilities and industries
    Regional markets
    Community
    Credentials
    Education
    • University of Cologne, Dr. jur. (PhD)
    • Higher Regional Court of Cologne, Second State Exam
    • University of Cologne, First State Exam
    • University of Cologne, Law
    Admissions
    • Germany
    Languages
    • English
    • French
    • German
    • Spanish
  • Max Küttner

    Max Küttner

    People

    Max Küttner

    Associate
    Areas of focus

    Max Küttner focuses his practice on antitrust law and foreign direct investment rules, advising on national and cross-border cartel investigations, distribution models, compliance and obtaining merger clearance from EU and national European regulatory authorities.

    Through his work, Max Küttner has gained invaluable experience in various industries, including healthcare, defense, logistics, FMCG, engineering, fashion, aluminum, telecommunication, software and transportation.

    Prior to joining McDermott, Max worked at the UK Competition & Markets Authority dealing with merger cases across a range of sectors. Max has also worked at international law firms in Germany, Belgium and the UK on antitrust and FDI matters.

    Results
    • Advising a multi-national logistics provider on its partnership with other logistics providers across Europe
    • Advising a Korean smartphone manufacturer on R&D agreements with competitors
    • Representing claimants in cartel follow-on damages actions in Germany

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    Recognitions
    • Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers™, “Ones to Watch” in Germany: Competition / Antitrust Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2024-2027
    • Legal 500, Recognized, UK: EU and Competition Law
    Capabilities and industries
    Regional markets
    Community
    Credentials
    Education
    • Free University of Berlin, MBL
    • University of Surrey, LLB, English and German Law
    Admissions
    • Germany
    • England and Wales
    • New York
    Languages
    • English
    • German
  • Irene Le Azcarraga

    Irene Le Azcarraga

    People

    Irene Le Azcarraga

    Associate

    Los Angeles

    Areas of focus

    Irene Le Azcarraga focuses her practice on litigation and investigations. Irene assists companies and individuals in resolving disputes related to complex civil litigation, intellectual property, and white-collar criminal defense. She has experience in a broad range of litigation matters in both state and federal courts across a range of industries, including–healthcare, financial services, e-commerce, educational services and commercial aviation. Irene has represented clients in cases involving patent infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract, unfair competition claims, accounting firm defense, among others. Irene has represented clients in all phases of litigation including at the appellate level. Irene also represents clients in government investigations and has been involved in conducting numerous internal investigations. In addition, she provides comprehensive management and enforcement of global trademark portfolios for companies specializing in television and radio broadcasting, mobile applications, apparel manufacturers and distributors.

    Irene also maintains an active pro bono practice including successful representation of victims of trafficking seeking immigration relief in the United States and has worked with organizations such as Lawyers Without Borders and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law of Boston, Massachusetts.

    While in law school, Irene advised technology startups and impact investors as a UC Berkeley and Harvard Law Chapter inSITE Fellow. She also completed legal internships at NASA Ames Research Center and SpaceX, a rocket and spacecraft technology company.

    Results
    • Represents the largest Spanish-language television and radio broadcaster in connection with various intellectual property, employment and privacy issues
    • Obtained summary judgment for an international microbiology technology company (California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, 2020)
    • Assisted tax accounting client with responding to security incident and data breach, including analyzing reporting obligations under HIPAA, analyzing state breach notification laws and preparing incident notifications
    • Assisted healthcare provider client in investigations by multiple regulators
    Recognitions
    • The Best Layewrs: Ones to Watch in America, Commercial Litigation, Los Angeles, 2024
    Capabilities and industries
    Regional markets
    Community
    • Board Member, UC Berkeley Alumni Board, L.A. Chapter
    • Board Member and Treasurer, Power California
    Credentials
    Education
    • University of California, Berkeley School of Law, JD, summa cum laude
    • University of California, Davis, BA
    Admissions
    • California
  • Kimberley Smith

    Kimberley Smith

    People

    Kimberley Smith

    Associate

    London – 22 Bishopsgate

    Areas of focus

    Kimberley Smith focuses her practice on commercial litigation and arbitration. She has considerable experience in contractual dispute proceedings before the High Court, in particular in the energy, commodities and healthcare industries.

    Results
    • Advising an Australian coal producer in LCIA arbitration proceedings regarding offtake arrangements
    • Advising a development consultancy regarding ICC arbitration proceedings against an East African state
    • Advising a healthcare company in two parallel LCIA arbitrations for breach of warranty, including against the W&I Insurer

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    Recognitions
    • The Best Lawyers in United Kingdom, “Ones to Watch” in International Arbitration, 2025
    • Legal 500 UK, Leading Associate, Commercial Litigation: Mid-Market, 2022-2027
    • Pro Bono Recognition List of England and Wales, 2026
    Capabilities and industries
    Regional markets
    Community
    • Member of the Procurement Lawyers’ Association (PLA)
    • Law Society of England & Wales
    • London Solicitors Litigation Association
    Credentials
    Education
    • College of Law, LPC
    • King’s College London, LLB
    • Humboldt-University of Berlin
    Admissions
    • England & Wales
  • Christopher J. Whalen

    Christopher J. Whalen

    People

    Christopher J. Whalen

    Associate

    New York – One Vanderbilt Avenue

    Areas of focus

    Christopher (Chris) J. Whalen focuses his practice on litigation matters.

    During law school, Chris was an executive editor of the New York Law School Law Review and participated in the Conservation Law & Policy Clinic.

    Results
    Recognitions
    Capabilities and industries
    Regional markets
    Community
    Credentials
    Education
    • New York Law School, JD, magna cum laude
    • Ithaca College, BA, magna cum laude
    Admissions
    • New York
  • Dr. Philip Uecker

    Dr. Philip Uecker

    People

    Dr. Philip Uecker

    Associate
    Areas of focus

    Dr. Philip Uecker focuses his practice on intellectual property and on data protection and privacy law. He is a Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E), Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) und Digital Legal Counsel (BUJ certified).

    Prior to joining the firm, Philip worked at a German bank as an in-house lawyer, following roles in the higher education sector as a lecturer and a research assistant. Philip regularly writes on data protection and privacy topics and lectures at the University of Münster.

    Results
    Recognitions
    • Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers™, “Ones to Watch” in Germany: Data Security and Privacy Law, 2025-2027
    Capabilities and industries
    Regional markets
    Community
    • “International Association of Privacy Professionals”
    • “Society for Data Protection and Data Security”
    Credentials
    Education
    • Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf, Second State Exam
    • Kiel University, Dr. jur. (PhD)
    • University of Münster, First State Exam
    Admissions
    • Germany
    Languages
    • English
    • German
    • Italian
  • Dr. Robert Feind, LL.M.

    Dr. Robert Feind, LL.M.

    People

    Dr. Robert Feind

    Associate
    Areas of focus

    Dr. Robert Feind focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), private equity and general corporate law.

    Prior to joining McDermott Will & Emery, Robert worked as a research associate at the Viadrina European University. As part of his legal clerkship, he worked at the Federal Ministry of Finance and another international law firm in Berlin.

    Furthermore, Robert is also a Polish lawyer as well as a state-certified, publicly appointed, and sworn translator for the Polish language

    Results
    Recognitions
    Capabilities and industries
    Regional markets
    Community
    Credentials
    Education
    • European University Viadrina, Dr. jur. (PhD)
    • GJPA Berlin-Brandenburg, Second State Exam
    • European University Viadrina, First State Exam
    • European University Viadrina, LL.M.
    • Adam Mickiewicz University
    Admissions
    • Germany
    Languages
    • English
    • German
    • Polish
  • Isabella Kätzlmeier

    Isabella Kätzlmeier

    People

    Isabella Kätzlmeier

    Associate
    Areas of focus

    Isabella Kätzlmeier focuses her practice on international disputes, litigation arbitration and intellectual property.
    Prior to joining McDermott, Isabella gained experience at a range of international firms.

    Results
    Recognitions
    Capabilities and industries
    Regional markets
    Community
    Credentials
    Education
    • Brandenburg Higher Regional Court, Second State Exam, Additional Qualification in Business Administration and Economics
    • University of Verona, LLB
    • University of Bayreuth, First State Exam
    Admissions
    • Germany
    Languages
    • English
    • French
    • German
    • Italian
  • Le Chen

    Le Chen

    People

    Le Chen

    Associate

    Washington, DC

    Areas of focus

    Le Chen focuses his practice on US and international tax matters.

    While in law school, Le served as executive notes development editor for The Tax Lawyer and was a semifinalist in the 2016 Thomas Tang National Moot Competition. In addition to participating in the Georgetown Law Appellate Courts Immersion Clinic, he interned at the US Department of Justice, Tax Division, and served as a pro bono law clerk for the AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly.

    From 2014 to 2015, Le was a research scientist at the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Office of the Chief Economist.

    Results
    Recognitions
    Capabilities and industries
    Regional markets
    Community
    Credentials
    Education
    • Georgetown University Law Center, JD, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
    • University of Minnesota, MA, with honors
    • University of Chicago, AB
    Admissions
    • District of Columbia
    Courts/Agencies
    • US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
    • US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • Alexandra Williamson

    Alexandra Williamson

    People

    Alexandra Williamson

    Associate

    Los Angeles

    Areas of focus

    Alexandra Williamson focuses her practice on transactional and corporate matters, particularly on issues related to commercial lending and financial services.

    While in law school, Alex was symposium editor for the Berkeley Business Law Journal, and a writer for the journal’s online publication, The Network. During her three years at Berkeley, Alex was a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution negotiations team, and served as the team’s director during her final year.

    Results
    Recognitions
    Capabilities and industries
    Regional markets
    Community
    Credentials
    Education
    • University of California, Berkeley School of Law, JD
    • University of California, Los Angeles, BA
    Admissions
    • California