Megan Minnich focuses her practice on corporate and commercial litigation. She represents clients in high stakes disputes across a range of matters, including contract and fiduciary duty claims, M&A related litigation, and other sophisticated business disputes.
Prior to joining the firm, Megan served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Richard M. Berman in the Southern District of New York.
Results
Represented co-founders and CEO of video game company in Delaware Court of Chancery action for specific performance following post-merger termination. Court ruled that buyer wrongfully seized control and that terminations were not for cause, reinstating the CEO*
Represented major financial institution in Delaware Court of Chancery advancement litigation brought by former executives in connection with high-profile fraud dispute*
Annmarie Gruick focuses her practice on corporate advisory and transactional matters, with a concentration on business restructuring and insolvency.
During law school, Annmarie served as a judicial intern for four judges at the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware: the late Honorable John T. Dorsey, the Honorable Mary F. Walrath, the Honorable Brendan L. Shannon, and the Honorable Karen B. Owens. She also was an executive articles editor for the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review.
Before entering private practice, Annmarie also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Karen B. Owens at the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Results
Represented an ad hoc group of first lien noteholders and second lien convertible noteholders in connection with Luminar Technologies, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries’ chapter 11 cases*
*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott Will & Schulte.
Jordan Zaia focuses his practice on litigation matters, representing clients in a broad range of corporate and commercial disputes, including those arising in bankruptcy and adversary proceedings. He also maintains an active pro bono practice.
While in law school, he served as the managing editor of the Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy Center and as an associate editor of the Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment LawJournal.
Jordan served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Joseph F. Bianco of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Honorable Loretta A. Preska of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. He also completed internships at the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the New York County District Attorney’s Office, and Fordham’s Entrepreneurial Law Clinic.
Kieran Sargent focuses his practice on domestic and global corporate transactions. He has particular expertise advising on private equity transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, disposals and investments, for a broad range of sponsors, corporates, financial institutions and management teams.
Kieran’s transactional experience spans a variety of industries, from professional services to sports and entertainment to technology and healthcare. He also has experience advising on restructurings and portfolio transactions.
Prior to joining McDermott, Will & Schulte, Kieran worked as a Senior Associate in the Corporate/M&A team of a leading international law firm in London. Kieran also spent six months seconded to IBM.
Results
Advised the sellers of a fertility clinic group on their sale to a specialised family investment office.
Advised NZP UK and Advent International on the sale of NZP UK’s novel bile acid business to, and subsequent reinvestment in, Cristae Therapeutics.*
Advised Nactarome, a portfolio group of TA Associates, on its acquisition of Claremont Ingredients from The Hut Group.*
Advised the management of Callstack, a global leader in React Native and cross-platform app development, on a majority stake investment by Viking Global Investors.*
Advised Horizon Capital and the management of Dains Accountants on the sale of Dains Accountants, a leading provider of accountancy and business advisory services in the UK, to IK Partners.*
Advised the management of one of the world’s leading K12 education groups on the €625 million sale of a 50 percent stake in the company, by Providence Equity Partners, to Wendel, a French investment company.*
Advised the management of CSM Sport and Entertainment on its sale by Chime Communications to Wasserman Media Group.*
Advised the management of a British live entertainment company on its sale by Providence Equity Partners to KKR.*
Advised the management of a leading UK provider of therapeutic fostering, residential and special education on the sale by Graphite Capital to Cap10 Partners.*
Advised Synova on its investment in Learnlight, an educational technology company specialising in language and communication skills.*
Advised Queen’s Park Equity on its management buyouts of Psych-UK and Blue Ribbon Health and Wellbeing.*
Advised Horizon Capital on its leveraged buyouts of BP3 Global, Dains Accountants, Ridge and Partners, Boston Multi Family Office and Alchemist.*
Advised management on the sale of a majority stake, and reinvestment, in Compass Continuing Healthcare to Omni Partners.*
Advised the sellers of a group of SEN schools to Apposite Capital.*
Advised HCRG Care Group and Twenty20 Capital on the acquisition of Operose Health, an NHS primary care service provider.*
Advised Dains Accountants on its acquisitions of 12 accountancy businesses across the UK and Ireland, including Barnes Roffe.*
Advised the partners of Silver Levene on the sale of Silver Levene to Xeinadin, a top 20 UK and Ireland accountancy firm.*
Advised Sanlam Life on the sale of its UK pensions business to Chesnara and wealth management business to Oaktree Capital.*
Christopher (Chris) Vaughan is a litigation and regulatory associate in the firm’s FinTech and Blockchain Group. Drawing on a decade of experience in the cryptocurrency markets, Chris brings deep knowledge of blockchain technology to his representation of digital asset clients involved in complex state and federal court actions as well as those facing regulatory uncertainty.
Chris has defended and prosecuted high-stakes cryptocurrency-related post-confirmation bankruptcy litigation matters for dozens of domestic and international clients. His civil litigation practice also includes defending institutions and individuals and pursuing bad actors who attempt to exploit the pseudonymous nature of blockchain transactions. Additionally, Chris regularly counsels onchain protocols and project teams in how to comply with securities and commodities laws and regulations.
As a member of the industry’s largest crypto-exclusive team whose members spend 100% of their time on crypto-related matters, Chris addresses his clients’ issues armed with his first-hand experience in decentralized finance, non-fungible tokens, and other on-chain ecosystems. His understanding of the underlying blockchain-based products and protocols enables him to advocate for his clients from a place of shared experience and technical fluency.
Chris has experience representing the nation’s largest broker-dealers in FINRA arbitrations, state and federal court proceedings, and investigations from the Securities and Exchange Commission. His experience in defending these world-renowned institutions against securities litigation claims and regulatory actions, and his garnered familiarity with the laws and regulations, informs his ability to counsel and protect his clients in the cryptocurrency and blockchain arena.
Litigated and ultimately resolved over $40 million in client liabilities on favorable terms in a mass crypto-bankruptcy proceeding in the Southern District of New York*
Successfully pursued Germany-based crypto token project team in breach of contract claim for client located in Maine*
Noémie Ottenin focuses her practice on advising companies on transaction tax matters in national and cross-border operations, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and corporate restructurings, as well as during tax audits and disputes. She also dedicates part of her practice to individual taxation.
Before joining McDermott, Noémie trained with leading international law firms and in house legal departments.
Richard (Rick) Evans focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation matters, particularly in life sciences and litigation under the Hatch-Waxman Act.
While in law school, Rick served as an intellectual property legal intern for a large medical technology company and a summer associate at the firm. He also was the lead research editor and a staff editor for the Temple International and Comparative Law Journal.
Education
Temple University Beasley School of Law, JD, magna cum laude, 2024
University of Delaware, BEng (Hons), Chemical Engineering, 2019
Admissions
New York
Languages
English
Credentials
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