Prior to joining McDermott Will & Schulte, Crystal worked at a global law firm representing clients in various aspects of complex litigation. She also gained experience as a litigation fellow at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, where she drafted merits briefs and amicus curiae defending the right to freedom of expression before international courts, including the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, East African Court of Justice and the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

While in law school, Crystal gained experience interning at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). During this time, she also participated in the Public Interest Law Clinic in Paris, spent time working in Haiti as a student advocate for the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice, and worked for the United Nations as a student legal advisor to the Permanent Mission of Grenada.

Crystal also maintains an extensive pro bono practice representing asylum seekers.

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• Represented health care data company in arbitration proceedings relating to contract dispute over licensing of health records and claims data
• Represented alcohol and beverage company in response to DOJ grand jury subpoena relating to allegations of fraud
• Represented an athletic organization in a multi-plaintiff civil tort dispute
• Representing a management and consulting firm in a breach of contract dispute dealing with federal and state trade secrets claims*
• Representing a leading defense contractor in an insurance recovery litigation*

*Matter handled prior to joining the firm.

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Jake also has significant experience representing private credit funds, financial institutions, public and private companies and private equity sponsors in connection with leveraged buyouts, unitranche financings, first lien/second lien transactions and refinancings.

Jake graduated from Emory University School of Law, with honors, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal. He was also a member of the W. Homer Drake, Jr. Georgia Bankruptcy American Inn of Court and a board member of the Bankruptcy Law Society.

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• Represented LBC Credit Partners as prepetition secured lender in connection with the Uniform Commercial Code Article 9 disposition of Eastern Vault Company, Inc. and its affiliates
• Represented LBC Credit Partners as secured lender in its distressed disposition of Hufcor, Inc., a leading manufacturer of operable partitions and movable glass walls, and its affiliates
• Represented TriplePoint Capital LLC as a prepetition secured lender, DIP lender, and proposed joint venture purchaser of certain assets of Medly Health Inc. in connection with Medly’s chapter 11 cases
• Represented KKR Credit Advisors as prepetition lender, DIP lender, and joint venture purchaser of certain assets of Sequential Brands Group, Inc. in connection with Sequential’s chapter 11 cases*
• Represented an ad hoc group of first lien and second lien term loan lenders in connection with the out-of-court restructuring of The Imagine Group, LLC*
• Represented KKR Credit Advisors as prepetition lender and joint venture purchaser of substantially all assets of Borden Dairy Company in connection with Borden’s chapter 11 cases*
• Represented an ad hoc group of minority term loan lenders and DIP lenders in connection with the chapter 11 cases of Ascena Retail Group, Inc. and its affiliates in the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia*
• Represented Luminus Management, LLC as last-out lender in the chapter 11 cases of Celadon Group, Inc. and in connection with the purchase of certain assets of Taylor Express, Inc. from Celadon’s bankruptcy estates*
• Represented Vista Ridge, LLC, the operator of a 150-mile groundwater pipeline, in the chapter 11 cases of Metropolitan Water Company, L.P. and its affiliate*

*Matter handled prior to joining the firm.

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Connor has extensive experience representing clients in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and technology sectors. His intellectual property practice includes patent litigation and administrative patent challenges involving branded and generic pharmaceuticals; disputes over software licensing and alleged misappropriation of source code, executable code, and other proprietary software assets; and claims arising under the Lanham Act, including false advertising matters.

He also represents clients in a variety of complex healthcare and commercial disputes, including matters involving the No Surprises Act, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), a broad range of contract disputes, and fraud and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) claims. Drawing on this diverse experience, he helps clients navigate legally and technically sophisticated disputes while advancing their broader business objectives.

He maintains an active pro bono immigration practice, representing clients in asylum proceedings and related federal litigation.

While in law school, he was editor-in-chief of the Boston College Intellectual Property and Technology Forum Journal and articles editor of the Boston College Law Review.

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Melis regularly supports private equity and public transactions, bringing a strong transactional perspective to employment diligence and deal-related counseling. Her transactional experience includes advising on workforce-related risks, executive and employee compensation and incentive arrangements, independent contractor structures, and post-closing workforce planning and integration considerations. She frequently advises foreign and multinational clients on US employment law considerations in cross-border transactions and US market entry. She is known for providing practical, business-oriented guidance that aligns employment considerations with broader transaction and business objectives.

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• Advised a ‘big-four’ Australian bank in connection with US proceedings alleging BBSW manipulation.*
• Advised a leading automotive manufacturer in defence of environmental harm and consumer protection claims in proceedings in multiple US jurisdictions.*
• Advised a leading copper producer and its directors in defence of shareholder derivative claims in Delaware.*

*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott

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