Brennen develops go-to-market strategies for clients by providing detailed opinions on clients’ freedom to operate and the patentability of inventions. He assesses potential infringement by competitors and the validity of competitors’ intellectual property in anticipation of and preparation for litigation. Brennen also advises clients on comprehensive defense strategies in ongoing infringement litigation by providing invalidity and non-infringement analyses in coordination with co-counsel and expert witnesses.

In addition, Brennen assists clients by conducting due diligence on extensive pharmaceutical patent and trademark portfolios in connection with clients’ acquisition of competitors. He identifies risks associated with IP to be acquired and counsels clients on patent portfolio management strategy leading up to and following merger and restructuring.

While in law school, Brennen was a member of the Woolsack Honor Society, a Moot Court Board Senior Advocate and recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Copyrights. Following law school and while practicing as a junior associate, Brennen earned his master’s degree in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University.

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• Advised Nestlé on its agreement to sell a 60% stake of Herta (cold cuts and meat-based products in six European countries plus Herta dough business in France and Belgium) to Casa Tarradellas*
• Advised Belgian privately held investment company Cobepa on its acquisition from ICG of the Gerflor Group. Cobepa becomes the majority shareholder and ICG retains a significant minority stake, as does the management, in the new shareholder structure of Gerflor, which also includes Crédit Mutuel Private Equity*
• Advised Centerbridge Partners in connection with the shareholding and financial reorganization of the Frans Bonhomme group and equity injection by Hayfin*

*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott

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Prior to joining McDermott Will & Schulte, Emily served as a university research faculty member where she focused on private health insurance and the impact of state and federal policy on coverage quality and access, with emphasis on the effects of the Affordable Care Act and state health insurance exchanges. Prior to attending law school, she worked for a healthcare consulting firm supporting health plan and pharmaceutical clients in navigating legislative and regulatory developments related to drug pricing and health insurance markets.

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While in law school, Kevonna participated in the Gould School of Law Mediation Clinic, where she independently mediated small claims, civil harassment claims and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claims.

Within the community, Kevonna sits on the Board of Directors for the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation, as the Foundation’s secretary. The Foundation’s mission is to provide support to law students and legal professionals in order to diversify the legal community.

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Prior to joining as an associate, Markus spent time working as a legal assistant with McDermott Düsseldorf and the University of Bielefeld.

Markus studied law at the University of Bielefeld. During his legal traineeship at the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf, Markus worked, inter alia, for the legal department of a German state bank and for an international law firm in the areas of corporate law and insurance law in Düsseldorf.

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• an international venture debt fund in connection with its investments and financing of Everdrop
• an international venture debt fund in connection with its investments and financing of TFG Group
• an international venture debt fund in connection with its investments and financing of Outfittery
• an international venture debt fund in connection with its investments and financing of one of Europeans largest producer for alternative nutrition products
• an international venture debt fund in connection with its investments and financing of MXP Prime Platform (SellerX)

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Amanda has extensive experience litigating in both state and federal courts and is well-versed in all aspects of California and federal civil procedure, including discovery, motion practice, pre-trial and trial preparation, and alternative dispute resolution. She has achieved favorable outcomes for clients at trial, on dispositive motions, in settlements and on appeal.

In addition to her litigation work, Amanda regularly advises clients regarding compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, provides strategic counsel on evolving employment law issues, and counsels private equity firms and private companies on labor and employment risks and obligations arising in connection with mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions and financings.

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Dexter counsels clients on compliance strategies under the physician self-referral law (Stark Law), Anti-Kickback Statute, Beneficiary Inducement Statute, Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act, and state law equivalents. He advises on voluntary self-disclosures to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) through the Voluntary Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Self-Disclosure Protocol. In addition, he regularly conducts fraud and abuse diligence in transactions involving hospitals, health systems, and private equity-backed healthcare services platforms.

In addition, Dexter advises on Medicare and Medicaid enrollment matters, from initial submissions through revalidation and other adverse enrollment actions, and has extensive experience successfully appealing adverse enrollment actions before Medicare Administrative Contractors and CMS. He also regularly counsels clients on operational issues, licensure matters, scope of practice, and general corporate compliance matters.

While in law school, Dexter was a contributing editor for the Iowa Law Review.

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