Rob is an internationally recognized leader in his practice area and is a frequent speaker at executive compensation and global equity conferences.  He also has authored numerous articles on cross-border issues relating to global plan design, regulatory compliance, and corporate transaction issues.

Rob is dual licensed to practice in both the United Kingdom and California and spends substantial time in Silicon Valley where he maintains a significant start-up practice. He also represents both public and private companies with their day-to-day executive compensation matters and global expansion issues.

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• Assisted software Company with $270M stock option for cash exchange program in 22 countries*

Global Employment / Corporate Compliance

• Provided claw-back advice to food and beverage company in 34 countries*
• Provided on-going employment and local corporate compliance advice in 18 countries for social media company*
• Assisted private biotech company with expansion into 19 jurisdictions including employment agreements/offers and corporate subsidiary maintenance*

Spin-offs

• Provided global regulatory and tax advice for equity awards and employee benefit programs in 81 countries impacting 170,000 employees world-wide in $31B spin-off*
• Assisted technology company with a $26B spin-off in 86 countries with executive compensation and employment advice*
• Assisted consumer goods company with a $13B spin-off including equity award and employment issues in 76 countries*
• Assist entertainment company with spin-off equity award and employee benefit plan issues in 33 countries*

Governance / Advisory

• Provided day-to-day executive compensation advice including tax, securities, proxy disclosure, governance, compensation committee materials, ISS issues, claw-back policy and equity plans for Fortune 500 company*
• Advised public technology company on executive compensation matters, including preparing an equity plan, as well as providing proxy disclosure, global compliance advice and shareholder approval issues*
• Prepared C-Suite employment and severance agreements for public technology company*
• Assisted US public company with day-to-day executive compensation advice including tax, securities, disclosure (proxy, 8-K, and Section 16 issues), corporate governance, 162m, ISS issues, claw-back and equity plans*
• Assisted UK company with implementation of tax-qualified incentive plan awards*
• Provided day-to-day executive compensation advice to public consulting company, including equity plan, disclosure, securities and tax requirements*

Global M&A

• Assisted US semiconductor company with executive compensation and equity awards for a potential $10.6B acquisition*
• Assisted technology company with $1.5B acquisition where responsibilities included global equity awards, employment and corporate subsidiary matters in 51 countries*
• Provided global compensation and benefits, as well as post-acquisition integration advice for biotech company with employees in 36 countries*

Initial Public Offerings

• Assisted French biotech company with executive compensation and equity plan aspects of a $228M IPO on NASDAQ*
• Assisted web storage company with executive compensation issues in IPO on NASDAQ*
• Assisted medical device company with spin-off and IPO on NASDAQ*

Other

• Provided tax, social insurance and employment advice for executive transfer and secondment program to consumer goods company*
• Assisted dual listed semiconductor packaging and test services company with executive compensation and equity plan disclosure requirements in US and Singapore*
• Assisted US Company with de-listing from Euronext Paris and analyzed impact on equity plans*
• Provided US securities law and 409A advice, as well as disclosure materials for UK listed company*
• Assisted start-up company with employment agreements and tax-qualified equity awards*
• Assisted US manufacturing company with recharge agreements associated with $800M in tax deductions related to equity awards*

*Matter handled prior to joining the firm.

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He provides counsel on leveraged buyouts, debt commitments, secured and unsecured first- and second-lien term loans and revolving credit facilities, unitranche facilities, bridge and mezzanine financings and other high-yield transactions, as well as fund-level financings, asset-backed loans, recapitalizations, workouts, special situations, debt restructuring and intercreditor agreements and related matters.

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• Advised a leading European pharmaceutical company in an antitrust investigation by the EC*
• Advised a leading Japanese multinational company in several global cartel investigations before the European Commission and the European Courts*
• Advised a leading German retailer in a cartel investigation by the German antitrust authority*
• Advised an Italian pharmaceutical company on the acquisition of a divestiture package imposed by the EC*
• Advised a global name in petroleum and natural gas on merger proceedings that included merger control filings in over 20 countries*
• Advised an international electronics manufacturer on a significant public bid for part of its business*
• Advised a global manufacturer and distributor of electric motors on a Phase II merger investigation in relation to a significant merger*
• Advised a multinational pharmaceutical company on the purchase of a remedy package imposed by the EC*
• Advised a global medical device leader on a Phase II merger investigation in relation to a significant merger*

*Matter handled prior to joining the firm.

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Drawing on this experience, Jon helps his clients navigate multinational, multidisciplinary, and complex civil litigation, product, and compliance matters in the rapidly changing legal landscape. His successful representations include disputes around issues involving content moderation, intermediary liability, privacy and defamation, free speech and other fundamental/constitutional rights, unfair competition, consumer protection, and contractual obligations.

Jon regularly represents online platforms and other clients in matters including the following:

• Litigations and product matters involving the Stored Communications Act and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act
• Litigations and investigations involving defense of platforms’ rights to moderate content, and allegations of moderation bias and censorship
• Litigations, arbitrations, and pre-litigation disputes involving alleged violations of state and federal wiretap laws regarding the use of various technologies to collect, share, and use of consumer data
• First Amendment issues around, among others, the ability to design and implement content moderation rules, anonymous speech and user anonymity protections, and nationwide age-gating and age-verification laws
• Proceedings seeking discovery for use in foreign proceedings throughout the world under 28 U.S.C. Section 1782

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• Successfully represented an online platform in achieving an early resolution of a business-to-business dispute with a business process outsourcing company involving data security breach claims
• Successfully represented an online platform in several matters defeating requests for discovery for use foreign proceedings, including depositions, sought by foreign-based entities under 28 U.S.C. Section 1782
• Successfully represented clients in advising on potential liability considerations around generative artificial intelligence products
• Represented clients in submitting amicus briefs in support of associations, including to the Supreme Court of the United States, asserting Constitutional challenges on First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment grounds regarding state age-verification and age-gating legislation, data collection and usage legislation directed towards on app stores and app developers, and search and seizure issues involving efforts to obtain numerous types of user data from platform providers
• Advised an international payments technology company on aspects of global expansion including revisions to online terms and liability management depending on jurisdiction
• Represented a significant number of online platforms in managing global litigation dockets throughout all major world regions, including in matters before numerous national Supreme Courts on novel issues, and coordinating with cross-functional teams and managing for risk of cross-jurisdictional contagion*
• Represented numerous clients in defending against putative class actions alleging violations of the TCPA*
• Obtained a complete defense award, an award of damages on counterclaims, and an award of fees and costs in two JAMS arbitrations*
• Obtained summary judgement on behalf of a real estate investment company founder and executive in a shareholder dispute alleging fraud claims*
• Represented an investment company and individual shareholders in a shareholder dispute and derivative action, prosecuting fraud and dissolution claims*
• Successfully moved to dismiss all claims on behalf of a national fitness club in a putative class action alleging the club’s membership agreement violated certain New Jersey consumer protection statutes*

*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott Will & Schulte.

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• Hannover Finanz on
  • the sale of Lacon Group to Incap
  • the acquisition of Montronic by its portfolio company Lacon Group

• LLCP-backed cleversoft Group on its acquisition of tetralog systems
• Main Capital Partners on the Acquisition of Isograph LTD
• NORD Holding on
  • the acquisition of Medas Group
  • the sale of the Dr. Födisch Group to ABB
  • the investment in ABJ alive
  • the acquisition of Beauty Produktion GmbH and EHF Production BV by its portfolio company 1Q Health Group
  • the acquisition of HKS Health Solutions
• Allianz Capital Partners in a joint venture with Telefónica*
• Antin Infrastructure Partners in the sale of its majority stake in the amedes Group*
• Bain Capital on its investment in Berlin Brands Group*
• Bregal Unternehmerkapital on the acquisition of a majority stake in Perfect Drive Sports Group*
• Brookfield on
  • the acquisition of a majority stake in Schoeller Allibert Group B.V.*
  • the public takeover bid for alstria office REIT-AG*
• Cathay Capital on the acquisition and sale of a majority stake in automotive supplier E.WINKEMANN*
• CDH Investments on its investment in WOW Tech Group*
• Dediq on a joint venture with SAP*
• Deutsche Beteiligungs AG on
  • the acquisition of Horstmann GmbH*, the acquisition of IMD Group* and the acquisition of Iska Schön GmbH* by the portfolio company Deutsche Infrastruktur und Netzgesellschaft
  • the acquisition of a majority stake in STG Braunsberg Group*
  • its investment in Von Poll Immobilien*
• DPE Deutsche Private Equity in the acquisition of a majority stake in the valantic group*
• EMH Partners in the acquisition of a minority stake in the LIGANOVA GROUP*
• EMZ Partners in the acquisition of a minority stake in the Celebrate Company*
• Energize Ventures in its Series B investment in Twaice*
• HgCapital on the acquisition of Mobility Concept*
• KLAR Partners on
  • the acquisition of ISS Kanal Services*
  • the acquisition of a majority stake in NWT Group*
• Oakley Capital and other significant sellers on the sale of Contabo to KKR*
• Silverfleet Capital on the acquisition of Prefere Resins Holding GmbH*
• SK Capital in forming a consortium with the Heubach Group and the subsequent acquisition of Clariant’s pigment business*
• Thomas H. Lee Partners in its Series A investment in Kinexon*
• Triton in the sale of the Aventics Group to Emerson Electric Co.*
• Waterland in the acquisition of Leupold and Schneller*
• Xeraya Capital in its investment in Allecra Therapeutics*

*Matter handled prior to joining the firm.

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• NORD Holding on the acquisition of Medas Group
• NORD Holding on the acquisition of IBB Institut für Berufliche Bildung AG
• NORD Holding and 1Q Health Group on the acquisition of EHF Production
• NORD Holding on the acquisition and the financing of the acquisition of Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging
• Rantum Capital in the refinancing of NOBIX Group
• Main Capital Partners on the acquisition and financing of the acquisition of a majority stake in EIKONA AG
• on Financing the Launch of New Tax and Audit Platform Atania
• Ardian on the acquisition of a majority stake in centrotherm international AG
• Barings on refinancing of Operasan
• Consortium of lenders on refinancing of Schell’s acquisition by Paragon Partners
• ELF Capital on the financing of the acquisition of the digital agencies Vignold and GSDH by DRS Investment
• Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich on financing of the acquisition of Zedal AG
• Main Capital Partners and German software provider Foconis on the acquisition of Swiss MACD
• NORD Holding on the acquisition and financing of the acquisition of Oehm und Rehbein
• NORD/LB on the financing of the merger of cisbox and windata
• On new growth financing for Rantum Capital Portfolio Company Aqua Group
• Main Capital Partners and Timegrip on the acquisition of Software4You
• NORD/LB on the financing of the Merger of mps and MACH
• NORD Holding on the acquisition of HKS health solutions and on the financing of the acquisition
• Eurazeo on refinancing of The Relevance Group
• NORD/LB on acquisition financing for enventa Group
• Main Capital Partners on the acquisition and financing of the acquisition of procilon Group from Harald Quandt Industriebeteiligungen
• Argos Wityu on the financing of the acquisition of Laundry Service Provider Lavatio
• Eurazeo on financing the acquisition of a Controlling Stake in UNITY AG by DBAG
• Kreissparkasse Biberach on acquisition financing for VTC
• NORD/LB on the financing of the acquisition of mps public solutions (mps) by software investor Main Capital Partners
• Eurazeo SE as the lender on the financing of AOE Group
• NORD Holding on the acquisition and the financing of the acquisition of ABJ alive
• NORD/LB on the financing of acquiring a majority stake in German P2P software provider cisbox GmbH by Dutch software investor Main Capital

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• The Legal 500 EMEA, “Leading Partner” in Germany: Banking and Finance: Lending and Borrowing, 2025-2026
• The Legal 500 EMEA, “Leading Individual” in Germany: Credit and Acquisition Finance, 2025
• JUVE Handbook of Commercial Law Firms, Recommended: Insolvency and Restructuring: Restructuring and Reorganization as well as Loans and Acquisition Financing, 2024-2026
• The Legal 500 EMEA, “Next Generation Partner” in Germany: Banking and Finance, 2023-2024
• Global Restructuring Review GRR 30, Recommended, 2024
• Chambers Global, “up and coming” in Germany: Banking and Finance, 2017-2020
• The Legal 500 EMEA, Recommended, Germany: Banking and Finance Law, 2019
• IFLR 100, “Highly regarded”: Banking, 2023

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Asseret has also defended companies and individuals in ERISA litigation involving Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). Her ERISA experience includes defense of ESOP plan sponsor companies, their directors and officers, and plan fiduciaries in class action lawsuits brought by plan participants. Asseret has experience defending various claims involving breach of fiduciary duty and prohibited transactions.

Asseret also maintains an active pro bono practice where she has represented numerous asylum seekers and most recently, successfully achieved a landmark victory before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court protecting a minor sexual assault survivor’s mental health records from improper disclosure. As a native Spanish speaker with a personal immigrant background, she also has taught “Spanish for Lawyers” at Harvard Law School, fostering inclusive legal representation and empowering the next generation of attorneys to serve with compassion and skill.

Prior to joining the firm, Asseret served as a law clerk to the Honorable Mary H. Murguia of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Honorable John A. Mendez of the US District Court for the Eastern District of California.

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Shawn’s experience spans a broad range of tax issues that affect many different industries, including energy, renewables, financial services, life sciences, manufacturing, media and entertainment, technology and aviation. He advises domestic, foreign and multinational corporations, partnerships, master limited partnerships, real estate investment trusts and limited liability companies on tax issues in connection with foreign and domestic transactions.

He also counsels clients in disputes involving transfer pricing, debt versus equity, loss carrybacks, international withholdings, advance pricing agreements, tax shelter disallowances, research and development tax credits, changes in accounting methods, captive insurance, related-party transactions, repatriation structures, inbound distributors, foreign credit transactions and penalty abatements. Shawn has also developed a market-leading federal and state excise tax practice that advises some of the largest corporations on excise tax planning and controversies.

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• Represented US Venture, a large fuel distribution company, in the District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin involving the federal alternative fuel mixture credit (US Venture v. United States)*
• Represented EOG Resources, Inc., a publicly traded oil and gas exploration and production company, in the Tax Court for a tax dispute involving the alternative minimum tax resulting from the company’s hedging program (EOG Resources, Inc. v. Commissioner)*
• Represented a publicly traded multinational oil and gas exploration and production company in the Tax Court in a case involving foreign tax credits and deductions*
• Represented a publicly traded building products company in the Tax Court in a case involving a contingent liability management company transaction*
• Advised a multinational consumer products company on the tax consequences of an intellectual property transfer and a repatriation of foreign earnings*
• Advised a publicly traded refinery on a substantial intercompany loan and whether the loan qualified as debt for federal income tax purposes*
• Advised a substantial foreign-based airline on the federal excise taxes applicable to air transportation services*
• Represented a major integrated energy company in the Court of Federal Claims in relation to the company’s tax credit eligibility for the production of crude oil from tar sands*
• Represented a major integrated energy company in the District Court for the Southern District of Texas in a case centered around a structured transaction*
• Represented a major publicly traded pharmaceutical company in the District Court for the District of New Jersey in relation to discovery matters involving a repatriation of earnings to the United States*
• Advised on transfer pricing and drafted intercompany service agreements for a joint venture of two publicly traded oilfield service companies for purposes of the joint venture’s global transfer pricing plan*

*Matter handled prior to joining the firm.

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During his time as mayor, Kasim was recognized for navigating challenges to improve city services while reducing spending during an extreme economic downturn. He collaborated with the Atlanta City Council and the city’s employee unions to lead significant changes that addressed a $1.5 billion unfunded pension liability. Despite starting with a $48 million budget shortfall, he effectively guided the city to nearly a decade of balanced budgets without raising property taxes while increasing savings to more than $200 million a year and upgrading the city’s credit rating to AA+ by all three credit rating agencies. His financial prowess and tactical negotiation skills are why clients turn to him to handle their complex commercial disputes when their businesses are at stake.

A dedicated public servant, Kasim’s civic leadership has been nationally recognized by major news outlets and publications. He was a prime-time speaker at the 2016 National Democratic Convention and has been a guest speaker at numerous national and international conferences, including The World Economic Forum, Aspen Ideas Festival, Chicago Ideas Week, New York Ideas, New Cities Summit, Clinton Global Initiative America and Gathering of Leaders.

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