Düsseldorf
Dr. Jan Hückel advises national and international companies comprehensively on corporate law matters as well as on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and private equity (PE) transactions.
Jan advises clients on the full spectrum of transactions, from the preparation and structuring of the process to contractual negotiations, management participation, closing of the transaction, and post-closing restructurings.
Jan advised:
- van Eupen Logistik on the sale of the transportation business to L.I.T. Group
- GPP on acquiring a majority stake in Eutecma
- GPP on the acquisition of Lyocontract
- Samsung Display on the acquisition of a company in Germany
- SIGNA on the acquisition of GALERIA Kaufhof and the subsequent merger with Karstadt
- Zwilling J.A. Henckels AG on the acquisition of a majority stake in Santos Grills
- Management in the participation program of a European private equity investor
- Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers™, Germany: Corporate Law, Private Equity Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2019-2025
- JUVE Handbook of Commercial Law Firms, Recommended: M&A, 2022-2026
- IFLR1000, M&A, 2023
- University of Würzburg, Dr. jur.
- Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf, Second State Exam
- Goethe University Frankfurt, First State Exam
- University of Salamanca
- Germany
- English
- German
- Spanish
Joanna Lin
Dallas
Joanna Lin focuses her practice on high-stakes corporate transactions and governance matters for public and private companies. Recognized by clients as a “world-class” and “uniquely intuitive” advisor who “can see around corners,” she brings deep experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), strategic transactions, and as board-level counsel, particularly in complex scenarios such as advising special committees, conflict transactions, cross-border transactions (with experience spanning more than 25 jurisdictions), and joint ventures.
- Represented Delta Electronics, Inc., a global leading provider of smart energy-saving solutions, in its acquisition of Universal Instruments Corporation, a global leader in precision automation solutions for smart manufacturing
- Represented strategic buyers in approximately 30 acquisitions of other accounting firms or professional services firm targets in the last five years
- Represented JLL (NYSE: JLL) in its joint venture with Slate Asset Management to commercialize a technology platform for commercial real estate
- Best Lawyers in America, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2024-2026
- Thomson Reuters, Stand-out Lawyer, 2024-2025
- Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A, Band 5, 2023-2025
- Legal 500 US, Recommended, 2022, 2024-2025
- IFLR1000, M&A, 2022-2023
- Euromoney, Americas Women in Business Law Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year, 2022
- Texas Lawyer, Most Effective Dealmaker, 2022
- The M&A Advisor, Emerging Leaders and International M&A Awards M&A Deal of the Year, 2019
- American Bar Association Mergers and Acquisitions Committee, Women in Mergers and Acquisitions Subcommittee, co-chair
- Helms Hope Foundation, board member
- Boston College Law School, JD, cum laude
- University of California, Irvine, BA
- Texas
- Massachusetts
- English
- Chinese (Mandarin)
Jason D. Krieser
Dallas
Technology and outsourcing transactions
Artificial intelligence and digital transformation transactions
Cloud computing and SaaS arrangements
Telecommunications and network communications contracts
Complex commercial and strategic alliance agreements
Jason Krieser co-heads the firm’s Technology & Outsourcing Practice Group, co-founded its AI Cross-Practice Group, and serves as the managing partner of the Dallas office. He is also a member of the firm’s Management Committee.
Ranked in
Chambers USA, 2025
Recognized by
The Best Lawyers in America, 2025
Ranked in
Legal 500 US, 2025
- Represented Nuance Communications in a Microsoft Azure AI agreement supporting a natural language understanding and a ‘clinical experience of the future’ involving collaboration with the use of Dragon speech-to-text software for doctor/patient clinical experiences.
- Represented BDO in developing AI governance structures and policies, AI-specific contract terms, customer-facing AI terms and tailored AI legal and compliance training programs.
- Represented CoreLogic in developing AI governance structures, AI policies and enterprise-wide AI training for its legal and compliance teams.
- Represented Veeam in developing AI use policies, an AI governance framework and AI-related contractual terms for its data management solutions.
- Represented Cognizant in developing AI legal training programs and negotiating AI-related provisions in customer and procurement contracts for enterprise AI solutions.
- Chambers USA, Texas: Technology: Outsourcing, Band 1, 2004-2026; Nationwide: Outsourcing, Band 2, 2004-2026
- Legal 500 US, Leading Lawyer in Outsourcing, 2016-2025
- The Best Lawyers in America, Information Technology Law, IT Outsourcing Law, Artificial Intelligence Law, 2026-2027
- The Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year, 2020 and 2022
- Chambers Global, Outsourcing, 2020
- Co-head, Technology & Outsourcing Practice Group
- Co-founder, AI Cross-Practice Group
- Office Managing Partner, Dallas office
- Member, Management Committee Two-term member, Board of Directors, YWCA of Metropolitan Dallas
- University of Minnesota Law School, JD, cum laude
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln, BS, with highest distinction
- Texas
- Nebraska
Hon.-Prof. Dr. Henrik Holzapfel
Düsseldorf
Provides comprehensive advice to companies in patent litigation, including litigation involving standard-essential patents (SEPs) and FRAND defenses, and on license negotiations.
Has extensive experience handling proceedings before the European Unified Patent Court (UPC), having handled a large number of cases there.
Provides advice in other areas of intellectual property law, drawing on his many years of experience.
Hon.-Prof. Dr. Henrik Holzapfel advises on all aspects of intellectual property law. He focuses on litigating patents, including advice on patents essential to industry standards (SEPs) and FRAND defenses. He was among the first international attorneys to file lawsuits before the European Unified Patent Court in collaboration with his U.S. colleagues. Henrik counsels on cross-border and multinational litigation strategies, and he advises his clients on negotiating license and R&D agreements, as well as on indemnification issues in supply chains relating to IP infringement.
Henrik also has many years’ experience in the protection of know-how, as well as in employee invention and trademark law. He further advises his clients on the drafting, negotiation and enforcement of commercial agreements such as supply, license and R&D contracts.
His clients represent a wide variety of industries such as automotive, IT, pharmaceutical, biotech, medical devices, chemicals and engineering.
Henrik has authored multiple publications on intellectual property law and regularly lectures at Leuphana University Lüneburg. Henrik is also a regular contributor to McDermott’s IP Update blog.
Henrik advised:
- An American automotive supplier in patent infringement disputes in Europe and the U.S., licensing portfolios of standard-essential patents, and supply chain liability issues
- A Turkish consumer electronics manufacturer in defending against patent claims, the licensing of standard-essential patent portfolios, and supply chain liability issues
- A major German chemical and pharmaceutical company on patent infringement issues
- Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers™, “One of Germany’s leading lawyers”: Intellectual Property Law and Litigation, 2025-2027
- Lexology Index: Germany, 2026
- Lexology Index: Healthcare & Life Sciences, Recommended: Patent Litigation, 2025-2026
- European Patent Lawyers Association
- German Association for Intellectual Property Law
- LES – Licensing Executives Society
- Court of Appeal, Berlin, Second State Exam
- Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Dr. jur.
- Universities of Bielefeld and Tübingen, First State Exam
- Germany
- German
- English
Dr. Thomas Hauss
Düsseldorf
Dr. Thomas Hauss advises companies and entrepreneurs for more than 30 years on the structuring, negotiation, and enforcement of commercial contracts.
He represents clients before state courts as well as in out-of-court dispute resolution in complex national and cross-border commercial disputes. Thomas also has extensive experience in international arbitration proceedings.
He is known for delivering efficient, strategically sound, and innovative negotiation solutions, which he safeguards, where necessary, through the targeted use of procedural instruments in litigation, arbitration, and mediation. He has particular expertise and a proven track record in structuring and strategically leading mediation proceedings, which he employs to achieve sustainable and commercially viable dispute resolution outcomes.
Within his broad dispute resolution practice, his key areas of focus include D&O disputes, post-M&A conflicts, insolvency-related disputes, and disputes arising from service, distribution, and real estate contractual relationships.
A particular focus of his work lies in the use of digital technologies in legal practice. Thomas has extensive experience in the design and implementation of LegalTech and AI-driven solutions. This includes, in particular, the development and deployment of proprietary tools and workflows, as well as the use of generative AI to analyze complex matters and accelerate work processes. He leverages these technologies to enhance efficiency, support risk analysis, and strategically manage complex mandates, and leads interdisciplinary teams of lawyers and technology experts, particularly in technology-driven matters and complex disputes.
His clients include companies in the capital goods industry, service providers, high-net-worth individuals and family offices, as well as board members, managing directors, and supervisory board members, whom he represents in liability disputes.
Thomas is a founding partner of the firm’s Düsseldorf office and heads the Dispute Resolution and Commercial Agreements practice groups. He is also responsible for the firm’s Legal Technology activities and the forward-looking development and implementation of innovative, technology-driven advisory approaches.
Thomas advised:
- A European holding company on the defense of a post-M&A claim for damages for alleged infringement of warranties
- The chairman of the supervisory board of an international consumer goods group on the successful defense of claims for damages following an international divestment
- The CEO of an international capital goods group on the successful defense of claims for damages following a failed expansion project in Canada
- Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers™, Germany: Litigation, 2020-2027
- JUVE Handbook of Commercial Law Firms, Recommended: Conflict Resolution: Processes and Product Liability (“Always on point, extremely responsive,” competitor), 2022-2026
- The Legal 500 EMEA, Recommended in Germany: Arbitration, 2016-2022
- German Institution of Arbitration (DIS)
- University of Cologne, Dr. jur. utr.
- Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf, Second State Exam
- University of Bonn, Graduate School
- University of Cologne, First State Exam
- Germany
- German
- English
Caitlin Howe
Dallas
Caitlin (Cate) Howe focuses her practice on outsourcing, technology, and commercial transactions. In the outsourcing space, Cate represents clients in information technology and business process outsourcing transactions, and healthcare systems in revenue cycle management outsourcing. Cate also counsels clients in a wide variety of technology transactions, including cloud computing and other ‘as a service’ arrangements, software licenses, technology development and licensing agreements, e-commerce arrangements, technology maintenance and service agreements, and software compliance audits. In addition, she advises clients in strategic commercial transactions, including supply, manufacturing, distribution and reseller agreements. Cate also counsels clients on intellectual property and commercial contract issues that arise in the context of mergers and acquisitions, including transition services agreements.
- Represented Cognizant and its affiliate, TriZetto, in negotiating their renewal of their outsourcing and license agreements with EmblemHealth
- Represented Care New England in its outsourcing transaction with Kyndryl for IT services
- Represented Northern Light Health in negotiating its outsourcing agreement with Optum to manage several nonclinical functions, including revenue cycle management, information technology, analytics, enterprise project management, supply chain, and certain aspects of care management
- Represented Boulder Community Health in negotiating its outsourcing agreement with Optum to manage various nonclinical functions, including revenue cycle management
- Represented MedStar Health in its IT outsourcing negotiations with Kyndryl
- Represented John Muir Health in negotiating its outsourcing agreement with Optum to for functions including revenue cycle management, information technology, analytics, purchasing and claims processing
- Chambers USA, Technology: Outsourcing, 2022-2026
- Legal 500 US, Recommended, 2023-2025
- Texas Legal Awards, Rising Star, 2026
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, Technology Law, 2021-2022 and 2026
- Super Lawyers, Texas Rising Stars, 2020
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law, JD, magna cum laude
- Principia College, BA
- Texas
- English
- French
Dr. Philipp Grenzebach
Düsseldorf
Dr. Philipp Grenzebach advises financial and strategic investors on all aspects of corporate law and merger and acquisition (M&A) and real estate transactions, in particular private and public takeovers. He has deep knowledge of corporate reorganizations, as well as the governance and capital market compliance of capital-market oriented corporations.
Philipp furthermore focuses on the negotiation of complex contracts, especially investor and joint venture agreements.
Philipp has contributed to a number of publications, inter alia, in the area of capital markets law and energy regulation.
Before joining McDermott, Philipp worked for law firms in Düsseldorf, as well as for a large German corporation.
Philipp advised:
- Main Capital Partners on its investment in listed VOQUZ Labs AG, including the subsequent squeeze-out
- Merck KGaA in connection to the virtual general assembly
- SIGNA on the acquisition of the Selfridges-Group in London
- IPO of Apontis Pharma AG
- Squeeze-out of Sport 1 Medien AG
- JUVE Handbook of Commercial Law Firms, Recommended: Corporate, 2022-2026 and M&A, 2025-2026
- The Legal 500 EMEA, Recommended, Germany: Corporate M&A: Corporate, 2022-2024
- Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf, Second State Exam
- University of Münster, First State Exam
- University of Kent
- Germany
- English
- German
Dr. Uwe Goetker
Düsseldorf
Dr. Uwe Goetker advises on all aspects of corporate law, insolvency law and restructuring law as well as on M&A transactions. He founded the firm’s German Business Restructuring practice and is a member of the Transactions practice group.
He advises companies or their boards in out-of-court and in-court restructurings (including support in self-administration and insolvency plan proceedings), creditors and shareholders in protecting their interests in crisis situations, and investors/sellers in transactions in special situations – often involving corporate groups, complicated financial structures, and cross-border/international issues.
In addition, Uwe continuously advises on corporate law issues as well as on national and international mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and joint ventures, where he assists sellers as well as strategic and private equity investors as buyers. He participated in many of the most prominent restructurings/reorganizations and transactions in Germany.
Finally, Uwe advises on contentious disputes in corporate and insolvency law matters, in particular on management liability issues.
Uwe is the author of a book on the obligations of management in insolvency situations, co-editor of a book on cross-border insolvencies and author of a commentary on the Corporate Stabilization and Restructuring Act (StaRUG). In addition, he has written numerous book contributions and articles on current restructuring/insolvency and M&A topics.
Uwe advised:
- German EPC company on international restructuring and group financing issues
- Private equity fund on a secondary investment in bonds of German real estate companies and developers, in particular with regard to potential insolvency scenarios
- Former member of the management board of SolarWorld AG on the procedural defense of substantial liability claims
- Handelsblatt/The Best Lawyers™, Germany: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Restructuring and Insolvency Law, 2019-2027
- Chambers Europe, Band 4 in Germany: Restructuring/Insolvency, 2024-2025
- JUVE Handbook of Commercial Law Firms, Recommended: Corporate Law as well as Insolvency and Restructuring: Restructuring and Reorganization, 2015-2026
- INSOL Europe
- TMA Germany (founding member)
- German Bar Association (Insolvency Law Working Group)
- German Bar Association
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Dr. jur. (PhD)
- Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf, Second State Exam
- Ministry of Justice North Rhine-Westphalia, Ass. iur.
- Bielefeld University, First State Exam
- Germany
- English
- German
Gregory E. Fosheim
Chicago
Gregory (Greg) E. Fosheim provides counsel on a wide array of corporate, transactional and regulatory compliance matters across the healthcare and life sciences industry. Drawing on his extensive laboratory and public health background, he regularly advises on clinical and diagnostic laboratory matters, anatomic pathology and fertility laboratory compliance. Greg represents hospitals, health systems and physician practice management companies in all aspects of transactional and operational matters, particularly those with regulatory, licensing, accreditation and policy considerations. He has also negotiated several acquisitions and sales of proton therapy centers.
- Counseled a health system in navigating a complex, multi-million dollar unwind and settlement arrangement with another health system where it was the sole corporate member.
- Advised a gastroenterology physician practice management platform in its expansion efforts.
- Guided several cancer centers in the acquisition and sale of proton therapy equipment.
- Best Lawyers in America, Healthcare Law, 2025-2026
- Legal 500 US, Next Generation Partner in Healthcare: Service Providers, 2024-2025
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, Healthcare Law, 2021-2024
- Legal 500 US, Rising Star, 2021 to 2022
- Law360, Healthcare Editorial Advisory Board, 2025
- American Health Lawyers Association
- Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys
- National LGBTQ+ Bar Association Board of Directors
- Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago
- Georgia State University College of Law, JD, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
- Emory University, MPH
- Luther College, BA
- Georgia (inactive)
- Illinois
Dr. Gudrun Germakowski
Düsseldorf
Dr. Gudrun Germakowski advises national and international companies on all aspects of individual and collective employment law.
She has extensive experience in advising clients on operational changes, the deployment of external personnel, and the drafting of employment agreements for the planned provision of services from abroad.
One of her main areas of practice is collective employment law. A particular focus is advising companies in negotiations with works councils, for example in connection with compensation structures or arrangements regarding mobile working. She also advises on issues of collective labor law, for example in connection with the question of the scope of application of collective bargaining agreements following mergers.
Gudrun advised:
- Main Capital on the Acquisition of a Majority Stake in Buchner & Camp Partner
- VR Equitypartner (VREP) on the acquisition of a significant minority stake in Midoco Holding GmbH
- An international group in the health care sector on contract drafting issues in connection with the employment of staff in companies in several member states while avoiding unintended employee leasing, as well as on the implications under collective employment law (under works constitution law and collective bargaining law) in connection with the integration of a newly acquired business unit
- Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers™, Germany: Employee Benefits Law and Labor and Employment Law, 2025
- The Legal 500 EMEA, Recommended, Germany: Employment Law, 2024
- Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers™, Germany: Labor and Employment Law, 2020-2024
- The Legal 500 EMEA, Recommended, Germany: Employment Law (“Dr. Gudrun Germakowski and Dr. Sandra Urban understand how to advise beyond the boundaries of the specific individual mandate and how to keep an eye not only on short-term success but also on medium- to long-term effects.”), 2020
- Düsseldorf Bar Association
- German Bar Association (DAV)
- FidAR e.V.
- Specialist Lawyer for Labor and Employment Law, Second State Exam
- Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf, Dr. jur.
- University of Bochum, First State Exam
- University of Bochum
- Germany
- English
- German
