Debra A. Harrison is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP based in the Firm’s Washington, DC. office. As a member of the Corporate Department, Debra focuses her practice on renewable energy transactions, general corporate matters, franchising, licensing and distribution matters, as well as other business growth strategies.
Debra’s corporate practice includes counseling clients, both publicly and privately held, on transactions related to capital formation, mergers and acquisitions, brand extension programs, joint ventures and strategic alliances. She has extensive experience advising clients on renewable energy transactions, including the structuring, development, and financing of solar photovoltaic projects in the United States and the European Union. Most recently, Debra has served as lead project counsel for the past five years for a major investment banking client in its acquisition, development and financing of multiple solar projects encompassing hundreds of MW in the United States and Italy.
Debra also counsels clients on franchise and dealer relations, terminations, transfers and regulatory compliance. Her experience includes development of domestic and international franchise strategies, preparation of franchise and license agreements and related disclosure materials, advising on compliance programs and distributor consolidation matters, as well as franchisee and dealer terminations. She has worked with hundreds of franchisors and suppliers in a wide variety of industries, including food service, retail, beverage (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), hospitality, automobile rental, convenience store, sports and entertainment, cosmetology, healthcare, real estate, industrial goods, clothiers, cosmetics, and residential and light commercial services.
In addition, Debra advises licensors and licensees of trademarks and other intangible assets, and counsels clients regarding the design and implementation of distribution channels and techniques.
Debra has served as a speaker and roundtable facilitator at the International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, the International Franchise Association Annual Convention, and the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising. She has served as counsel to the National Association of Women Business Owners, and has assisted the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, the Young Entrepreneurs Organization, and the Morino Institute's Netprenenur.org program with intellectual property and licensing matters.
Debra is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland.
Education
- George Washington University Law School, J.D. (with honors), 1992
- Ohio State University, B.A., 1989
