Media Mentions
2011
“Heron Tower Rent Hunt Hots Up as McDermott Moves In”
City A.M., March 28, 2011
McDermott’s London office has become the first tenant of the 46-story Heron Tower, occupying two floors of the City of London skyscraper a week after building work ended.
2010
“McDermott Promotes Two in UK While Preparing Move to City’s Most Expensive Building”
The Lawyer, December 14, 2010
James Ross (tax law) and Sharon Tan (employment law) have been named to the partnership in McDermott’s London office, which will relocate in February 2011 to the 46-story Heron Tower in the City of London. Other European associates named partner in the Firm include Vincent Schroder (Munich), Sebastian von Lossow (Dusseldorf) and Philip Werner (Brussels). Hugh Nineham called promoting these “five excellent lawyers” part of the “continued organic growth of our European business.”
Hugh Nineham, James Ross, Vincent Schröder, Sharon Tan, Sebastian von Lossow, Philipp Werner, London
"UK: No Strict Harmonisation of EU Consumer Protection Laws"
E-Commerce Law & Policy, November 2010
Rohan Massey commented for the November issue of the E-Commerce Newsletter: "The current EU legislative patchwork on consumer protection is overly complex and has its flaws, but in trying to harmonise, the EU runs the risk of removing protection currently given to consumers in certain jurisdictions. This is one of the UK’s key concerns, which currently has one of the more robust regimes.”
Rohan Massey, Global Data Privacy Programs, London, Marketing, Online Contests, Advertising and E-Commerce, Privacy and Data Protection, Telecom, Media & Technology
“Should You Really Care About the Equality Act?”
EFinancialCareers.co.uk, 7 October 2010
David Dalgarno was quoted in an article regarding pay transparency. Mr. Dalgarno commented: "It's a slippery slope, banks will no longer be able to discipline people for talking about how much money they're paid and once the pay gap is reported people will still be asking why there's such a big discrepancy between what men and women are getting". He goes on to say "You need to be looking at why some people are paid more. Is it because they're threatening to leave? If so, and those threatening to leave are mostly men, this could become an issue".
David Dalgarno, Employee Benefits, Employment - London, Executive Compensation, London
David Delgano spoke to eFinancialCareers (October 7) about the impact of the UK’s new Equality Act on pay transparency at financial institutions. Calling it “a slippery slope,” he warned that banks “will no longer be able to discipline people for talking about how much they’re paid, and once the pay gap is reported people will [be] asking why there’s such a big discrepancy between what men and women are getting.” He advised financial companies to be proactive in looking at why some people are paid more. “Is it because they’re threatening to leave? If so, and those threatening to leave are mostly men, this could become an issue,” Mr. Delgano stated.
David Dalgarno, Employee Benefits, Employment - London, Executive Compensation, Labor & Employment, London
“Exclusive: UK Dispute System Ripe for Change"
TPWeek.com, 10 September 2010
Peter Nias was mentioned as one of the participants at the TPWeek roundtable event where tax disputes specialists discuss alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and whether there is a place for a formal mediation process in the UK.
Peter M.W. Nias, London, Tax, Tax - London
“Leading Energy Law Partner Appointed to London Office”
Environment Times, 1 July 2010
David Birchall is quoted in an article about joining McDermott. Mr Birchall commented: "McDermott's U.S. and European practices allows me to change the emphasis of my career towards new markets at a fascinating time given the rapidly expanding scope of energy projects".
David Birchall, Energy Advisory, London
"Top 25 Tax & Trust Solicitors"
Spear’s Wealth Management, 1 July 2010
Martyn Gowar was ranked among the Top Five of the Top 25 Tax & Trust Solicitors in London.
Martyn Gowar, International Private Client, London, Private Client, Tax, Tax - London
Martyn Gowar was quoted inLegal Business (May 2010) on wealth management.
Martyn Gowar, London, Private Client
Martyn Gowar was named “Private Client Lawyer of the Year” at the recent Citywealth Magic Circle Awards (14 May 2010). In addition, the Firm was runner up in two other nominated categories ''International Law Firm of the Year'' and ''Industry Newcomer of the Year”, while associate Claire Murray was named runner up for the Tomorrow Club ''Woman of the Year” award.
Martyn Gowar, Claire Murray, London, Private Client
Hugh Nineham was quoted in TopLegal (March 2010) in a story about his new role as head of Europe. The article mentions that the newly created role comes as part of a restructuring plan for McDermott which began this year. Mr. Nineham clarified that he, "will give a European perspective to Firm-wide decisions."
Hugh Nineham, Corporate, London
Richard Mitchell was interviewed by the BBC’s “Business Day” (February 26) regarding the growing practice of global companies filing for bankruptcy or insolvency in the countries where it is most advantageous to do so (for example, to take advantage of “pre-packaged administration” in the UK). The practice illustrates that insolvency laws have not kept up with the global nature of business. “As finance has globalized it has effectively outrun the legal boundaries with which it grew up,” Mr. Mitchell stated. “We now have global companies with complex global financial arrangements that are confronted by quite different legal requirements in different countries, which makes the process very complicated and difficult to deal with.”
Richard Mitchell, Banking and Finance - London, Finance & Banking, London, Restructuring & Insolvency
Rick Mitchell was quoted by BBC World Service (26 February 2010) at the end of a radio spot concerning bankruptcy.
Richard Mitchell, Corporate, London, Restructuring & Insolvency, US Securities - London
Hugh Nineham was quoted on February 8 by The Lawyer in an extensive story about McDermott’s London office. Describing the office as “a group of people who get on with each other and want to work with each other,” Mr. Nineham said that a primary focus of the new strategic plan and business unit organization is that the Firm is “determined to integrate all the lawyers into the practice groups internationally.” He noted that “this is all still a work in progress … [but] we now have a sense of direction and purpose,” and added concerning the new strategy and organization: “We’re not planning to be all things to everybody.… We’re looking to identify core strengths that we can scale, that can be profitable and international.”
Hugh Nineham was recognized by The Lawyer and Legal Week (both on January 20) for his new roles as the first region-wide head of McDermott’s European practice and as a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. He also continues to lead McDermott’s London office. Mr. Nineham said to The Lawyer that as an Executive Committee member “I’m not ‘representing’ Europe or lobbying only for that part of the practice’s interests, but I’m ensuring I’m bringing a European perspective to the deliberations.” To Legal Week Mr. Nineham added that “it is a new move for the Firm to have someone sitting on the Executive Committee who has specific European responsibilities. The move will help us focus on the region in terms of Firm-wide integration, profitability and growth.”
Hugh Nineham, Corporate, London
2009
Hugh Nineham was recognized in a number of media outlets for his appointment to head McDermott’s London office. Covering the announcement on October 9 were “The Churn” feature of AmLaw Daily, Law and More and The Lawyer.
Hugh Nineham, Corporate, Government Strategies, London
Rick Mitchell discussed in an April 2009 International Financial Law Review article the negotiation of exchange offers by companies that need short-term cash and debt restructuring. "An exchange offer cuts through all jurisdictional conflicts because it is not a compulsory proceeding like an insolvency – it's entirely consensual," he explained. "It's super-charged cash, because you're not only reducing your debt, you're changing the terms of that debt." He added that exchange offers are likely to become more common. "We'll start to see people who are clever, and courageous in some cases, buying in at 15 cents on the dollar and selling to the company at 30."
Richard Mitchell, Banking and Finance - London, Corporate, Corporate - London, Finance & Banking, London, Restructuring & Insolvency
2008
Andrew Watson was quoted in the March 13 edition of Legal Week in relation to a Greek infrastructure project that McDermott Will & Emery advised on. Mr Watson said, "The Greeks have been shown where our PPPs went wrong, ironed any issues out and have really taken to the model. So far it has worked well."
Andrew Watson, Banking and Finance - London, Global Energy & Infrastructure Projects, London
2007
Uwe Goetker, Norbert Schulte, Rick Mitchell, Dirk Pohl and Volker Teigelkotter were mentioned in the July 11 issue of Börsenzeitung regarding the representation of Dr. Alfred Schefenacker, owner of the Schefenacker Group, in connection with the Group's comprehensive financial and operational restructuring.
Uwe Goetker, Richard Mitchell, Dirk Pohl, Norbert Schulte, Volker Teigelkötter, Corporate, Employee Benefits, Germany, London, Tax
Alison Wetherfield was quoted in the April 17 issue of PersonnelToday in an article on a teachers’ union threatening legal action over the growing trend of "cyber-bullying. The new law would help teachers to require their employers to take this sort of behaviour seriously," Ms. Wetherfield said.
Alison Wetherfield, Employee Benefits, Employment - London, London
Peter Nias was quoted in an April 12 article on Times online that discussed the increasing pressures senior lawyers are facing due to keen competition and technology. "There's an expectation with e-mail that once you've pressed send, [the lawyer] is there to receive it," Mr. Nias said.
Peter Nias was listed on The Times Law Panel of 100 lawyers published on January 16. The Law Panel is set to boost the legal coverage in the paper and serve as a sounding board for issues and the centerpiece of The Times' online law section.
Peter M.W. Nias, London, Tax, Tax - London
2006
Rick Mitchell was quoted in a November 13 article published by Financial Times regarding the appeal of private equity firms listing in the U.S. Financial Times reports that if funds are listed in the U.S., they could take advantage of the far bigger investor base and the culture of venture capital investing. Mr. Mitchell commented, "Given that private equity funds are essentially large piles of money with a few people on top, without a large administrative staff in place, it makes send for them to list where the disclosure requirements are less onerous. But once a deal gets big enough, a couple of extra million dollars in compliance costs doesn’t bite that hard."
Richard Mitchell, Corporate, Corporate - London, Finance & Banking, London
Our London office and partners have received a number of recognitions in the 2006 UK Legal 500. McDermott was ranked in 17 disciplines, and a number of our partners were mentioned, which represents a solid increase in partner recognitions from last year. Seven partners in our Corporate Department were recognized.
Peter Nias was quoted in the October 1 issue of International Tax Review on the negative impact of the British tax authority’s anti-arbitrage initiative on the certainty of advice he can give business clients.
Peter M.W. Nias, International Tax, London, Tax, Tax - London
David Dalgarno was quoted in the June 20 issue of Personnel Today regarding the tribunal case in which a senior manager was held personally liable for harassment. "Companies should ensure that managers have had up-to-date equal opportunities training. Such training should raise awareness of the potential for personal exposure," he said.
David Dalgarno, Employee Benefits, Employment - London, London
Fred Chilton, Peter Faber, Jerry Kaplan, Peter Nias, Arndt Raupach, James Riedy, Art Rosen and Lowell Yoder were recommended in the Cross-border Tax on Corporate Transactions: PLC Which Lawyer Handbook published by Practical Law Company. McDermott was highly recommended.
Frederick Chilton, Peter L. Faber, Jared Kaplan, Peter M.W. Nias, Arndt Raupach, James A. Riedy PC, Arthur R. Rosen, Lowell D. Yoder, Germany, International, International Tax, London, Tax, Tax - Germany, Tax - London
Our London office was mentioned in the Daily Telegraph on June 1 in connection with its legal work on a celebrity recipe book, Soup Kitchen, compiled to raise money for homeless charities. To date, it has raised £52,000.
London, Pro Bono & Community Service
In its April issue Legal Business recognized McDermott's commercial litigation experience in a recent article that identified the U.S. law firms who are going head-to-head with the Magic Circle UK law firms. McDermott was ranked in the "major U.S./global firms" category.
Litigation - London, London, Trial
2005
Rohan Massey was interviewed for the weekly Radio 4 Law in Action program regarding his views on the relationship between the growth of internet use and the growth in reports of identity theft.
Rohan Massey, Intellectual Property, IP, Media & Tech - London, London
McDermott Will & Emery was mentioned in the Big Suits column in the October issue of IP Law & Business in regard to representing Document Security Systems Inc. in its suit against the European Central Bank alleging that all euro banknotes in circulation infringe its European patent.
, Intellectual Property, IP, Media & Tech - London, London
Peter Nias was quoted in the September issue of Tax Business in relation to concerns in the UK over what is meant by Her Majesty's Revenue and Custom's criterion of "gaining a tax advantage" and to what extent tax minimization is a "proper commercial purpose" as this year's deadline for declaring suspect transaction draws closer.
Peter M.W. Nias, London, Tax, Tax - London
McDermott was mentioned in the August 3 issue of Financial Times Deutschland and Süddeutsche Zeitung as the law firm advising DSSI in its lawsuit against the European Central Bank.
, Intellectual Property, IP, Media & Tech - London, London
Peter Nias was quoted in the May 2005 issue of the International Tax Review in an article that discusses a protracted legal wrangle between Marks & Spencer retailers and the UK government for cross-border group relief within the EU. The M&S case is leading the way on this issue, but there are more than 60 other companies making similar claims. "There needs to be some dialogue. The UK may be an island and drive on the left, but it is still part of the EU. The government should anticipate the judgment going against them and work out how best to become compliant and remain competitive at the same time," Mr. Nias said.
Peter M.W. Nias, London, Tax, Tax - London
Rick Mitchell was quoted extensively in the March 10 issue of the Financial Times in an in-depth corporate governance feature entitled, "Long arm of the U.S. regulator." The article discusses how some overseas companies feel trapped as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission flexes its muscles far from home.
Richard Mitchell, Corporate, Corporate - London, London
Katie Clark was quoted in the February 1 issue of Personnel Today regarding the case of Lionel Leventhal Ltd. v. North and the warning going out to employers to keep a paper trail during redundancy procedures as well as considering the issue of 'bumping'. "The ruling is saying when an employer makes redundancies it should consider bumping. Employers need to ensure there is a paper trail so they are protected. The employer shouldn't just assume that a senior employee won't accept a junior position." Ms. Clark emphasizes, "That is when the unfairness arises. The message to employers is not to make any assumptions."
Katie L. Clark, Employee Benefits, Employment - London, Labor & Employment, London
2003
McDermott Will & Emery was mentioned in a June 10th PR Newswire as sponsors of PRISM's 2003 European Intangibles Summit.
McDermott Will & Emery was mentioned, among other firms, as one of the firms that has successfully expanded out of legal regional centers, and into Europe, in an article published in the May 15 issue of Legal Week.
McDermott Will & Emery was listed as advising Numis Securities as sole underwriter on the £43m placing and open offer of 133.5 m shares in Lloyd's insurance and reinsurance company Chaucer Holdings, published by Legal Week on May 1.
McDermott Will & Emery was mentioned as "arguably one of the most ambitious US firms here [London]…" in the spring issue of Lex Magazine.
Alison Wetherfield was quoted in the March 1 issue of In Brief Monthly on when employers can snoop on their employees.
Alison Wetherfield, Employment - London, Labor & Employment, London
Peter Nias was quoted in the Financial Times on February 17 in regard to a recent ruling of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) which found discriminatory and unlawful the thin capitalization rules in the German tax code that could at best give UK businesses a timely cash boost or worse increase bureaucracy and taxes. Mr. Nias commented that the ECJ decision could potentially have a similar impact in the UK (and in all EU countries) and if the UK thin capitalization rules are held to be discriminatory and unlawful it could result in UK subsidiaries of multinational companies financed by an EU affiliate looking to the Inland Revenue for redress if part of their interest expense was disallowed or an amount of loss carried forward was reduced.
Peter M.W. Nias, International Tax, London, Tax, Tax - London
Rick Mitchell was quoted in the February 3 issue of The Deal regarding those European companies who want their shares traded in the U.S. will have to make several changes in 2003 despite the softening of some of the rules for foreigners.
Richard Mitchell, Corporate, London, Securities
2002
McDermott Will & Emery was mentioned in the November 14 issue of the Gazette for their work advising Britannia Living and Graphite Capital Management on the £22 million recommended cash offer for The Range Cooker company.
London, Mergers & Acquisitions
Nicholas Azis was listed in the November 11 issue of Financial News as part of the law team acting for Britannia Living in their offer for Range Cooker.
Nicholas Azis, London, Mergers & Acquisitions
McDermott Will & Emery was mentioned in the October 3 issue of Legal Week in regard to the Firm's continued growth and expansion in London.
Richard Mitchell was quoted in the September issue of Corporate Finance on an article addressing how non-U.S. corporates will be lobbying the SEC, the NYSE and politicians in an effort to be excluded from some of the more onerous provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Richard Mitchell, Corporate Responsibility and Governance, London
Rick Mitchell was quoted in the August 20 issue of the Daily Deal in an article addressing whether the SEC will exempt foreign companies from any of the new "corporate governance" rules under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The article highlights Porsche AG, which recently put its plans for a secondary listing in the U.S. on hold, at least in part as a result of the new rules. Mr. Mitchell stated his view that "It may be that companies like Porsche decide not to list, and that is a bad thing. The SEC has worked hard to attract non-U.S. companies to the U.S. market, and that’s good for the companies and good for U.S. investors as well."
Richard Mitchell, Corporate Responsibility and Governance, London
Rick Mitchell was quoted in the August 15 issue of the Daily Deal in an article addressing the August 14 deadline for top executives to personally swear to the accuracy of their financial results. Mr. Mitchell commented on Europe's response to these certifications, "Europeans are hot and bothered by the actions of Congress and the SEC." He also mentioned that foreign businesses see this as "Washington legislating for Europe," and expressed his thoughts that the decision to include foreign companies in this bill may not have been wise as some of the provisions conflict with the way foreign companies conduct their business.
Richard Mitchell, Corporate Responsibility and Governance, London
Peter Nias was quoted in the May 6 issue of the New York Law Journal and the May 10 issue of Corporate Counsel in regard to Europe’s lack of a unified tax system. According to Mr. Nias, a piecemeal approach will eventually succeed, "There’s momentum building. One day, multinational corporations will wake up and say: ‘So, really we’re now all harmonized.’ One day we’ll just realize it’s happened."
Peter M.W. Nias, International Tax, London, Tax, Tax - London
McDermott Will & Emery was mentioned in the May issue of American Lawyer as one of the few American firms in London expanding their arbitration and dispute resolution practices.
Litigation - London, London, Trial
McDermott Will & Emery was mentioned in the April 2002 issue of International Financial Law Review, which announced its Project Finance Deal of the Year: the Dutch high speed rail link.
McDermott Will & Emery was ranked ninth largest out of the top 50 U.S. law firms in London in the February 18 issue of The Lawyer.
2001
McDermott Will & Emery was mentioned in the December issue of Legal Business in a piece on litigation and antitrust departments being launched by U.S. firms in London. McDermott was mentioned for having a notable dispute resolution practice.
Antitrust & Competition, Litigation - London, London, Trial
McDermott Will & Emery was mentioned in the November 13 issue of the Law Gazette for having advised the European Investment Bank on the project financing of the HSL-Zuid high speed rail.
Finance & Banking, International, London
McDermott Will & Emery was referred to as offering "U.S.-style advice" to UK companies including ING Barings, IAC Holdings and Chrysalis in the August 20 issue of Financial Times. The article, "Going for the American option..." addresses the increased options for UK companies regarding legal advice on big corporate deals — U.S firms with London offices.
Corporate, Corporate - London, International, London, Mergers & Acquisitions
McDermott Will & Emery's London office was mentioned as advising the film finance company, IAC Holdings, in its flotation on AIM in the August 6 issue of The Lawyer.
Finance & Banking, London, Securities
McDermott Will & Emery was featured in "International Firms in London" annual review and schedule of the May 31 issue of Legal Week. "The call of the capital" looks at firms looking to establish a presence in London and the options of merging or setting up a new partnership
McDermott Will & Emery’s growth in London was outlined in a chart published in the May 2001 issue of American Lawyer. The rate of growth from 1999 to 2000 was noted at 233% and the growth from 2000 to 2001 was marked as 30%.
