Benchmark: Litigation Names McDermott Partners Among Top Litigation Practitioners
CHICAGO (October 27, 2009) — McDermott Will & Emery LLP is pleased to announce that several of its practice groups have again been named as top national and state-level litigation practices in Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys (3rd edition). A number of the Firm’s individual attorneys have also been singled out for recognition nationally and at the state level, including seven partners listed for the first time in the guide. These new and repeat rankings further highlight McDermott’s continued upward momentum as a leading provider of legal services nationwide.
McDermott’s securities and white collar crime litigation practices were both ranked at the national level, and were joined this year by the Firm’s intellectual property practice. Partners recognized as national “Star Individuals” include Jeffrey E. Stone, chair-elect of McDermott’s Management Committee, and Bobby R. Burchfield (General Commercial); M. Miller Baker and Margaret H. Warner (Insurance); and Steven S. Scholes (Securities).
In California, Benchmark ranked McDermott as a top-tier litigation practice, noting that the Firm is “home to some remarkable talent” and is “particularly strong in intellectual property work.” Leading individuals include intellectual property partners Terrence P. McMahon, head of the Firm’s worldwide Intellectual Property, Media & Technology Department and described by a client as “a force of nature,” and Eric W. Hagen, called “insanely smart, tenacious about finding angles and solutions to problems, completely dedicated and always responsive and available.” Matthew J. Jacobs was recognized for his successful representation of a former vice president of a pharmaceutical company in an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice and the San Francisco U.S. Attorney’s office. “Future Stars” included Jon Dean and Peter J. Drobac.
McDermott’s Illinois litigation team was recognized for its “international presence.” Michael A. Pope, David S. Rosenbloom, Steven S. Scholes and Jeffrey E. Stone were all listed as “Stars.” In particular, Pope was noted for his representation of ExxonMobil and Coca-Cola in class action litigations in Illinois and of Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in HMO class actions in Florida. Partner Jocelyn D. Francoeur was listed as a “Future Star.”
In Massachusetts, McDermott was ranked as a top-tier firm and noted for its excellence in intellectual property and general commercial litigation. One of the clients surveyed had this to say about the practice: “[I]n terms of their competence and their explanation of legal strategy, their expertise and judgment were far superior to the majority of firms.” Among the nearly half-dozen partners listed as Stars, Sarah Chapin Columbia was recognized for “very thorough trial preparation” and “experience trying cases in the Central District of California, a hotspot for patent litigation.” A client described Michael Kendall as “one of the most practical, thoughtful litigators I have ever worked with.” Edward P. Leibensperger was noted for his victory in the New Hampshire Supreme court on behalf of the Foundation for Seacoast Health. Other partners ranked included Mark W. Pearlstein for his white collar crime work and Peter L. Resnik for his business litigation and products liability practice.
In the Firm’s New York office, Peter John Sacripanti, chair-elect of McDermott’s Executive Committee, was listed as a Star and described as being “widely acknowledged for his general commercial and white collar crime practice, with big-name clients like Honeywell and ExxonMobil calling on his services.” Future Stars included Banks Brown and Daniel N. Jocelyn; overall, the New York practice was recognized for its “broad range of regional, U.S. and international clients.”
In the nation’s capital, McDermott was acknowledged for its representation of clients “before government agencies, congressional committees, and before federal and state courts.” Benchmark took particular note of the Washington, D.C., office’s “robust healthcare litigation practice.” Stars included M. Miller Baker, who was recognized for his successful certiorari petition to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of client Arthur Andersen, in a case regarding the application of the Federal Arbitration Act to claims involving nonsignatories to arbitration agreements, and Bobby R. Burchfield, for his representation of Amgen in an antitrust lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. Other Washington, D.C.-based Stars from McDermott included Eugene I. Goldman, Abbe D. Lowell and Margaret H. Warner.
The full list of McDermott lawyers ranked in the 2010 edition of Benchmark are as follows:
National Rankings – lawyers recognized in the national section of the guide
M. Miller Baker, Washington, D.C., Insurance
Bobby R. Burchfield, Washington, D.C., General Commercial
Steven S. Scholes, Illinois, Securities
Jeffrey E. Stone, Illinois, General Commercial
Margaret H. Warner, Washington, D.C., Insurance
Litigation Stars - lawyers who were recommended consistently by clients and peers in each state
M. Miller Baker, Washington, D.C.
Bobby R. Burchfield, Washington, D.C.
Sarah Chapin Columbia, Massachusetts
Eugene I. Goldman, Washington, D.C.
Michael Kendall, Massachusetts
Edward P. Leibensperger, Massachusetts
Abbe D. Lowell, Washington, D.C.
Terrence P. McMahon, California
Mark W. Pearlstein, Massachusetts
Michael A. Pope, Illinois
Peter L. Resnik, Massachusetts
David S. Rosenbloom, Illinois
Peter John Sacripanti, New York
Steven S. Scholes, Illinois
Jeffrey E. Stone, Illinois
Margaret H. Warner, Washington, D.C.
Future Stars
Banks Brown, New York
Jon Dean, California
Peter J. Drobac, California
Jocelyn D. Francoeur, Illinois
Daniel N. Jocelyn, New York
Mentioned
Eric W. Hagen, California
Matthew J. Jacobs, California
Benchmark is the only publication on the market to focus exclusively on litigation in the United States. Its researchers conduct extensive face-to-face interviews over a year-long period in order to get the most accurate feedback about the market. Firms listed in the guide are described by clients as capable of handling any case effectively, and are consistently renowned within the U.S. business and legal community for the quality of their trial work and their litigation professionals. For more information visit www.benchmarklitigation.com.
McDermott Will & Emery is a premier international law firm with a diversified business practice. Numbering more than 1,100 lawyers, we have offices in Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Düsseldorf, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Milan, Munich, New York, Orange County, Rome, San Diego, Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C. Extending our reach to Asia, we have a strategic alliance with MWE China Law Offices in Shanghai.
