Client Services / Tax / Closely Held Business

Closely Held Business

The scope and depth of the Firm’s closely held business practice is unparalleled among large international law firms.  Unlike other top tier international law firms, nearly all of our lawyers have experience with closely held businesses.  In fact, almost half of our clients are closely held companies, the majority of which have significant family ownership.   Drawing from their wealth of experience in this area, our attorneys have developed skills in a wide variety of substantive areas that are critical to counseling closely held companies.

The Right Skills & Experience ~ Our closely held business clients benefit from nationally recognized attorneys in many fields.  Consider that we have:

  • The best known and most highly regarded Private Client Department in the United States.  With more than 50 professionals focusing on succession planning for closely held businesses, wealth transfer consulting, and corporate governance structuring, our Private Client Department boasts more members of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) than any other firm (two of whom have served as president) and has ten lawyers listed in Best Lawyers in America.   We were identified as the leading law firm among privately-held clients, "enjoying an exceptional number of primary relationships, strong 'go-to' status and numerous client recommendations" from private company clients according to the 2005 BTI Power Rankings Scorecard, compiled by BTI Consulting Group, an independent consulting firm.   Also, we were nationally ranked in the top tier of the Wealth Management section of the 2007 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
  • A merger and acquisition practice group of more than 100 lawyers with broad experience in the full range of transactions, including those which are entirely domestic (in the U.S., UK, Germany and Italy) or cross-border.  McDermott recently was listed in Mergerstat’s M&A league tables as among the top 15 U.S. law firms in the number of announced U.S. domestic and cross-border M&A deals.
  • One of the best-recognized and largest tax practices, with extensive partnership, limited liability company and subchapter S experience.  Recently recognized by American Lawyer as “one of the most prestigious tax practices,” our tax practice includes more than 100 lawyers in the United States and Europe experienced in local, state, federal and international tax planning, compliance and controversies.
  • More than 200 corporate lawyers throughout the United States and Europe with significant experience representing companies in virtually all industries in all aspects of corporate, securities, commercial and financing transactions and counseling.
  • More than 40 lawyers practicing in employee benefits, including a unique interdisciplinary executive compensation team that integrates tax and securities law experience with excellent knowledge of the accounting implications of various plans.  As a result of our work with privately held businesses, we have developed one of the largest and best known ESOP practices in the U.S.
  • Over 160 intellectual property lawyers and patent agents, with more than 110 holding scientific and/or technical degrees and more than 85 registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  Our Firm has been ranked as one of the leading patent firms by Intellectual Property Today and as one of the Top 10 IP defense firms by IP Law & Business.

Client Service Teams ~ Our closely held business clients are serviced by teams of attorneys with the full range of skills necessary to provide complete representation.  Our historical emphasis on the closely held client has fostered a culture that emphasizes the delivery of comprehensive business solutions on a cost effective basis.  Efficient cross-departmental staffing has become the standard at McDermott.

How We Can Help ~ For decades, McDermott has helped scores of closely held companies solve their important legal issues and build their businesses.  We have almost certainly seen the problems and opportunities that you and your company face and can put our experience to work for you.

Contacts

Tax Client Services

McDermott Will & Emery

McDermott Will and Emery