Shawn C. Helms - McDermott Will & Emery

Overview


Shawn C. Helms is co-head of the Firm’s Technology Transactions & Outsourcing Practice. Shawn has broad experience in the areas of information technology, outsourcing, blockchain, crypto, artificial intelligence (AI), digital health and telecommunications. He focuses his practice on complex transactions involving technology and intellectual property, including information technology outsourcing (ITO), business process outsourcing (BPO), licensing, cloud computing arrangements (IaaS, SaaS and PaaS), technology maintenance and services, technology development/customization (including iPhone and Android), wireless infrastructure, AI, generative AI (such as ChatGPT and Stable Diffusion), social media issues, strategic alliances, e-commerce, internet of things (IoT), confidentiality, strategic sourcing and data security/privacy. Shawn has considerable experience in blockchain and cryptocurrency matters including NFTs, DAOs and enterprise blockchain applications. Shawn regularly works on the transactional aspects of cryptocurrency bankruptcy and liquidation matters. Shawn also regularly works on digital health matters involving wearables, data licensing and strategy issues, AI and mobile applications. He also advises clients on IT and IP diligence, transition services agreements (TSAs) and other technology and intellectual property matters relating to the acquisition or divestiture of businesses. Shawn also has significant experience in advising clients through software audits and related negotiations and settlements, open source software issues and software escrow matters.

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Results


  • Represented Amadeus, one of the top ten travel technology companies in the world, in an agreement with Marriott International to deploy the Amadeus Central Reservations System to modernize Marriott’s reservation infrastructure in the coming years.
  • Represented Ava Labs, one of the most popular smart contracts platforms and the creator of the Avalanche token, in the creation of a blockchain subnet platform to be offered by Deloitte to their customers. This subnet platform will allow Deloitte customers to create their own blockchain solutions and control every aspect of the blockchain offering.
  • Counseled a large publicly traded technology company on revisions to a social media platform’s terms and conditions to allow for NFTs on its platform. This project involved strategic advice to the and revisions to the social media platform’s terms and conditions.

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Recognitions


  • The Best Lawyers in America, Information Technology Law and IT Outsourcing Law including “Lawyer of the Year”, 2017-2025
  • Chambers USA, Band 1 in Texas: Technology Outsourcing, Band 1 in USA Nationwide: Outsourcing, 2010-2024
  • Legal 500 US, Leading Lawyer in Outsourcing, 2023-2024, Next Generation Partner, 2016-2022
  • Business Today, Top 10 Most Influential Outsourcing Lawyers in the USA, 2023
  • IFLR1000, Capital markets: Debt, Capital markets: Equity, M&A, 2022-2023
  • Chambers Global, 2020
  • BTI Consulting Group, Client Service All-Star
  • Texas Super Lawyers, Technology Transactions

Credentials


Education
Georgetown University Law Center, JD, cum laude, 2000
William Jewell College, BS, magna cum laude, 1996

Admissions
California
Texas