Overview
At McDermott, we help clients reduce the uncertainties associated with dispute resolution. We ensure that clients understand the strategies available to them, the potential costs of pursuing those strategies, and the key distinction between short-term victory and long-term success.
Our practice includes many recognized trial lawyers and specialized litigators in the United States and Europe. We advise clients from most industries and have earned a particularly strong reputation for helping major, multinational clients win big-ticket cases. The strength of our lawyers is based on the fundamental principle that excellence in client service mandates deep substantive knowledge in a broad range of industries and areas of the law, and―when required―incomparable ability and success in the courtroom.
Our lawyers possess superior trial skills, deep substantive knowledge and the flexibility to draw from the Firm’s deep bench to assemble strong, lean teams. Frequently, our trial lawyers team with in-house resources, such as our premier healthcare, life sciences, employee benefits or product liability lawyers, to provide truly best-in-class advocacy. This synthesis of skill and experience, along with a record of success in high-stakes controversies, is why we are a go-to firm for large-scale, complex litigation.
Related Capabilities
Alternative Dispute Resolution
McDermott lawyers represent businesses, investors and states in a broad range of settlement negotiations, mediations and arbitrations under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and several other arbitral bodies. The group also regularly prosecutes and defends against litigations related to domestic and international arbitration, including actions to compel arbitration, actions to enforce arbitral awards and actions for injunctive relief in aid of international arbitration. Our ADR team lawyers are located across two continents, and a number have served as arbitrators in AAA and international arbitrations.
Appellate Advocacy
Our nationally recognized Supreme Court and appellate litigation practice comprises highly experienced lawyers in our US offices who have successfully handled hundreds of appeals. Our group includes partners who have argued appeals in the US Supreme Court, the 13 circuits of the US courts of appeals, and numerous state appellate courts. Members of our group have served as judicial law clerks at all levels of the federal judiciary. We are frequently retained to file friend-of-court briefs in cases of national importance in the US Supreme Court and various other appellate courts.
Construction and Engineering Disputes
Leveraging unsurpassed technical and commercial knowledge, McDermott’s construction and engineering disputes team helps owners and developers address complex litigation involving large international energy and infrastructure projects around the globe. Clients turn to us to handle disputes arising in both traditional fossil fuel energy projects and renewable energy projects, including claims of delay, inefficiency and defects. We frequently represent clients in state and federal courts and arbitration forums throughout the world. Our team distinguishes itself through a unique combination of deep industry know-how and extensive international arbitration experience, providing clients with a unique blend of capabilities and proficiency.
Financial Institutions
Our litigators represent banks and other financial institutions in a variety of complex litigation matters, including consumer and securities class actions, securities fraud and derivative litigation. We also represent institutions and individual executives in disputes involving director and officer liability, lender liability, loan workouts and regulatory issues. We regularly conduct internal investigations on behalf of clients and provide vigorous representation in investigations and enforcement proceedings brought by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), stock exchanges and other self-regulatory organizations, as well as various state securities enforcement agencies.
Hospitality
Our dedicated hospitality team includes litigators with experience in all aspects of our clients’ businesses, including acquisitions, development and financing; labor, immigration, employment and employee benefits; construction and real estate; data privacy; operations, management and service contracts; portfolio management; and tax. We have advised many of the world’s leading hospitality brands and developers, in the United States and globally.
Professional Responsibility
As professional service providers ourselves, we understand the costs associated with allegations of professional misconduct or malpractice. We represent lawyers, accountants and others on the full range of professional responsibility matters, including defense of malpractice claims, securities class actions, regulatory and ethics investigations, partnership disputes, insurance coverage issues, RICO claims, audit and tax controversies, white-collar criminal defense and other litigation. Drawing on our in-depth understanding of professional ethics and our strong courtroom skills, we have successfully represented some of the largest global professional services firms in sensitive and high-stakes cases, and in proceedings before the SEC, PCAOB and other regulatory bodies.
