Overview
March 27, 2025 – International law firm McDermott Will & Emery has once again been recognized by Legal 500 EMEA as one of the leading firms in European jurisdictions, with 38 practice rankings and 86 lawyers recognized.
This year’s rankings reflect McDermott’s continued growth and excellence across key practice areas. Several teams advanced in the rankings, with notable improvements in: France: Tax (Tier 2); France: Private Equity: Venture/Growth Capital (Tier 3); Germany: Corporate and M&A: Mid-Sized Deals (Tier 4); Italy: Dispute Resolution (Tier 4).
The Firm achieved new rankings in several categories, reinforcing McDermott’s expanding influence in these markets: Germany: Banking and Finance: Investment Funds (Tier 4); Germany: Banking and Finance: Lending and Borrowing (Tier 5); Germany: Public Sector: Planning and Environment (Tier 5); Germany: Energy (Firm to Watch).
Additionally, 26 lawyers were ranked in special categories, such as “Hall of Fame,” “Leading Partners,” “Next Generation Partners,” and “Leading Associates.”
McDermott received great feedback from clients and the market, noting the team’s responsiveness, solutions-oriented approach, collaborative spirit, and technical and interpersonal skills. One client stated that the Firm “stands out for its very strong commitment to its customers and tailor-made assistance.” Another noted that “the team delivers tailored, commercially viable solutions, with a very practical and easy to follow approach.” A client further enthused, “McDermott is an incredible law firm. They are very reactive and have significant business acumen, making them a partner rather than a simple adviser.”
RANKING TAKEAWAYS
BELGIUM:
- Competition: Belgian Law – Tier 3
- Competition: EU and Global – Tier 4
Leading Partner: Hendrik Viaene
View full rankings here.
FRANCE:
- Healthcare and Life Sciences – Tier 1
- Administrative and Public Law – Tier 2
- Data Privacy and Data Protection – Tier 2
- Private Equity: LBO – Tier 2
- Tax – Tier 2
- Banking and Finance: Transactional Work – Tier 3
- Dispute Resolution: Commercial Litigation – Tier 3
- Insolvency – Tier 3
- Private Equity: Fund Formation – Tier 3
- Private Equity: Venture/Growth Capital – Tier 3
- EU, Competition and Distribution – Tier 4
- Mergers and Acquisitions – Tier 5
- Compliance – Firms to Watch
Hall of Fame: Niels Dejean
Leading Partners: Grégoire Andrieux, Timothée Gagnepain, Diana Hund (UP), Pierre-Arnoux Mayoly, Guillaume Panuel, Anthony Paronneau, Romain Perray, Emmanuelle Trombe and Antoine Vergnat
Next Generation Partners: Anne-Sophie Maes (UP) and Théophile Jomier (NEW)
View full rankings here.
GERMANY:
- Healthcare and Life Sciences – Tier 2
- Media: Entertainment – Tier 2
- Commercial Administrative Law – Tier 3
- Information Technology: IT Transactions and Outsourcing – Tier 3
- Private Equity Transactions: Mid-Sized Deals (€100m – €500m) – Tier 3
- Real Estate – Tier 3
- Restructuring – Tier 3
- Banking and Finance: Investment Funds – Tier 4
- Corporate M&A: Corporate – Tier 4
- Corporate and M&A: Mid-Sized Deals – Tier 4
- Information Technology and Digitalization – Tier 4
- Real Estate Finance – Tier 4
- Banking and Finance: Lending and Borrowing – Tier 5
- Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation – Tier 5
- Public Sector: Planning and Environment – Tier 5
- Employment – Tier 6
- Tax – Tier 6
- Antitrust – Firm to Watch
- Energy – Firm to Watch
Leading Partners: Alexa Ningelgen, Jens Ortmanns, Dirk Pohl and Matthias Weissinger (UP)
Next Generation Partners: Monika Emilia Richter (UP) and Antje Weiss (UP)
Leading Associate: Alina Affeld
View full rankings here.
ITALY:
- Tax – Tier 2
- Banking and Finance (Lender and Arranger Side) – Tier 4
- Dispute Resolution – Tier 4
- Private Equity – Tier 4
Hall of Fame: Giancarlo Castorino and Carlo Maria Paolella
Leading Partners: Fabio Cozzi (UP) and Andrea Tempestini
Next Generation Partner: Alessio Persiani (UP)
Leading Associate: Mauro Pisano (NEW)
Full ranking results and editorial available here.
ABOUT LEGAL 500 EMEA
The Legal 500 Series is widely acknowledged as the world’s largest legal referral guide. More than 300,000 corporate counsel have been surveyed and interviewed globally in the past 12 months. Legal 500 is an independent guide, and firms and individuals are recommended purely on merit.
