McDermott Will & Emery

McDermott Will & Emery is an international law firm with a diversified business practice. The firm is one of the largest grossing law firms globally, and its lawyers represent a wide range of commercial, industrial and financial enterprises, both publicly and privately held.

The firm consists of multiple legal entities that are coordinated through service agreements: McDermott Will & Emery LLP (based in Illinois with offices throughout the US and a foreign office in South Korea), McDermott Will & Emery AARPI (France), McDermott Will & Emery Belgium LLP, McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP (both based in Delaware with offices in Belgium or, respectively, Germany), McDermott Will & Emery Studio Legale Associato (Italy) and McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP.

Size

McDermott has more than 1,100 lawyers across 19 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia.

History

Chicago lawyers Edward H. McDermott and William M. Emery founded the firm in 1934. Initially focused as a tax law firm, a corporate department was established when Howard H. Will joined the firm in 1941. As the century progressed, the firm added capabilities across the legal spectrum, eventually opening eight more offices on both coasts. By 1984, the firm numbered 150 lawyers; over the ensuing 20 years, however, the firm underwent a significant growth spurt—by the firm's 70th anniversary in 2004, McDermott numbered over 1,000 lawyers.