McDermott Will & Schulte

Comprised of ‘highly skilled experts’, McDermott Will & Schulte excels in high-stakes competitor disputes for clients, with a particular emphasis on the biotech and pharma sectors. William Gaede, who splits his time between Silicon Valley and San Francisco, has extensive experience trying patent disputes related to antibodies, proteins, small molecules and diagnostics. In Orange County, Douglas Carsten is a key contact for life sciences companies given his expertise in pharma and biologics. Both Sarah Columbia from Boston and Michael Chu from Chicago are strong trial litigators with successful track records in jury and bench trials, as well as appellate proceedings. Thomas Steindler, in Washington DC, is distinguished by his expertise in complex Hatch-Waxman cases, while Shane Nichols, in Atlanta, focuses on patent litigation in the food and beverage, telecoms and petrochemical industries. Other key practitioners include New York’s Simon Roberts, a seasoned litigator who handles biotech and high-tech patent infringement. Following the firm’s merger with Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, the team in New York has expanded with Timothy Gilman, who clients commend as a ’standout attorney’, leads on business-critical litigation, advising on both the plaintiff and defendant sides, alongside Christopher Gerson, who specializes in computer, telephone and semiconductor technologies, and Alexander Kim, an experienced litigator who also focuses on high-tech patents. Kevin Meek departed the team in January 2026.