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McDermott Will & Schulte

Unverified

Chicago, IL

About

McDermott Will and Schulte represents one of the most significant law firm mergers in recent memory, and the combined platform is a powerhouse. Effective August 2025, McDermott Will and Emery merged with Schulte Roth and Zabel to form McDermott Will and Schulte, a firm with approximately 1,680 attorneys, revenues approaching $3 billion, and a fully integrated offering across healthcare, tax, private capital, litigation, and regulatory services.

McDermott's healthcare practice has long been considered the best in the industry, and the Schulte merger added top-tier capabilities in investment funds, financial services regulation, and mid-market private equity. The combined firm now offers an unmatched depth in tax advisory, fund formation, and complex transactional work. For students interested in healthcare law, private equity, or tax, there is simply no better platform to launch a career.

The culture is entrepreneurial and collaborative, with a strong Chicago heritage that values teamwork and accessibility. The merger integrated Schulte partners into key leadership roles across management, executive, and compensation committees, signaling a true combination of cultures rather than an acquisition. Associates benefit from a firm that is actively growing and creating new practice synergies.

The summer program runs a free-market system with approximately 60 summers and a 2,000-hour billable target. PPP is approximately $2.8 million. McDermott Will and Schulte recruits from top law schools nationwide, with particular strength in the Midwest and Northeast. Candidates who can articulate genuine interest in healthcare, tax, or private capital will stand out in the recruiting process.

Recruiting & Summer Program

Summer Class Size

75 associates

Summer Offer Rate

97%

Billable Hours

2,000 hours

Practice Areas & Rankings

Source: Chambers USA 2026 Rankings

Practice AreaBandJurisdictions
Capital Markets / SecuritiesBand 1Nationwide
Commercial LitigationBand 1Nationwide
Corporate / M&ABand 1New York, Texas
HealthcareBand 1Nationwide, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts
Intellectual Property (General / Trademark)Band 1Illinois
Labor & EmploymentBand 1Illinois, Massachusetts
Privacy / Data SecurityBand 1Nationwide
TaxBand 1California, Florida, Illinois, New York
Technology TransactionsBand 1Nationwide, Texas
White Collar DefenseBand 1Massachusetts
AntitrustBand 2Illinois
Capital Markets / SecuritiesBand 2Illinois
Commercial LitigationBand 2California
Corporate / M&ABand 2Delaware, Florida: South, Illinois
Energy / InfrastructureBand 2Nationwide
Food & Beverages: AlcoholBand 2Nationwide
Insurance / ReinsuranceBand 2District of Columbia, New York
International ArbitrationBand 2Nationwide
Labor & EmploymentBand 2Nationwide, Texas: Dallas, Fort Worth & Surrounds
TaxBand 2District of Columbia
White Collar DefenseBand 2Illinois
Banking & FinanceBand 3Illinois
Commercial LitigationBand 3Massachusetts
Corporate / M&ABand 3Nationwide, Georgia
HealthcareBand 3Tennessee
Intellectual Property (General / Trademark)Band 3Massachusetts
Labor & EmploymentBand 3California, New York
Life Sciences / FDABand 3California
Private EquityBand 3Nationwide
Project FinanceBand 3Nationwide
Restructuring / BankruptcyBand 3Illinois
TaxBand 3Nationwide
White Collar DefenseBand 3New York
AntitrustBand 4Nationwide
Banking & FinanceBand 4Nationwide
Commercial LitigationBand 4Illinois, New York
Government Regulatory / Public PolicyBand 4Nationwide
HealthcareBand 4New York
Life Sciences / FDABand 4Nationwide
Real EstateBand 4Illinois, New York
Restructuring / BankruptcyBand 4Delaware, Texas
TaxBand 4California: Northern
White Collar DefenseBand 4Nationwide
AntitrustBand 5District of Columbia, New York
HealthcareBand 5Texas
Intellectual Property (General / Trademark)Band 5Nationwide, District of Columbia, Texas
Restructuring / BankruptcyBand 5Nationwide, New York
White Collar DefenseBand 5District of Columbia

Firm Profile

Vault Rank (2026)

#46

AmLaw Rank (FY2025)

#16

Founded

1934

Chair / Managing Partner

Ira Coleman

Partners

238

Attorneys

~1,680

Partnership Track

9 years

Billable Hours Target

2,000 hours

Summer Class Size (2025)

~80

Revenue (FY2025)

$3B

Revenue per Lawyer (FY2025)

$1.8M

1st-Year Total Comp (2026)

$245,000+

PPP (FY2025)

$5.2M

Offices (11 locations)

Chicago, IL(HQ)
New York, NY
Washington DC, DC
Houston, TX
Dallas, TX
Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA
Boston, MA
Miami, FL
Wilmington, DE
Atlanta, GA
Visit firm website

Data sources: Financial data from AmLaw 200, FY2025. Practice area rankings from Chambers USA 2026. Summer program data from Chambers Associate 2026. Office locations from firm websites. Last verified: March 27, 2026. View our data methodology