The law firm’s promotions include two private client partners in Los Angeles and Chicago, alongside a heavy weighting toward private equity, funds and M&A work.

McDermott Will & Schulte has promoted 36 lawyers to partner and four to counsel, effective January 1, 2027.

New York accounts for 13 of the new partners, which the firm said reflects continued investment in that market and in its private capital platform. Transactions is the largest single group, with 19 new partners spanning private equity, investment funds and M&A.

In the private client practice, CJ Armstrong in Los Angeles and Margaret Kamm in Chicago are joining the partnership. Three tax lawyers have also been promoted to partner: Lauren Exnicios in New York, John Karasek in Boston and Maximilian Meyer in Frankfurt.

The firm was formed on August 1, 2025, through the merger of Chicago-founded McDermott Will & Emery and Schulte Roth & Zabel, a New York firm known for its investment funds, private equity and hedge fund work. The combined business has about 1,750 lawyers in more than 20 offices and revenue of roughly $3 billion. Schulte’s private capital franchise was a central rationale for the deal, and this promotion round extends that emphasis.

“Together, these lawyers extend the firm’s ability to advise clients across the full investment lifecycle, from fund formation through acquisition and exit,” said Harris Siskind, head of the global transactions practice group.

The class covers 13 cities in France, Germany, the UK and the US. Half of those promoted are women. Elsewhere, litigation added nine new partners, employment two and health and life sciences one. The four counsel promotions are in Düsseldorf, New York, Cologne and Paris.