Walk into the lobby at 444 West Lake Street and you’ll feel it immediately. It’s that heavy, polished Chicago energy. This isn't just another law office; it is the "Mother Ship." While the name on the door recently changed to McDermott Will & Schulte following the massive 2025 merger with Schulte Roth & Zabel, everyone in the Loop still calls it McDermott.
Honestly, it's hard to overstate how much this firm is woven into the city's DNA. Founded right in the middle of the Great Depression—1934, to be exact—by Edward McDermott and William Emery, it started as a scrappy tax boutique. Back then, they weren't trying to be a global behemoth. They were just two guys who were really, really good at finding the gaps in the tax code.
📖 Related: Dove Chocolate and Soap: Why People Still Think They are the Same Company
The Chicago Anchor in a Global Storm
Fast forward to 2026. The legal world is basically unrecognizable compared to a decade ago. We’ve seen firms dissolve, mid-sized players get swallowed whole, and AI start to handle the "grunt work" that used to keep first-year associates awake until 3:00 AM.
Yet, the McDermott Will & Emery Chicago office (now the headquarters for the merged mega-firm) hasn't just survived; it has thrived. They’re sitting on a combined revenue of nearly $2.8 billion. That’s not a typo.
Why does this specific office matter so much?
Because Chicago is where their "Industry First" strategy was born. Most law firms organize themselves by legal practice—you have the "Litigation Department" or the "M&A Group." McDermott flipped that. They organized around industries like healthcare and energy. If you’re a hospital CEO, you don’t want a general litigator; you want someone who eats, sleeps, and breathes healthcare regulations. That specialization started here and it’s why they’ve been named "Law Firm of the Year" in Healthcare Law six times by Best Law Firms.
What’s Actually Happening Inside 444 West Lake?
If you think a law firm is just people in suits arguing, you’ve missed the biggest shift in the industry. The Chicago office has become a tech hub.
- The AI Revolution: They were one of the first big firms to go "all in" on CoCounsel. Recently, their Knowledge Management team—many of whom are based right here in Chicago—built a Federal District Court Case Hub. It tracks over 1,800 cases with 24 specific data points.
- The Big Deals: Remember the Medline IPO? The Mills family (the founders) turned to McDermott to handle that $6.26 billion monster in late 2025. It was the largest IPO of that year.
- Tax Roots: They haven't forgotten where they came from. In November 2025, they were once again named the "Law Firm of the Year" in Tax Law. If you have a problem with the IRS in 2026, this is where you go.
The Schulte Merger: A New Era
On August 1, 2025, the firm officially became McDermott Will & Schulte. This wasn't just a name change; it was a strategic land grab.
Schulte Roth & Zabel brought a legendary "street-fighting" reputation in private capital and hedge funds from New York. By smashing that together with McDermott’s dominant healthcare and tax practices, they created a firm of 1,750 lawyers.
Is it working? Kinda depends on who you ask.
From a revenue perspective, absolutely. They are now nipping at the heels of the top 20 global firms like Latham & Watkins. But for the Chicago veterans, it's a culture shift. You’re seeing more New York-style private equity energy flowing through the Lake Street hallways.
Why the Chicago Office Still Matters to You
You might think, "I'm not a billionaire or a hospital system, why do I care?"
👉 See also: Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock: What Most People Get Wrong
You should care because McDermott is a bellwether for the Chicago economy. When their M&A team is busy, it means Chicago business is moving. When their restructuring experts like Felicia Gerber Perlman (who was just named an Outstanding Restructuring Lawyer for 2025) are in high demand, it means the economy is tightening.
Plus, their pro bono work in the city is significant. They’ve spent years mentoring inner-city students through their Kids First Initiative. They aren't just taking from the city; they’re actually putting boots on the ground in neighborhoods that usually don't see the inside of a River Point skyscraper.
Actionable Insights for 2026
If you are looking to engage with a firm of this caliber or you’re a law student eyeing a summer associate spot in the Chicago office, here is what you need to know:
- Look Beyond the Law: They don't just hire "lawyers" anymore. They hire industry experts. If you want to work there, you better understand the economics of digital health or the intricacies of the 2026 carbon credit markets.
- AI Literacy is Mandatory: They are no longer doing manual contract review for 30,000 documents. They did that for the Geisinger Health sale in three weeks using AI. If you aren't tech-fluent, you're obsolete here.
- The "Schulte" Factor: If you're a private equity player, the new merged platform gives you access to a specialized "funds" practice that the old McDermott lacked.
- Visit the Hub: If you need specific litigation intelligence, check if your counsel has access to their proprietary case dashboards. The "Data Era" of law has arrived, and Chicago is the command center.
The reality is that McDermott Will & Emery Chicago—even with its new Schulte branding—remains the gold standard for how a Midwestern firm becomes a global power. They didn't do it by being "nice"; they did it by being more specialized than everyone else.