Larry Guess
Partner
Office: Chicago
Years at the Firm: 6 years
What is your favorite part about practicing healthcare law at McDermott?
My favorite part of practicing healthcare law at McDermott is the complexity of our client matters and working with my colleagues to get great results for our clients. The healthcare industry is constantly changing and innovating, and our clients engage us to help them adapt to these changes and maximize innovation in the space.
What is the biggest opportunity and greatest challenge facing clients in your area of focus today?
The biggest opportunity facing our clients is the bullish investment perspective in the healthcare industry. Currently, there are buyers with a tremendous amount of capital to deploy and sellers looking to maximize current market conditions. The healthcare transactional climate is very dynamic and certain clients are willing to invest in more risky assets. While the payoff can be substantial, the speed and complexity of these transactions can be very challenging for clients. McDermott’s healthcare group excels in delivering value to our clients by managing the speed of transactions while navigating complex regulatory regimes, enabling our clients to understand the risk associated with a particular investment and opportunities to maximize returns.
What kind of client work gets you most excited when it comes across your desk?
I get excited to come to work because I work on a variety of transactions from small add-on acquisitions to large platform acquisitions. Each transaction has its unique challenges and I love working with my colleagues to resolve complex deal structures. I also get really excited to negotiate on behalf of my clients and get the best results for them.
What is the proudest moment of your career to date?
The proudest moment of my career to date is when I found out I would be promoted to partner on January 1, 2020. I was thrilled that the partners at the Firm have the confidence and trust in my skills and abilities to make me one of their partners. This promotion also represents the culmination of many very proud moments throughout my career at McDermott when I have provided outstanding client service by closing an important deal or resolving a complex client issue.
What is an interesting fact about yourself that others may not know?
An interesting fact that others may not know about me is that I played college football for Northwestern University. During my time at Northwestern, our team went from last place in the Big Ten Conference to becoming back to back Big Ten Conference Champions. In my junior year, we went to the Rose Bowl and in my senior year, we went to the Citrus Bowl. My time on Northwestern’s football team taught me how to balance a difficult workload, how to lead, how to persevere through difficult times and how to continuously assess my abilities and improve my skills.
