Don McDermett represents clients in a wide variety of corporate, securities and transactional matters. Before joining Baker Botts in 2000, Mr. McDermett served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Sterling Software, Inc., an NYSE-listed enterprise software vendor with annual revenues just under $1 billion. With experience both inside a major corporation and as lead outside counsel to major businesses, he brings unique perspective and insight to complex corporate and transactional projects.

Mr. McDermett leads teams in myriad merger and acquisition transactions, providing counsel on negotiated acquisitions, strategic alliances and joint ventures, as well as tax-free spin-offs, corporate reorganizations and recapitalizations.

Mr. McDermett also represents issuers and investment banking firms in IPOs and other registered securities offerings, private placements, venture capital financings and exchange offers.

Additionally, Mr. McDermett counsels both public and private companies regarding corporate governance matters (including representation of boards, audit committees and special committees), securities compliance and disclosure issues, executive compensation matters and “poison pill” and other defensive measures.