Samantha Koplik

Success is a fluid concept for Samantha Koplik, a partner at McDermott Will & Emery LLP in NYC. Whether she is achieving a client's specific result on a deal, working through a tough feedback moment with a colleague, fighting for a seat at the table, or making a long-term career decision, she believes there is an opportunity to push, grow, learn and reset. Samantha focuses her practice on leveraged finance transactions for private equity firms, strategic buyers, institutional investors, biotech/pharma companies, private debt funds and other providers and consumers of debt financing. She also advises clients on a broad range of domestic and cross-border financing transactions and provides general financing and corporate advice to a number of companies across various industries in the United States and multiple other jurisdictions.

“It can be very hard to be a woman in a male-dominated industry and profession, but it also can be an opportunity,” says Samantha. “I encourage my women associates to ask questions, take risks and be clear about their goals – and I try to be who they need in the moment. I can pump you up, I can teach you something or I can take you for a drink.  And my office is always open for an unexpected cry.”

When she’s not working on financings for PE funds, Samantha handles pro bono cases for immigrant victims of domestic violence, trafficking and other violent crimes under the Violence Against Women Act and the U/T-Visa system and has represented women from all over the world. In 2018, she won the Jeremy Epstein Award from the New York City Bar Association's City Bar Justice Center for her pro bono work.

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