Winston & Strawn Partner Mark McCareins Joins Metals Service Center Institute as General Counsel

CHICAGO, Jan. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Winston & Strawn senior litigation partner R. Mark McCareins will transition to full-time representation of his longtime client, the Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI), as its General Counsel, effective February 3.  MSCI is a trade association constituting the largest single group of metals purchasers in North America.  McCareins joins the organization after more than thirty years at Winston & Strawn LLP in Chicago, where he earned numerous national accolades as an antitrust, trade regulation and intellectual property commercial litigator.

Commented M. Robert Weidner III, CEO of MSCI, "Mark has been a tremendous asset to our Association over the years, and we're delighted to welcome him in, and look forward to working with him even more closely in the years ahead."  He continued, "The Institute has a very active policy agenda which includes advocacy of a commonsense regulatory framework fostering jobs and creating economic growth for our industry.  Mark will be active in shaping our legislative approach, as well as shaping Institute points of view in state and federal courts, on the legal issues of greatest concern to our members."

McCareins has handled commercial litigation in more than 40 federal district and appellate courts, and has been counsel of record in landmark decisions reached by the US Supreme Court and other federal courts.  He has published more than 30 articles and books on a diverse range of antitrust issues. 

"I'm excited to be moving in-house to MSCI," said McCareins. "Of the many close client relationships I developed over the years at Winston & Strawn, my relationship with MSCI has been among the closest, most interesting, and most satisfying.  I look forward to working relentlessly to help the Institute further its members' interests in law-related matters."

Winston & Strawn managing partner Thomas P. Fitzgerald noted, "Mark has grown up at Winston and established a reputation for excellence as one of the country's leading antitrust lawyers.  He has also served the firm in a number of leadership positions.  We regret that he has decided to leave but we understand and respect his decision, and in reality we will always consider him our partner.  We wish him the very best."

McCareins will maintain active involvement with professional and service activities.  He will continue to serve as Vice-President of the Illinois State Bar Association's Antitrust Section Council, and as senior lecturer in business and antitrust law at Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

At Kellogg, McCareins has taught for more than two decades and twice been nominated for the prestigious Lavengood Outstanding Professor of the Year Award, the highest teaching award at Kellogg. 

Commented Kellogg Dean Sally Blount, "Mark has been a tremendous resource to Kellogg over the last twenty-five years, albeit on a part-time basis due to his day job at Winston & Strawn.  We hope that he will expand his teaching over the coming years.  He provides students with the invaluable perspective of a seasoned and savvy practitioner coupled with a rigorous intellectual frame."

McCareins will also continue his public service as President of the Board of Trustees of Lawrence Hall Youth Services, a charitable organization engaging families, strengthening communities, and transforming lives for nearly 150 years.  McCareins received the Gene B. Meier Award for Outstanding Service to Lawrence Hall Youth Services in 2010. 

Lawrence Hall Chief Executive Officer Mary Hollie noted, "Mark has been a steadfast supporter of our organization and we look forward to his continued strong leadership and unwavering support of our mission." 

On the service side, McCareins will also continue to be a member of the Board of Advisors of Catholic Charities of Chicago.

Mark McCareins' distinguished litigation career as a leading antitrust and intellectual property commercial litigator has consistently been recognized over a period of years by national and international lawyer ranking publications including:  Chambers USA; The Legal 500 United States; Leading Lawyers' Network; Best Lawyers in America and Illinois SuperLawyers.  He was named an "IP Star" by Managing Intellectual Property in 2013 and was endorsed for antitrust in the 2012 edition of PLC's Competition and Cartel Leniency guide.

McCareins received his B.A., with honors, from Northwestern University in 1978, and his J.D. from Washington University in 1981.  He will continue his numerous active associations with both schools, including service to several committees at Washington University such as the law school's National Law Alumni Council and the University's Chicago Regional Cabinet and Campaign Committee. Both Washington University and Northwestern University have honored McCareins with their distinguished alumnus awards.

On behalf of Washington University, Chancellor Mark Wrighton commented, "While we have appreciated Mark's many contributions to the University during his career as a partner within one of the country's pre-eminent law firms, we look forward to continuing to work even more closely with him as he assumes general counsel responsibilities with MSCI." 

McCareins, his wife Kathy, and their three children, are residents of Evanston, IL and Lake Geneva, WI.  Daughter Megan is a senior at Hamilton College, where both Mark and Kathy McCareins serve on the Parents Council.  Son Matt is currently a sophomore at Washington University, and Mike is a senior at St. Ignatius College Prep.

Long-time friend and client Pat Salvi, one of the leading personal injury lawyers in Chicago and owner of several minor league baseball teams, foresees little change to his friend's passion for work as well as sports.  "Mark has a very high energy level," Salvi said, "so I anticipate that his professional schedule is unlikely to moderate much, if at all, with his transition to MSCI."  Salvi added, "Mark also happens to have a mean fastball, which will come out in the spring just as surely as the snow will melt and the days become longer."

SOURCE Winston & Strawn