McDermott Will & Emery has entered the Atlanta market, opening an eight-lawyer office focused on merger and acquisitions, intellectual property litigation and cybersecurity law.

M&A partner Frank Layson, who joined from DLA Piper with clients including The Coca-Cola Co. and other Fortune 500 companies, is leading the office for the Am Law 50 firm. Two other M&A partners, Paul Puckett and Sam Snider, joined with Layson from DLA Piper.

McDermott also recruited a four-lawyer IP litigation team from Kasowitz Benson Torres, led by partner Jeffrey Toney, with senior counsel Ralph Gaskins, of counsel Jackie Toney and associate Hala Mourad. Todd McClelland, who has a cybersecurity and privacy practice, joined as a partner from Jones Day.