McDermott Will & Schulte Data Breach Lawsuit Investigation
Received an August 2026 breach notice from McDermott Will & Schulte?
Dapeer Law, P.A. is investigating a potential class action against McDermott Will & Schulte LLP, a Chicago-based international law firm, on behalf of individuals whose personal information may have been exposed when firm documents were sent to an unauthorized recipient in May 2026.
Who may qualify
You may be eligible to participate in a class action if any of the following applies:
- You received a data breach notification letter from McDermott Will & Schulte dated August 2026.
- Your letter offered enrollment in two years of free Kroll triple-bureau credit monitoring.
- You had personal information or identity documents held by the firm in connection with a client matter it handled.
- No proof of harm required to consult with counsel. You do not need to have already suffered identity theft to explore your legal options.
- Excluded: individuals who did not receive a breach notice and whose information was not involved in the incident.
Not sure if you qualify?
Send us your notice, we'll confirm your eligibility at no cost.
What happened
McDermott Will & Schulte LLP, an international law firm formed in 2025 through the combination of McDermott Will & Emery and Schulte Roth & Zabel, reported that on May 7, 2026 a single firm user inadvertently provided copies of a limited number of documents to an unauthorized person. According to the notice, the firm learned of the disclosure the same day, launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity professionals, and notified law enforcement. The firm states that it has no reason to believe the personal information involved was specifically targeted.
The firm reported the incident to the Massachusetts Attorney General on August 28, 2026 and identified 1,658 affected individuals in that filing, all reported as Massachusetts residents. The public notice describes the involved documents as containing names along with other personal data elements that vary by individual, and the remediation the firm is offering indicates that scanned identity documents, including passport copies and driver's licenses, were among the materials disclosed. Affected U.S. residents are being offered two years of complimentary triple-bureau credit monitoring through Kroll, passport replacement assistance through CIBT for impacted U.S. passport holders, and reimbursement of driver's license replacement costs on submission of receipts. The roughly three and a half month gap between the May 7, 2026 incident and the August 28, 2026 regulator filing is among the issues being evaluated.
Because a law firm holds documents supplied by clients in connection with legal matters, the materials involved in an incident of this kind can include sensitive personal, financial, immigration, and identity records that individuals cannot easily change. Whether the firm's document-handling controls, outbound transmission safeguards, and employee training met applicable legal standards, and whether affected individuals were notified within the time required by state breach notification law, are among the questions this investigation is examining.
What to do if you received a letter
Keep your notice letter
Do not discard it. Your letter contains the activation code for the Kroll credit monitoring and is important evidence if you decide to participate in a lawsuit.
Enroll in the free 24-month credit monitoring
Enroll in the Kroll triple-bureau credit monitoring offered in your letter before the activation deadline printed on it. Accepting this benefit does not waive your right to pursue legal action.
Place a fraud alert or credit freeze
Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to place a fraud alert or freeze on your file. Request a free weekly credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com, and use the FTC's IdentityTheft.gov recovery guide.If your passport or driver's license was among the documents involved, the firm is also offering passport replacement assistance through CIBT and reimbursement of driver's license replacement costs. Keep copies of any receipts you submit.
Speak with a data breach attorney
Consultations with Dapeer Law are free and confidential. We'll review your notice, explain your options, and advise whether you may be eligible to join a class action.
Submit your notice for a free review
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Breach timeline
Compensation you may be entitled to
Out-of-pocket expenses
Credit freezes, identity restoration services, and other costs incurred responding to the breach.
Time spent monitoring
Hours spent reviewing accounts, disputing fraudulent charges, and dealing with identity theft issues.
Identity theft & fraud losses
Unreimbursed funds stolen from accounts, unauthorized credit lines, or tax refund fraud tied to the breach.
Statutory damages
Certain state data breach and consumer protection statutes provide for fixed damages regardless of actual loss.
Injunctive relief
Court orders requiring the firm to implement stronger document-handling controls, outbound transmission safeguards, and employee training going forward.
Compensation categories depend on applicable state law, the types of data exposed, and documented losses. No recovery is guaranteed.
Common questions
I received a data breach letter from McDermott Will & Schulte. What should I do? +
Keep the notice letter, enroll in the free two-year Kroll triple-bureau credit monitoring before the activation deadline printed on it, and consider placing a fraud alert or security freeze with the major credit bureaus. Review your bank, credit card, and insurance statements for unfamiliar activity. If your passport or driver's license was involved, use the passport replacement assistance offered through CIBT and submit receipts for driver's license replacement reimbursement to inquiries@mcdermottlaw.com. Save the letter, any emails, and records of any expenses you incur. Contact a data breach attorney for a free consultation to understand your legal options. Accepting credit monitoring does not waive your right to pursue a legal claim.
Am I eligible to join a class action against McDermott Will & Schulte? +
If you received a 2026 breach notice from McDermott Will & Schulte, you are likely eligible for a free case evaluation. Eligibility depends on your state of residence, the specific categories of your information contained in the disclosed documents, and any losses or harm you have experienced. Dapeer Law will review your notice at no cost.
How much money could I receive from a class action lawsuit? +
Data breach class action recoveries vary significantly. Settlements typically range from a few hundred dollars for basic out-of-pocket losses to several thousand dollars for documented identity theft, with class size, damages, and negotiation all affecting the final amount. No payout is guaranteed, and this investigation has not yet resulted in a settlement.
What personal information was exposed in the breach? +
The public notice states that the disclosed documents contained names along with other personal data elements, and that the specific elements vary by individual. The remediation the firm is offering, which includes passport replacement assistance and driver's license replacement reimbursement, indicates that scanned identity documents were among the materials involved for at least some individuals. Your individual letter should identify the categories of your information that were affected.
Did McDermott Will & Schulte offer free credit monitoring? +
Yes. McDermott Will & Schulte is offering affected U.S. residents two years of complimentary triple-bureau credit monitoring through Kroll. The firm is also offering passport replacement assistance through CIBT for impacted U.S. passport holders and reimbursement of driver's license replacement costs. The activation code and enrollment deadline appear in each person's individual mailed notice. Enrolling does not waive your right to pursue a legal claim.
How many people were affected by the McDermott Will & Schulte breach? +
The firm's filing with the Massachusetts Attorney General reports 1,658 affected individuals, all listed as Massachusetts residents. Filings in other states, if any, may report additional individuals. This page will be updated as more information becomes available.
Is there a deadline to take legal action? +
Yes. Statutes of limitations for data breach claims vary by state and legal theory, typically ranging from one to six years. Waiting can permanently bar your claim. Contact us as soon as possible for a free evaluation.
How do I get a copy of the official breach notice? +
The notice filed with the Massachusetts Attorney General is available through the Massachusetts AG's public breach filing portal, linked in Sources below. If you received a letter but no longer have it, Dapeer Law can assist you in obtaining a copy during your free consultation.
Sources & references
- Official breach notice filing · Massachusetts Attorney General, McDermott Will & Schulte LLP breach notification 2026-1454 (PDF)
- Company · McDermott Will & Schulte LLP (mcdermottlaw.com)
- Credit bureau freezes · Equifax · Experian · TransUnion
- Free weekly credit reports · AnnualCreditReport.com
- Identity theft recovery guide · FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Don't let the deadline decide for you. Submit your claim today.
You only have a limited window to act. Our team will review your notice, explain your options, and tell you whether you may be eligible to recover compensation, at no cost to you.
