Dechert LLP > Washington DC, United States > Firm Profile
Dechert LLP Offices
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1900 K STREET, NW
WASHINGTON DC 20006
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
United States
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Dechert LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense
With the ability to ‘translate complex legal analysis into practical and actionable advise’, Dechert LLP is a highly reputed outfit for both individual and corporate representation in the white-collar space. Supplementing its domestic expertise with strong offices in major international hubs, the practice is well-equipped to handle cross-border investigations and litigation opposite global regulatory authorities. Former US Attorney David Kelley and trial lawyer David Kistenbroker jointly lead the practice out of New York, where Andrew Levander
and Jonathan Streeter are further names to note. Washington DC’s Catherine Botticelli, who regularly advises clients stemming from the financial services sector, provides ‘deep investigative skills and a focused, constructive approach in dealing with regulators‘. On the West Coast, San Francisco-based Hartley West has extensive experience dealing with allegations of fraud, corruption, and money laundering.
Practice head(s):
David Kelley; David Kistenbroker
Other key lawyers:
Andrew Levander; Catherine Botticelli; Jeffrey Brown; Andrew Boutros; Vincent Cohen; Jonathan Streeter; Brenda Sharton; Karen Neuman; Hartley West; Richard Horvath; Steven Engel
Testimonials
‘The depth of knowledge and experience of the attorneys at Dechert is outstanding because of their focused backgrounds and familiarity with the law and ability to work with regulators to achieve optimal results for clients.’
‘They have deep bench strength in all relevant areas of practice.’
‘Dechert attorneys are extraordinarily knowledgeable, experienced, and are able to translate complex legal analysis into practical and actionable advise.’
‘In particular, Catherine Botticelli of the DC office has great knowledge of the law, deep experience in practice, and the ability to achieve outcomes in the client’s best interests, providing deep investigative skills and a focused, constructive approach in dealing with regulators.’
‘Knowledgeable and a deep bench.’
‘They have a good lawyer in San Francisco in Hartley West.’
‘Hartley West is a solid lawyer. Former federal prosecutor. Strong advocate.’
‘Anthony Kelly and John Streeter have significant professional experiences prior to joining Dechert that makes their legal guidance more valuable and less theoretical.’
Key clients
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
JP Morgan
Energy Harbor
Melvin Capital
Interactive Brokers
A Latin America-based cryptocurrency exchange
Michael Steinhardt
CEO of OZY Media, Inc.
Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Allianz Global Investors
Cooperating Executive of Medical Technology Firm
Former executives of Juul Labs, Inc.
An executive of ZTE (TX)
Various employees and executives of Hino Manufacturing
Work highlights
- Assisting JPMorgan in formulating legal strategy and overseeing negotiations with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) when they faced investigations by these two regulatory bodies for failing to track work-related communication on employees’ personal cell phones and email.
- Secured a settlement with the New York District Attorney’s Office (DANY) on behalf of an antiquities collectorafter facing an investigation which focused on the provenance of certain pieces in his collection of 1,000+ antiquities and involved 12 jurisdictions.
- Representing the CEO of OZY Media, Inc. in connection with investigations initiated by the EDNY and SEC relating to a New York Times article that detailed OZY’s COO allegedly impersonating a YouTube employee in a meeting with Goldman Sachs.
Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices Tier 1
Drawing upon a strong pool of experienced and up-and-coming talent on the East and West coasts, in particular, Dechert LLP is able to handle a wide variety and volume of defense matters for many leading pharma and medical devices clients, particularly in the context of large-scale MDLs/class actions. The firm regularly takes the lead role in such aggregated mandates, formulating core strategy decisions and regularly securing key victories through persuasive motions, as well as in litigation before juries. Mark Cheffo is regularly at the forefront of the highest-profile mandates handled by the firm, a reflection of the esteem with which he is held by clients as a result of his expertise through the litigation process, including at a motions stage – where he has briefed and conducted numerous Daubert/Frye challenges. Lauded as a ‘strong practitioner with excellent strategic smarts’, Los Angeles-based partner Kimberly Branscome is a key exemplar of the firm’s trial expertise, in particular, as well as its visibility throughout California. The vastly experienced Sheila L. BirnbaumPractice head(s):
Sheila Birnbaum; Kimberly Branscome; Mark Cheffo
Other key lawyers:
Hayden Coleman; Katherine Unger Davis; Mara Cusker Gonzalez; Paul LaFata; Rachel Passaretti-Wu; Sara Roitman; Benjamin Sadun; Jonathan Tam
Testimonials
‘Kimberly Branscome is a strong practitioner with excellent strategic smarts.’
Key clients
Atrium Medical Corporation
BioAtla
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
Moderna
Purdue Pharma
Viatris
Work highlights
- Representing 3M in product liability litigation involving allegations that a product sold to the military is related to hearing loss suffered by servicemen and women.
- Representing Atrium Medical Corporation in personal injury lawsuits that have been filed involving their hernia mesh products, including an MDL in New Hampshire.
- Representing Moderna as US national counsel regarding any product liability issues relating to its COVID-19 vaccine.
Investment fund formation and management > Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds Tier 1
The blue chip client base of Dechert LLP‘s investment funds department appreciate its ‘great depth in its mutual fund practice‘. The firm is a strong choice for the gamut of issues in the space, covering formation and fund raising, day-to-day operations, regulatory compliance, and all potential disputes. The sizeable practice includes many practitioners with experience as in-house counsel and regulators, and clients include funds, advisers, boards of directors and audit committees, independent directors, broker-dealers, insurance companies, and banks. Recent work has included a number of conversions from mutual funds to exchange-traded funds, following the national trend, and the regulatory side of the practice has been busy with new SEC regulations. Christopher Harvey oversees the practice from the firm’s Boston office and is a leading figure in the market. Alongside him, Christopher Christian is a key contact for US and European asset managers and investment funds, and John O’Hanlon is a regulatory expert. In New York, Allison Fumai stands out for her ETF expertise, while Washington DC is another key location, where Megan Johnson and Douglas Dick are based. San Francisco-based Mark Perlow is recommended by clients as ‘one of the most respected mutual fund/investment adviser attorneys‘.Practice head(s):
Christopher Harvey
Other key lawyers:
Christopher Christian; Allison Fumai; Mark Perlow; John O’Hanlon; Douglas Dick; Stephen Bier; Thomas Bogle; Megan Johnson; Adam Teufel; Stephanie Capistron
Testimonials
‘Dechert has great depth in its mutual fund practice, and the ability to address emerging best practices and evolving standards. In addition, it has broad capabilities and is able to support a variety of issues that arise tangentially to the core mutual funds practice and is our first “go to” for many of these other issues.’
‘Mark Perlow has a deep background in the mutual fund and investment adviser space, and his former SEC experience provides context for not only the details of regulations but also the policy and practical implications of a variety of matters. He is one of the most respected mutual fund/investment adviser attorneys providing confidence that we will address new requirements correctly.’
Key clients
MainStay Funds
Morgan Stanley Funds
abrdn plc
Work highlights
- Advised MainStay Funds on all its US mutual funds and closed-end funds, as well as the funds’ board and its independent trustees.
- Advised Morgan Stanley Funds on its US mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, BDC and CLOs.
- Advised Abrdn on its US registered closed-end funds, mutual funds, and ETFs.
Real estate > Real estate finance Tier 1
With national coverage, Dechert LLP is highly reputed for its expertise in origination of commercial real estate loans including mortgage and mezzanine loans, purchase and sale of participations and B-pieces seeking leverage through repo and other technologies, including CRE CLOs and other securitization solutions. The firm routinely acts for issuers, underwriters and asset sellers in CMBS and standalone securitizations of loans, often advising banks as lender’s counsel. Co-chair of the global practice, David Forti in Philadelphia works alongside New York’s Laura Swihart on complex commercial mortgage-backed securitization transactions, work-outs and foreclosures. Also in New York, Richard Jones is recommended for capital markets and mortgage finance, and Laura Ciabarra for on construction and transitional lending. Stewart McQueen in Charlotte heads the commercial mortgage-backed securities practice. In Philadelphia, Kenneth Hackman is noted for origination and securitization of single-family rental (SFR) loans, repurchase facilities and warehouse facilities. Nitya Kumar Goyal and counsel Victoria Boland are likewise noted for credit tenant lease financing, and mezzanine financings and subordinate debt.Practice head(s):
David Forti; Laura Swihart
Other key lawyers:
Richard Jones; Stewart McQueen; Laura Ciabarra; Kenneth Hackman; Nitya Kumar Goyal; Victoria Boland
Key clients
Cerberus Capital Management
Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp
Credit Suisse Group AG
CVI REIT I, LLC
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
Goldman Sachs
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.
Merchants Capital Corp.
MF1 Capital
Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.
Santander
Société Générale
SMBC
Starwood Property Trust Inc.
TD Bank
Wells Fargo
Work highlights
- Represented Freddie Mac Freddie Mac, as Depositor, Guarantor and Master Servicer, in connection with the $316 million securitization of Tax-Exempt Loans (TELs) made by state or local housing agencies and secured by affordable rental housing.
- Advised a lender consortium, including Goldman Sachs, Citibank, Wells Fargo, Barclays, Santander, TD Bank, Société Générale, SMBC and BMO, in the $12 billion financing of KKR and GIP’s $15 billion take-private acquisition of global data center operator CyrusOne Inc.
- Represented Citibank, UBS, Bank of America, Bank of Montreal and Morgan Stanley, as co-lenders, in connection with the origination of three different capital stacks including mortgage and mezzanine loans totalling $4 billion in connection with a public to private acquisition of Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation by Industrial Logistics Properties Trust.
Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort Tier 2
Primarily centred out of New York but also gaining traction on the West Coast, exemplified by the work of Los Angeles based Kimberly Branscome, Dechert LLP regularly handles high-profile toxic tort-related class actions and MDLs, both in the environmental space, as well as in cases involving harm caused by pharma products. In these matters the team, which includes many accomplished trial lawyers, regularly acts as national counsel, coordinating and presenting the key arguments and motions to the courts. Douglas Fleming has a strong grounding in environmental toxic torts and is a key member of the team alongside Rachel Passaretti-Wu defending Saint-Gobain in high-profile civil litigation and regulatory matters relating to alleged damage caused by exposure to forever chemicals in drinking water. An expert in toxic torts, Sheila L. BirnbaumPractice head(s):
Sheila L. Birnbaum; Kimberly Branscome; Mark Cheffo
Other key lawyers:
Douglas Fleming; Paul LaFata; Rachel Passaretti-Wu; Marina Schwarz
Key clients
Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics
Work highlights
- Representing Saint-Gobain in putative class actions in New York, New Hampshire and Vermont alleging the company’s use of materials containing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contaminated the groundwater and asserting medical monitoring and property damage as a result of exposure.
Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 2
The trial, investigations and securities practice at Dechert LLP has a deep bench of partners who represent a diverse range of clients, among them leading mutual funds and corporate issuers of securities. Practice head David Kistenbroker and key partner Joni Jacobsen, who work out of both the Chicago and New York offices, are highly praised by peers. They are currently handling a class action against Antares Pharma, Inc. that alleges the company provided insufficient information to the FDA in support of testosterone replacement therapy Xyosted and subsequently overstated the drug’s approval prospects, rendering public statements false and misleading. Regulatory enforcement specialist Michael Doluisio in Philadelphia and New York litigation partner Andrew Levander
are acting for AmerisourceBergen Corp. in a shareholder derivative suit filed in Delaware Chancery Court accusing the company breaching its fiduciary duties by failing to oversee compliance with federal regulations concerning distribution of controlled substances and their contributing to the opioid epidemic. Matthew Larrabee, Andrew Levander
and Linda Goldstein are the key practitioners in New York. In San Francisco, corporate governance litigation partner Richard Horvath and securities and antitrust partner Josh Hess are the main contacts.
Practice head(s):
David Kistenbroker
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
AIG Financial Products Corp.
AmerisourceBergen Corp.
Antares Pharma, Inc., Peter Graham, Robert F. Apple, Fred M. Powell, Leonard S. Jacob, Thomas J. Garrity, Anton G. Gueth, Jacques Gonella, Robert P. Roche, Jr.
Charles Schwab & Co. (“Schwab”)
CorMedix Inc. and certain current and former officers and directors
Former CFO Greg Rush of Syneos Health
Golub Capital
Leslie Moonves, former Chairman and CEO of CBS Corporation
Mallinckrodt Public Limited Company and certain officers and directors
Mark Frissora
Plex Systems, Inc. / Plex Systems Holdings, Inc.
PureCycle Technologies, Inc. and certain officers
Ronald Winowiecki, former Chief Financial Officer of Perrigo Company plc
Special Litigation Committee of Exelon
Work highlights
- Represented Mallinkrodt, a biopharmaceutical company that researches and develops drugs for the treatment of various ailments, in Strougo v. Mallinckrodt Public Limited Company et al., a purported class action against the Company and certain officers and directors, alleging that the Defendants made false and/or misleading statements or omissions about the drug Acthar’s safety and ability to treat ALS.
- Advising AmerisourceBergen Corp. in connection with a derivative suit filed against current and former members of ABC’s board of directors by putative shareholder CCAR Investments, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.
- Represented Charles Schwab & Co. in class action litigation brought in the Northern District of California that alleged breach of fiduciary duty and contract claims against it and its affiliated donor-advised fund, Schwab Charitable.
Finance > Structured finance: securitization Tier 2
The ‘forward-thinking and innovative’ team at Dechert LLP is well-versed across a range of transaction types, from CRE securitizations, CMBS and resi-securitization mandates to CLOs and ABS, with notable experience advising on esoteric assets. Noted for its expertise in the real estate sector, the team counts bulge bracket banks, private investors and alternative financiers among its key roster of clients. In the firm’s Charlotte office, Stewart McQueen, who focuses on CMBS and CRE CLOs, leads the practice alongside head of the structured credit and CLO group, Christopher Duerden, and New York-based Ralph Mazzeo, who represents private equity and hedge fund managers in RMBS transactions. The New York office is also home to Laura Swihart, who stands out for her expertise in handling CMBS mandates, while Charlotte-based John Timperio advises on mid-market CLO transactions. Sarah Milam and Linda Bartosch, who operate from the firm’s New York and Philadelphia offices respectively, are also key names, alongside and New York’s Jay Southgate.
Practice head(s):
Stewart McQueen; Christopher Duerden; Ralph Mazzeo
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is forward-thinking and innovative, they think outside the box. Always available to provide advice on the pre-execution phase.’
Key clients
Bain Capital Credit CLO Advisors, LP
CarVal CLO Management LLC
Cerberus Capital Management
Churchill Asset Management LLC / Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Corp.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.; Citibank NA
Deutsche Bank Securities
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
First Help Financial LLC
Golub Capital / GC Advisors LLC / GC Investment Management LLC
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.
MF1 Capital
Pagaya US Holding Company LLC / Pagaya Structured Products LLC
Palmer Square Capital Management LLC
Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and REVL Securities LLC
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Reigo Investments Ltd
TPG RE Finance Trust, Inc.
Work highlights
- Represented MF1 Capital, as issuer’s counsel, in its CLO issuance.
- Advised Churchill Asset Management on its inaugural US$700 million collateralized fund obligation.
- Advised Pagaya on 5 “PAID” securitizations of unsecured consumer loans totalling in excess of US$5 billion.
Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) Tier 2
The experienced Brenda Sharton, co-chair of Dechert LLP‘s global privacy and cybersecurity practice from the Boston office, handles high profile data breaches, not limited to ransomware attacks and business email interruptions brought about by a range of threat actors, including nation states, organized crime groups and insiders. Sharton also defends clients against government investigations and enforcement actions brought by global and US regulators, namely the FTC, SEC and OCR for HIPAA breaches. Also working from Boston, trial litigator Timothy Blank advises technology, biotechnology and investment firms on privacy risks in relation to US state and global regulations, drafting security programs, class action defenses, responding to data breaches and FTC investigations. Los Angeles-based Kevin Cahill advises on complex and nuanced issues related to the scope of the CCPA’s GLBA carve-out and its impact on personal information collected from investors across various channels. Charlotte-stationed associate Hilary Bonaccorsi is a key contact for financial institutions and registered investment advisors on the SEC’s privacy regulations. Bonaccorsi also focuses on developing compliance programs related to the development and purchase of alternative data sets and web scrapping risks. Former co-chair Karen Neuman has retired.Practice head(s):
Brenda Sharton
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Brenda Sharton is a brilliant lawyer and a great client advocate. She is the lawyer you want in your corner. As a seasoned litigator and an experienced data security lawyer, she manages crises with confidence, finesse and strategy. Brenda will get into the weeds with the technical team and in the same breath turn to the legal team to interpret the significance and how it aligns with the bigger picture.’
‘Brenda Sharton is knowledgeable, sharp, insightful and responsive. She is very good at negotiating. She knows when to push hard and when to play soft tunes to foster good relationships with different government agencies.’
‘Dechert team is the top-tier attorney team on privacy policy and cyber security with a lot of experiences and knowledge. They solve the problems. They are super good at communication and always get to the key point. While they are knowledgeable with a lot of experiences, they are also receptive to different opinions.’
‘The team have a broad spectrum of knowledge and work very closely with clients. They provide expert advice along with pragmatic solutions.’
‘Dechert has assembled a truly global team of privacy and data security lawyers. The cross-practice specialization ensures that clients have access to lawyers dedicated to solving a range of client’s legal issues both proactively and reactively during a data security related crisis or a litigation.’
‘The practice is led by Brenda Sharton. She brings a wealth of experience to the firm.’
The privacy and security team collaborates seamlessly across the globe when advising clients.’
‘The outstanding lawyers I deal with are Hilary Bonaccorsi, Madeleine White, Olaf Fasshauer and Tim Blank. They all have an incredible work ethic and are able to distill the legal issues in a very simple and business-friendly way. They understand that legal solutions must work not just for the lawyers but for the businesses.’
Key clients
Flo Health, Inc.
Moderna, Inc.
Pearson, plc
Cano Health, Inc.
GIC Special Investments Pte. Ltd.
Easy Healthcare Corp
Rockstar Games
Chase Bank USA, N.A.
Work highlights
- Advised Flo Health, on its regulatory and litigation matters around the globe—including a dozen class actions alleging privacy policy violations, and for advice on a new product feature designed to further protect user privacy in the face of the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
- Advised Moderna as lead counsel, on privacy and cybersecurity matters related to safeguarding the vaccine and compliance with global privacy laws, as well as in connection with the publicized European Medicines Agency (EMA) data breach of Covid-19 vaccine information.
- Advising Pearson on a cyberattack and the subsequent SEC investigation as well as other aspects related to privacy and cybersecurity counseling matters more generally.
Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 3
Dechert LLP offers global and nationwide antitrust capabilities to its growing client base which features names such as Endo Pharmaceuticals and Marriott International. The firm is well-versed with a range of litigation including conspiracies related to advertising, bid rigging and price fixing as well as antitrust patent litigation and rule of reason standards. Based in Philadelphia is co-head Steven Bizar, who focuses his practice on trial work, particularly antitrust and trade regulation and is well-regarded for his success in defending against section 1 and 2 Sherman Act cases and class action lawsuits. Also co-heading the team from Washington DC is Mike Cowie, a healthcare and life sciences law expert who focuses on government merger investigations and litigation. Also in Philadelphia are George G Gordon who has significant experience in representing companies in class actions and investigations concerning patent enforcement, pricing concerns and marketing, and Julia Chapman, who is well-versed in all stages of litigation particularly in the life sciences, specialty chemicals and tech fields. Experienced trial lawyer Shari Ross Lahlou, based in DC, acts for Fortune 500 clients including Johnson & Johnson. The group has expanded its team and strengthened its high-tech antitrust expertise with the hires from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in January 2023 including Jay Jurata in DC, former head of Orrick’s antitrust and competition group, Russell Cohen and Howard Ullman in the San Francisco office.Practice head(s):
Steven Bizar; Mike Cowie
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Aetna Inc.
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation; Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC
ACV Auctions, Inc.
Ascensus, LLC; Ascensus Broker Dealer Services, LLC; and Ascensus College Savings Recordkeeping Services, LLC
Citron Pharma, LLC
Clearon Corporation
CVS Health
Commercial Metals Company
Duke Energy
DTE Energy
Eli Lilly & Company
Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Humana Inc.
Interactive Brokers
Johnson & Johnson
Lannett Company, Inc.
Marriott International, Inc.
Occidental Petroleum Corporation/ Occidental Chemical Corporation
Par Pharmaceuticals
Vortex Commercial Flooring
Work highlights
- Represented Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Endo Health Solutions Inc. after a three-week jury trial in Chicago in In re Opana ER Antitrust Litigation which raised issues relating to the application of the antitrust rule of reason standards, amongst other matters.
- Represented Marriott International in TravelPass Group LLC et al v. Caesars Entertainment Corporation et al. against complaints alleging conspiracies related to keyword advertising bidding.
- Represented Norvatis in patent litigations, patent discovery suits, European Patent Office proceedings, and related competition law investigations in the acquisition and enforcement of a Genentech patent portfolio globally against Lilly.
Antitrust > Merger control Tier 3
Dechert LLP handles merger clearances for public companies, private equity funds, and their portfolio companies, combining work on HSR filings and joint venture approvals with notable litigation capabilities and regular roles representing third-party challengers to high-profile mergers in proceedings brought by the FTC and DOJ, as well as before international antitrust regulators and state attorneys general. The team has broad sector expertise, with notable involvements in the retail, healthcare, and energy industries, with practice co-head Mike Cowie a go-to for contentious merger work in the life sciences and healthcare space, and a former FTC official alongside James A Fishkin , who has in-agency experience of merger trials. Steven Bizar co-leads the team from Philadelphia, while Shari Ross Lahlou is noted for her expertise in investigations and merger-related litigation, and Rani Habash continues to expand his reputation with regular work for major healthcare clients such as CVS Health and Aetna. The team was bolstered by the February 2023 arrival of the experienced Jay Jurata, a specialist in tech platforms deals, from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. Lawyers are in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.Practice head(s):
Mike Cowie; Steve Bizar
Other key lawyers:
James Fishkin; Shari Ross Lahlou; Rani Habash; Jay Jurata
Key clients
Aetna
Court Square Capital
CVS Health
Henry Crown
DTE Energy
Diamonds Direct
Jacksons Food Stores
One Equity Partners
Work highlights
- Represented Jacksons Food Storeson its purchase of 63 fuel outlets and convenience stores required as part of a FTC consent decree resolving competitive concerns related to 7-Eleven, Inc.’s US$21 billion acquisition of Speedway from Marathon Petroleum Corp.
- Advising Court Square Capital Partners on its sale of Getaroom, a leading B2B hotel accommodations distributor, to Booking Holding.
- Representing Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers in its agreement to acquire Euro Auctions.
Dispute resolution > E-discovery Tier 3
Dechert LLP acts for domestic and international clients on all data and e-discovery issues associated with high-stakes disputes and corporate investigations. The group benefits from the firm’s international network of offices, allowing multinational support for clients. ‘Exceptional subject matter expert’ Ben Barnett leads the team from Philadelphia; he covers antitrust matters and product liability issues, and has particular expertise in complex simultaneous criminal and civil litigation. Counsel Matt Tate, also of Philadelphia, has experience in e-discovery, data management, and data privacy, and has almost 20 years’ experience in the practice area.Practice head(s):
Ben Barnett
Other key lawyers:
Matthew Tate
Testimonials
‘Ben Barnett’s core team has provided exceptional service.’
‘Ben Barnett is an exceptional subject matter expert and always has the client’s best interest in mind. He has a unique ability to command respect and ensure that various stakeholders are operating together towards a common goal.’
Key clients
Huawei Technologies
GSK
J&J
Flo Health, Inc.
JUUL Labs, Inc.
Easy Healthcare Corp
Work highlights
- Representing GSK as lead counsel in connection with MDL and state-court litigation alleging that heartburn medication Zantac causes cancer as a result of the formation of the chemical NDMA.
- Respresenting Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries in a purported indirect purchaser class action related to the sale of samples of brand drug, Tracleer, to competing generic companies.
- Representing Flo in eight class-actions in California, three class-actions in Canada, and one in Israel, in connection with it allegedly sharing user health-data.
Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 3
Dechert LLP fields a team of specialized litigators who are regularly engaged to handle disputes arising out of commercial agreements, consumer fraud, insurance and banking, false advertising, corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions-related claims. The trials, investigations and securities team is led by Catherine Botticelli in Washington DC and Jonathan Streeter in New York. Also in New York, Christina Sarchio is well versed in the consumer products, financial, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, sports and transportation industries, while Linda Goldstein focuses on claims brought by institutional investors and customer arbitrations. New York’s Gary Mennitt co-chairs the international insolvency litigation group, while Steven Bizar co-heads the antitrust/competition practice, operating between New York and Philadelphia.Practice head(s):
Catherine Botticelli; Jonathan Streeter
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Boiron
JUUL
National Basketball Players Association & National Hockey League Players Association
Walmart, Inc.
Cammeby’s Realty Corp.
Sculptor Capital Management
United Fiber & Data, LLC; The Powder Mill Foundation
Highmark Inc.
CIM Real Estate
Alden Global Capital
Apollo Global Management
Interactive Brokers LLC
Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC
Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.
Novi Footwear International Ltd.
Work highlights
- Representing Walmart, Inc. in a lawsuit by the Center for Inquiry under DC’s Consumer Protection statute.
- Representing United Fiber & Data and two of its members in a lawsuit filed against UFD’s founder and CEO Bill Hynes in a wide ranging lawsuit.
- Representing Interactive Brokers LLC in a putative class action lawsuit filed by a former customer.
Dispute resolution > International litigation Tier 3
Acting for corporates, sovereign states, financial institutions and creditors, Dechert LLP has broad international litigation experience including acting in parallel proceedings across multiple jurisdictions as well as distressed financial situations, investigations and judgement enforcement. Catherine Botticelli and Jonathan Streeter, based in Washington DC and New York respectively, lead the practice. Meanwhile, Andrew LevanderPractice head(s):
Jonathan Streeter; Catherine Botticelli
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
OCI Solar Power LLC
Flo Health, Inc.
Esprit Holdings Limited
Secure Energy, Inc.
Minister of Finance of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Bank Audi SAL
BLOM Bank
ULMA PIPING USA CORP.
Chubb Seguros Peru, S.A.
Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
Work highlights
- Representing Flo Health with eight U.S. federal class actions being tried in the Northern District of California, one Israeli class action, three Canadian class actions, a Congressional Oversight Committee investigation, a FTC investigation, a Norwegian investigation, and a GDPR investigation—all regarding allegations of user privacy violations.
- Secured a victory at the pleading stage for the Arab Republic of Egypt in the Southern District of New York.
- Represented BLOM Bank in a series of lawsuits plaintiffs sought to extend the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act liability to more than a dozen Lebanese banks in which the Court held that plaintiffs’ allegations against BLOM Bank were critically deficient.
Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense Tier 3
At Dechert LLP, ‘all members of the team are equally strong and engaged, and they do a phenomenal job‘. The firm is well-versed in all types of change of control and transactional litigation, and it frequently acts for leading private equity funds, sovereign investors and major corporations. David Kelley in New York and David KistenbrokerPractice head(s):
David Kelley; David Kistenbroker
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘All members of the team are equally strong and engaged. They tried a case for us and did a phenomenal job. From brief writing to oral argument and witness testimony. Excellent trial team.’
‘Josh Hess and David Kotler were both excellent as our lead trial attorneys. They were able to explain the complex legal issues to both lawyers and non-lawyers alike and got great testimony from the most challenging witnesses. On top of being great lawyers they are extremely engaging and fun to be around outside of court as well. The support team, from the associates writing the on-the-spot trial issue briefs to the paralegals managing the massive amounts of documents and technology, were excellent!’
Key clients
Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC
Qihoo 360 Technology and Eric Chen
Turtle Beach Corporation/VTB Holdings, Inc.
U.S. Ecology
Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Harvest Capital Credit Corporation
Versa Capital Management
Barings LLC & Shivani Khurana
SLR Senior Investment Corp.
Genesis Healthcare LLC; Post-acute Support Services LLC
Golub Capital BDC
Work highlights
- Representing Guggenheim in class action litigation in Delaware Chancery Court stemming from a fund’s precipitous decline in 2020, an error involved in the accrual of taxes for its master limited partnership interests, and its merger with the Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund in March 2021.
- Defending a putative class action alleging violations of Sections 10(b), 20(a) and 20A of the Securities Exchange Act against Qihoo360 Technology Co. (“Qihoo”) and certain officers and directors.
- A cross-office team of litigators successfully won a directed verdict at trial against shareholders alleging that the merger between the firm’s client, VTB Holdings, Inc, which does business as Turtle Beach, and Parametric Sound, Inc., a publicly traded audio technology company that is incorporated in Nevada and based in San Diego, California, constituted an equity expropriation from them to controlling shareholders.
Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco) Tier 3
Primarily based in New York and California, Dechert LLP‘s product liability and mass torts team has a strong reputation, in particular, in the defense of consumer product-related healthcare and pharma matters. As well as handling many high-profile consolidated disputes relating to personal injury as a result of side effects following the use of drugs manufactured from brand-name pharma companies, the team also handles a growing number of healthtech-related disputes. In this regard, Los Angeles-based Benjamin Sadun is representing a well-known women’s health app in its global defense of alleged privacy violations. Outside of the healthcare and pharma space, the firm continues to defend 3M in the largest ever MDL to date brought by US military veterans and service members alleging that their hearing loss was caused by defective earplugs sold to the US military. Los Angeles-based partner Sheila BirnbaumPractice head(s):
Sheila Birnbaum; Mark Cheffo
Other key lawyers:
Hayden Coleman; Bert Wolff; Jay Bhimani; Mara Cusker Gonzalez; Rachel Passaretti-Wu; Benjamin Sadun; Jonathan Tam
Key clients
3M Company
Easy Healthcare Corporation
Flo Health, Inc.
GlaxoSmithKline
GSK Consumer Healthcare Holdings
Viatris (Formerly Pfizer)
Work highlights
- Representing 3M in product liability litigation involving allegations that a product sold to the military is related to hearing loss suffered by servicemen and women.
- Representing Easy Health Corporation and its women’s mobile health fertility App (Premom) in connection with a pending purported class action.
- Representing Viatris in defending claims by thousands of plaintiffs alleging that Lipitor caused them to develop type 2 diabetes.
Finance > Fintech Tier 3
Dechert LLP has made good headway into the market with a combination of expertise in cryptocurrencies and digital assets, and traditional finance products. The firm has developed a good niche in related investment fund work, with clients such as Franklin Templeton instructing the team to assist with the launch of its tokenized money market fund. Lead partners include Timothy Spangler in Los Angeles, who works at the crossover between fintech and alternative investment management. Respectively based in San Francisco and Washington DC, Mark Perlow and Susan Grafton are highly experienced in regulatory matters, while Karen Neuman (Washington DC) and Brenda Sharton (Boston) are lead contacts for data privacy and cybersecurity. The firm also recruited New York partner Jay Southgate from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, who has a strong focus on consumer lending and fintech.Practice head(s):
Mark Perlow; Timothy Spangler
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Altruist
Amun 21 Shares
ARK Invest
BerkShares
Collective Liquidity
EMLES
Equity Shift
Fasanara Capital, Ltd.
Forge Global
Franklin Templeton
iTrustCapital
J.P. Morgan
NYDIG / University of Pennsylvania
Pagaya
Reigo Investments
Stoa USA, Inc.
Work highlights
- Advised Franklin Templeton in connection with its registration with the SEC and membership in FINRA of a broker-dealer and alternative trading system (ATS) to engage in transactions in digital securities.
- Advising the fintech company Pagaya on its listing on Nasdaq in June 2022.
- Advised CollectiveLiquidity, the first wealth management tech platform for unicorn shareholders, on the launch of its innovative liquidity and risk management platform based on the established operational elements and tax efficiencies of exchange funds.
Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 3
With experience representing bank groups, unsecured creditors’ committees, bondholders, acquirers, and debtors, Allan Brilliant in New York chairs Dechert LLP’s global financial restructuring practice, which is best known for representing ad hoc and official creditors’ committees in relation to mid-to-large-scale and complex restructurings both in and out of court. Brilliant has recently led a team representing the official committee of unsecured creditors in connection with the Chapter 11 case of LATAM Airlines. Craig Druehl focuses on advising ad hoc groups and official committees and played an important role in both cases.Practice head(s):
Allan Brilliant
Other key lawyers:
Craig Druehl; Stephen Zide
Testimonials
‘World class cross-border restructuring expertise.’
‘Allan Brilliant is unparalleled in this area.’
‘Stephen Zide is a fantastic lawyer: he is innovative and understands the full picture with all of its intricacies. He is a great communicator, responsive and overall a pleasure to work with.’
‘This is an outstanding team, able to provide clever and fast solutions to complex situations in many different jurisdictions.
Key clients
The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of LATAM Airlines Group
Alden Global Capital
Citadel
Davidson Kempner
Elliott Associates
Monarch Alternative Capital LP
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
CarVal
Bain Capital
Hilco
Hidili
Contrarian
Argentum
VR Capital
Stonehill Capital
Dolphin Drilling
Riverstone
Genie Energy
MBIA Noteholders
Work highlights
- Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Chapter 11 cases of LATAM Airlines and its affiliates.
- Represented Citadel in connection with several phases of the complex cross-border restructuring of Colombian airline Avianca Holdings.
- Represented the foreign representative of Hidili Industry International Development Limited (“Hidili”) in a chapter 15 case filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
Healthcare > Life sciences Tier 3
Regarded by some clients as ‘easily the best', Dechert LLP’s global life sciences practice often handles patent and IP litigations, contentious antitrust matters, and product liability related issues. Working with a host of start-ups and mature pharmaceutical and biotech companies, Andrea Reid co-heads the team from Boston, drawing on her expertise in IP strategy and prosecution. Based in New York, the ‘truly exceptional‘ fellow co-chair David S Rosenthal maintains a corporate finance and life sciences M&A focused practice. Rosenthal routinely advises public and private investment banks and venture capital firms on IPOs and CMPOs looking to invest in life sciences and medical device companies. Also based in New York, Katherine Helm notably acts for biotech and pharmaceutical companies in biologics patent disputes before the PTAB.
Practice head(s):
Andrea Reid; David S. Rosenthal
Other key lawyers:
Melanie Thill-Tayara; Katherine Helm
Testimonials
‘The quality, competence, and knowledge of the firm is without peer, Dechert is easily the best. They pay attention to detail and are rigorous in all of their reviews.’
‘The team has a rapid grasp of technical issues and is incredibly supportive. I would strongly recommend them to anyone seeking their legal assistance in any matters relating to healthcare.’
‘David Rosenthal truly stands out in his field. He carefully researches matters of relevance, and is empathetic. He is a truly exceptional person.’
Key clients
Aquestive Therapeutics
BioAtla
BioDelivery Sciences
Biogen
Cerus Endovascular
Chiesi Pharmaceutical
CVS / Aetna
Eli Lilly and Company
Endo Pharmaceuticals
Flo Health
GlaxoSmithKline
Homology Medicines
Johnson & Johnson
Moderna Therapeutics
Nimbus Therapeutics
Pfizer / Viatris
Purdue Pharma
Third Harmonic Bio
Quest Diagnostics
Work highlights
- Represented Eli Lilly & Co. in cases relating to their worldwide discovery authorized under 28 U.S.C § 1782, in a global patent litigation involving Novartis.
- Advising Cerus Endovascular on its (up to) US$525 million purchase agreement to be acquired by Stryker Corporation.
- Advised AVEO Oncology on its US$566 million definitive agreement with LG Chem to acquire AVEO for $15.00 per share, providing patent strategy and IP diligence.
M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: large deals ($500m+) Tier 3
Dechert LLP has a longstanding and well-established presence in the private equity market, representing a diverse range of PE and private investment firms at every phase of the investment life-cycle. A hallmark of the firm’s practice is its cross-border capabilities, utilizing offices in the US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East to advise on complex inbound and outbound transactions. Mark Thierfelder is global chair of the firm’s PE practice and recently led in a significant deal in the healthcare and TMT space, advising GIC in connection with its $17bn acquisition of Athenahealth. Jonathan Kim continues to grow his reputation for high-value M&A and PE buyouts, retaining clients such as Centre Partners, Further Global and PPC. Derek M Winokur and Sarah Kupferman regularly represent an impressive roster of strategic buyers, sellers and sponsors, including the likes of One Equity, Bruckmann and Rosser. Pennsylvania-based Kenneth E. Young brings a broad industry focus to the table, covering such areas as technology, energy and banking. Unless specified, attorneys are based in New York.Practice head(s):
Mark Thierfelder
Other key lawyers:
Jonathan Kim; Derek M Winokur; Sarah Kupferman; Kenneth E. Young
Key clients
GIC
Cerberus Capital Management
One Equity Partners
Graham Partners
Quilvest Private Equity
Ridgemont Equity Partners
Bregal Partners
Court Square Capital Partners
Certares
Blackstone Tactical Opportunities
SEMCAP
Work highlights
- Represented funds affiliated with Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., shareholders in Alberstons, in relation to Albertsons’ and Kroger’s definitive agreement to merge.
- Advised GIC Private Limited, the sovereign wealth fund of Singapore, on its investor consortium participation for the proposed all-cash $10.2 billion take private acquisition of Zendesk, led by global investment firms Permira and Hellman & Friedman.
- Advised GIC, the sovereign wealth fund of Singapore, in connection with the $17 billion acquisition of Athenahealth, a leading provider of cloud-based enterprise software solutions for medical groups and health systems nationwide.
Tax > International tax Tier 3
Dechert LLP provides tax advice to a number of different clients including financial services firms, asset managers and investment funds, handling complex structured finance and securitization transactions, alongside advising on tax issues pertaining to issuers and underwriters. The practice has expertise in advising non-US investors investors in using BDC’s as a vehicle to invest in US originated loans. Joshua Milgrim leads the team from New York with particular experience in advising life science companies. Philadelphia’s Edward Lemanowicz concentrates on executing taxable and tax-free transactions.Practice head(s):
Joshua Milgrim
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Highly competent, creative, solution-oriented, user-friendly.’
Key clients
GIC
T. Rowe Price
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
GQG Partners
Court Square Capital Partners
Griffon Corp.
SciPlay
Stifel Financial Corp.
One Equity Partners
StepStone
Work highlights
- Advised GIC as part of an investor group in connection with the acquisition of a majority stake in medical supply company Medline.
- Advised T. Rowe Price Group in its definitive agreement to purchase Oak Hill Advisors.
- Advised Griffon Corporation in connection with its acquisition of the Hunter Fan Company for US$845 million.
Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 3
Regarded for its involvement in the funds space, Dechert LLP underscores its reputation with instructions for leading global asset management firms and investment funds, as well as small and mid-sized complexes. Global tax chair Joshua Milgrim heads the practice, known for advising private equity firms and their portfolio companies on a broad range of corporate transactions, with a focus on the life sciences sector. Also sought out as lead counsel on various transactions are Elizabeth Guidi and David Passey. Philadelphia-based federal tax specialist Edward Lemanowicz handles international restructurings, while in Boston, Adrienne Baker focuses on partnership taxation, as well as private and regulated investment companies, including hedge funds and private equity funds. Among other key members are investment fund experts Joseph Riley and Ari Zak, whose combined expertise encompasses digital currencies and insurance. All named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.Practice head(s):
Joshua Milgrim
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
GIC
T. Rowe Price
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
GQG Partners
Court Square Capital Partners
Griffon Corp.
SciPlay
Stifel Financial Corp.
One Equity Partners
StepStone
Work highlights
- Advised GIC as part of an investor group including Blackstone, Carlyle and Hellman & Friedman, on the $34bn acquisition of a majority stake in Medline.
- Advising T. Rowe Price Group on its definitive agreement to purchase Oak Hill Advisors, acquiring 100% of the equity of OHA and other entities that have common ownership for a purchase price of up to $4.2bn.
- Advised Griffon Corporation on its $845m acquisition, through its subsidiary The AMES Companies, Inc., of the Hunter Fan Company from MidOcean Partners.
Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 4
Lawyers at Dechert LLP ‘operate in a result-oriented manner by targeting significant and striking points‘, according to clients. With a track record of success in both commercial and investor-state cases, the team acts for a diverse mix of corporate and sovereign clients in arbitral, enforcement and annulment proceedings. Arif H. Ali, who splits his practice between Washington DC and London, co-chairs the global group and has strong recent experience in the energy and natural resources, construction, hospitality, and internet governance spheres, among others. Alexandre de Gramont, who led on several state-side investment-related arbitrations over the past year, and associate David Attanasio are also noted in Washington DC.Practice head(s):
Arif H. Ali
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is quite successful in understanding complex conflicts and conveying them in writing, while tailoring the story according to the audience, especially when it comes to funding arbitration cases.’
‘It is great that lawyers operate in a result-oriented manner by targeting significant and striking points, especially in investment arbitration cases, which might involve complex party interactions and large claims.‘
Key clients
MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas PLC (MOL)
AsiaPhos Limited
The Republic of Poland
The Dominican Republic
The Republic of Ecuador
Altanovo (formerly known as Afilias USA, Inc.)
Work highlights
- Representing MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas in an ICSID arbitration against Croatia under the Energy Charter Treaty, in a dispute concerning Croatia’s treatment of MOL’s investment exceeding $1bn.
- Representing Singaporean investors, AsiaPhos and Norwest Chemicals, in an investor-state arbitration against the People’s Republic of China concerning measures taken in its phosphate mining sector.
- Secured a victory for Altanovo Domains (formerly Afilias USA) against the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.
Environment > Environment: transactional Tier 4
The environmental team at Dechert LLP is led out of Philadelphia by Abbi CohenPractice head(s):
Abbi Cohen
Other key lawyers:
Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings Tier 4
Dechert LLP continues to be rated for its expertise in life sciences and permanent capital vehicles; it is a dominant force in issuances by business development companies (BDCs). It recently advised Blackstone Private Credit Fund on its $500m private placement of 2.700% senior secured notes due 2025 and $650m private placement of 4.000% senior secured notes due 2029. Jay Alicandri is a major force in DCM offerings in the permanent capital and private credit segments. Boston partner Thomas Friedmann is co-head of corporate finance and capital markets and co-head of permanent capital, frequently advising on capital markets offerings by BDCs.Practice head(s):
Thomas Friedmann; David Rosenthal
Other key lawyers:
Ian Hartman; Matthew Carter; Eric Siegel; Harry Pangas; Jay Alicandri
Key clients
Aquestive Therapeutics
B&G Foods
Bain Capital Specialty Finance
BC Partners
BioAtla
Blackstone
Business Development Company of America
Diffusion Therapeutics
EaglePoint Credit Company
FS Investment Corporation
Golub Capital BDC, Inc.
Griffon Corporation
Hercules Capital
Horizon Technology Finance
Main Street Capital Corporation
PennantPark Investment Corporation/PennantPark Floating Rate Capital
Piper Sandler
Raymond James
Stifel
TriplePoint Capital
Via Optronics
WhiteHorse Finance
Work highlights
- Advised Blackstone Private Credit Fund on its $500m private placement of 2.700% senior secured notes due 2025 and $650m placement of 4.000% senior secured notes due 2029.
- Advised Cliffwater Corporate Lending Fund in connection with its $1.82bn revolving and term loan facilities, and $900m 4.10% Series A Senior Secured Notes due March 2027.
- Advised Cliffwater Corporate Lending Fund in connection with its $635m offering of senior secured notes comprised of multiple tranches.
Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings
Dechert LLP’s capital markets practice remains closely associated with life sciences and permanent capital vehicles, including business development companies. It is also noted for cross-border offerings, including those from Latin America. Thomas Friedmann, Boston managing partner and co-chair of the capital markets group, is noted for permanent capital vehicle transactions. New York partner David S Rosenthal co-heads the capital markets group and has a long track record in life sciences transactions.Practice head(s):
Thomas Friedmann; David Rosenthal
Key clients
Aquestive Therapeutics
B&G Foods
Bain Capital Specialty Finance
BC Partners
BioAtla
Blackstone
Business Development Company of America
Diffusion Therapeutics
EaglePoint Credit Company
FS Investment Corporation
Golub Capital BDC, Inc.
Griffon Corporation
Hercules Capital
Horizon Technology Finance
Main Street Capital Corporation
PennantPark Investment Corporation/PennantPark Floating Rate Capital
Piper Sandler
Raymond James
Stifel
TriplePoint Capital
Via Optronics
WhiteHorse Finance
Work highlights
- Advised Cerus Endovascular on its negotiated sale to Stryker Corporation by way of a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the United Kingdom Companies Act 2006 (as amended).
- Represented Golub Capital BDC 4 in the organisation and launch of a business development company, including private placement of shares of common stock.
- Advised the special committee of the board of directors of SLR Senior Investment Corp in connection with its merger with SLR Investment Corp.
Finance > Capital markets: global offerings
Dechert LLP has an established record in cross-border offerings, particularly those involving Latin America. It is also active in cross-border offerings for permanent capital vehicles and business development companies. Recently, it advised Blackstone Private Credit Fund, a closed-end management investment company and business development company, on its inaugural euro-dominated offering of €500m of 1.750% Notes due 2026. Boston’s Thomas Friedmann and New York partner David S Rosenthal, a life sciences specialist, co-chair the capital markets practice. Howard Kleinman departed for McDermott Will & Emery LLP in July 2023.Practice head(s):
Thomas Friedmann; David Rosenthal
Work highlights
Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings Tier 4
Also noted for its capabilities in life sciences-related work, Dechert LLP‘s strength in offerings by financial institutions, including permanent capital vehicles, provides a platform for a steady pipeline of debt offering engagements. New York partner Jay Alicandri is active in high-yield debt offerings in the permanent capital and private credit sphere. Boston’s Thomas Friedmann and Philadelphia partner Ian Hartman are also key partners within the national practice.
Practice head(s):
Thomas Friedmann; David Rosenthal
Other key lawyers:
Finance > Commercial lending
Dechert LLP provides debt finance advice to both lenders and borrowers, with the firm advising some of the largest private credit funds, BDCs and other alternative asset managers on acquisition finance, senior credit facilities and restructurings. Jay Alicandri, Laura Swihart and Scott Zimmerman lead the practice from the firm’s New York office, sharing leadership of the team with Philadelphia-based David Forti. A key change to the practice was the arrival of William Robertson from Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in April 2022.Practice head(s):
Jay Alicandri; David Forti; Laura Swihart; Scott Zimmerman
Other key lawyers:
William Robertson; Angelina Liang; Ed Newlands
Testimonials
‘Deep market knowledge for fund finance.’
‘Jay Alicandri is fantastic; very knowledgeable, commercial and easy to work with. Angelina Liang and Ed Newlands are talented, promising partners.’
‘The Dechert team is second to none. They represent the borrowers in this space in the vast majority of cases, so are intimately familiar with the quirks and preferences of every lender and even lender’s counsel.’
‘They understand the core direct lending business and the characteristics of the underlying assets, which makes them unrivaled in advising on the strengths and weaknesses of terms offered to our investment vehicles insomuch as terms would adversely affect or limit a portfolio or liquidity management. No other firm has this much experience in the US middle market direct lending space.’
‘Jay Alicandri is exceptional and trains his team to follow his standards. They are well staffed, highly responsive, highly thoughtful. Other strong colleagues include Ed Newlands and Sean Rosenthal. They are respectful to each other, high energy, and a pleasure to work with.’
‘Jay Alicandri values relationships. He is generous with his time and thoughts beyond the billed minute and this, in addition to this team’s outstanding work, engenders loyalty.’
Key clients
Barings
BC Partners
Blackstone
Blue Owl Capital
Bregal Partners
Centre Partners
Cerberus
Court Square Capital Partners
Deutsche Bank
FS Investments
GIC
Goldman Sachs
ING Capital
Liberty Lending
MiddleGround Capital
Moore Capital
Morgan Stanley Bank
One Equity Partners
Pretium Partners
Raymond James
Santander
Stella & Chewy’s
Sterling Investment Partners
Thoma Bravo
Work highlights
- Advised Blackstone Alternative Credit Advisors and its subsidiaries and joint ventures in more than 25 individual financings transactions totalling $27bn.
- Advised GIC Special Investments Pte in connection with its $17bn acquisition of Athenahealth.
Intellectual property > Patents: prosecution (including re-examination and post-grant proceedings) Tier 4
Dechert LLP‘s Boston-based practice is co-led by Andrea Reid and Andrew Wilkins, who is described as ‘one of the best IP counsel’. The team is adept at advising on prosecution in a multitude of areas, though there is an evident expertise across the board in biotech, with the team being noted as a ‘terrific partner when it comes to new technologies’. Additionally, its work in life sciences and pharmaceuticals is noteworthy, a key example being Reid and the ‘business-centric’ and ‘excellent’ Chad Davis representing AVEO Oncology on the $566m multi-jurisdictional creation of its patent portfolio following its acquisition by LG Chem. Scott Warren left the firm in August 2022.Practice head(s):
Andrea Reid; Andrew Wilkins
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The Dechert team is great at devising IP strategy to meet corporate needs. They offer aggressive solutions to maintain the best possible IP position, ensuring it meets deadlines and timelines. They are a terrific partner when it comes to new technologies and being able to adopt a strategy that is defensive against competition.’
‘Chad Davis is incredibly organized and is always on top of our needs and patent update timelines. He has a great attitude and is always responsive.’
‘They have an extremely deep knowledge of the biologics space and are very responsive to client requests.’
‘Andrew Wilkins is one of the best IP counsel I’ve worked with. He’s able to quickly work through the most complex issues and come up with practical guidance.’
‘Chad Davis and his team provide excellent, timely, thoughtful and effective service. They provide forward-looking cost estimates that help budget forecasting.’
‘Chad Davis has a business-centric approach to IP, incorporating business strategy in his recommendations on patent prosecutions.’
‘The team we work with has an in-depth knowledge of the IP landscape but also understands what is required from an IP strategy perspective within a small biotech company. They are very responsive and provide clear guidance on current IP prosecution needs. We do a lot of work with academics and they do a great job of ensuring we get the most from those interactions, both from a legal contract and an IP licence perspective.’
‘Andrew Wilkins is very responsive and pragmatic in his approach, which ensures that issues are dealt with quickly and efficiently.’
Key clients
Agenus
argenx
Atlas Venture
AVEO Oncology
Bicycle Therapeutics
Brickell Biotech
Exo Therapeutics
Forbion Capital Partners
Homology Medicines
Ikena Oncology
Kymera Therapeutics
Matchpoint Therapeutics
Nimbus Therapeutics
Parthenon Therapeutics
PIC Therapeutics
Rectify Pharmaceuticals
ROME Therapeutics
Tectonic Therapeutics
Third Harmonic Bio
Vigil Neuroscience
Work highlights
- Representing Boston-based oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company AVEO Oncology in its $566m definitive agreement with LG Chem to acquire AVEO for $15 per share.
- Advised Third Harmonic Bio on patent strategy and IP diligence relating to its $185m IPO.
- Represented Homology Medicines in the establishment of its $180m joint venture with Oxford Biosciences, a UK-based gene therapy firm and contract development and manufacturing organization.
Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional Tier 4
M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+) Tier 4
As its global footprint continues to expand, the strength of Dechert LLP‘s cross-border capabilities is a hallmark of the corporate and M&A practice, which is trusted by many financial services companies, asset managers and private equity funds. The practice showcases deep expertise advising on corporate deals in the healthcare and life sciences segments, and has recently handled a variety of deals in the industrial sector. Mark Thierfelder – the chair of the global private equity, corporate and securities practices – has led on hundreds of announced and closed transactions spanning strategic M&A and private equity buyouts. He sits in the New York office, where Jonathan Kim is another key contact for private equity funds. New York-based Derek M Winokur heads up the private equity group alongside Kenneth E. Young in Pennsylvania, the latter of whom is also sought out by portfolio companies from the technology, financial services, energy and healthcare sectors.Practice head(s):
Mark Thierfelder
Other key lawyers:
Jonathan Kim; Kenneth E. Young; Derek Winokur; Michael Darby
Key clients
GIC
Cerberus Capital Management
T. Rowe Price
US Ecology
Certares
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Crown Holdings
Griffon Corporation
Court Square Capital
Work highlights
- Represented funds affiliated with Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., shareholders in Alberstons, in relation to Albertsons’ and Kroger’s definitive agreement to merge.
- Advised GIC Private Limited on its investor consortium participation for the proposed all-cash $10.2bn take private acquisition of Zendesk led by global investment firms Permira and Hellman & Friedman.
- Advised GIC in connection with the $17bn acquisition of athenahealth.
Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers Tier 5
Mark S. Cheffo – Dechert LLPIntellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 5
The intellectual property group at Dechert LLP works on international IP disputes including global pharma assets, with experience in numerous US district courts along with advising on cases internationally. Numerous members of the practice possess advanced degrees in scientific and technical backgrounds. Martin Black leads the national patent litigation team out of the firm’s Philadelphia office, alongside Austin-based Jeffrey B. Plies. Operating out of New York, Katherine Helm frequently represents innovator pharma and biotech companies, utilizing her neuroscience doctorate.
Practice head(s):
Martin Black; Jeffrey B. Plies
Testimonials
‘They are outstanding lawyers; creative thinkers, for good value, and a diverse team.’
‘Katherine “Kassie” Helm, Martin Black, and George Gordon are excellent. They are creative thinkers, good writers, and strong communicators.’
Key clients
AbbVie / Allergan
BioDelivery Sciences International (BDSI)
Boston Scientific Corporation
Conagen
Eli Lilly and Company
IOENGINE, LLC
IPCom GMBH & Co. KG
Kymera Therapeutics Inc.
Microsoft Corporation
Mondis Technology, Ltd., Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
Samsung Electronics
Tekni-Plex, Inc.
True Spec Golf, LLC
Work highlights
- Represented Eli Lilly & Co. relating to worldwide discovery authorized under 28 U.S.C § 1782 in a highly watched global patent litigation involving Novartis.
- Represented Conagen against Givaudan – as both plaintiff and defendant – in a trial that encompassed six cases, five parties, four years, three courts and two states.
- Advised IPCom GMBH & Co. KG in a series of patent infringement suits, including against AT&T, Sprint Spectrum, Verizon Wireless, Nokia of America Corp, and Ericsson Inc., contending the telecommunications providers’ device infrastructure for transmitting wireless messages infringed six of IPCom’s cellular network technology patents.
International Trade > Customs, export controls and economic sanctions Tier 5
The Washington DC-based team at Dechert LLP possesses extensive experience in supporting US and foreign clients on highly sensitive economic sanctions and export controls-related matters. Advising on the full scope of compliance, investigations and enforcement, the group had strong recent activity in the technology, energy, financial services, and aerospace and defense sectors. Most notably, department head Jeremy B. Zucker recently paired up with up-and-coming partner Darshak Dholakia to advise Huawei on sanctions and export controls issues in relation to ongoing US Government investigations. Former global trade chair Amanda DeBusk recently retired.Practice head(s):
Jeremy B. Zucker
Other key lawyers:
Darshak Dholakia; Hrishikesh Hari
Testimonials
‘The team is well versed in not only the law but the government personnel who make decisions. That allows for more streamlined handling of regulatory matters.’
‘We value the team’s responsiveness and experience. Darshak Dholakia and Jeremy Zucker are our go-to partners.’
Key clients
Xiaodi Hou, former CEO of TuSimple
Huawei Technologies
Francisco D’Agostino
Ashraf Seed Ahmed Hussein
Aliaksei Aleksin
Asia Green Development Bank
Keysight Technologies
Etsy
Grindr
GIC (Singapore Sovereign Wealth Fund)
Graham Partners
Work highlights
- Representing Huawei on sanctions and export controls issues in connection with ongoing US Government investigations.
- Representing five different sanctioned clients in connection with submitting petitions to OFAC seeking their removal from sanctions lists.
Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital) Tier 5
A wide range of middle-market private equity fund and credit fund sponsors look to Dechert LLP for fund formation, advice on operational issues and for transactional matters. Debit and credit funds are a particularly strong area for the team that is represented across the country; led by New York-based Omoz Osayimwese, who is well-versed in advising renowned sponsors. Tricia Lee in Austin is valued by clients as ‘careful and thoughtful in her drafting‘ and ‘knows the private equity business from all sides‘, and is adept at advising on funds with values above $5bn. Veteran Carl de Brito has a longstanding practice in New York, while on the west coast, Timothy Spangler is a key contact, particularly for fund formation in the fintech space.Practice head(s):
Omoz Osayimwese
Other key lawyers:
Tricia Lee; Carl de Brito; Timothy Spangler; Sonia Gioseffi; Lindsay Trapp; Nadeea Zakaria
Testimonials
‘Dechert’s private equity team is top notch. From the lead partner to her associates, they are knowledgeable, attentive, efficient and very responsive.’
‘Tricia Lee has an extensive back ground not only in fund formation but also in M&A and knows the private equity business from all sides. She pays close attention to every part of the transaction, provides strong advice and is always accessible.’
‘Nadeea Zakaria, who recently made partner, is also very knowledgeable and an extremely hard worker. Several younger associates that we have worked with have also been very good working with our investors in a very professional manner.’
‘The team we work with helps to develop creative, practical solutions and is extremely responsive.’
‘Tricia Lee is one of the best lawyers I’ve worked with. She is careful and thoughtful in her drafting and is an excellent negotiator.’
Key clients
Hercules
MiddleGround Capital
Performance Equity Management (PEM)
Work highlights
- Advised MiddleGround on the formation of a private equity buyout fund targeting middle-market industrial companies in North America.
Intellectual property > Trademarks: non-contentious (including prosecution, portfolio management and licensing)
Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation
With the recent addition of former SEC counsel in investment fund management David Bartels, Dechert LLP has strengthened its deep regulatory bench. Catherine Botticelli and Jonathan Streeter, based in Washington DC and New York respectively, lead the practice, and both focus on securities enforcement and internal investigations, with an emphasis on insider trading and securities fraud.
Latin America: International firms > International arbitration
Dechert LLP’s highly reputed multi-office international arbitration has a distinct emphasis on Latin America, with more than half of its cases involving a Latin American entity. Although globally recognised for its expertise in investment arbitration, the firm is also highly active in commercial arbitrations in the region, and is also noted for its experience in the enforcement of arbitration awards. It defends a large number of Latin American states in investment and commercial arbitrations, along with representing state entities as claimants. It also acts for an array of investors in cases against Latin American sovereigns. Energy, mining, construction, transport, telecoms and food are key sectors for the team. Many within the group are natives of Latin American states or are fluent Spanish or Portuguese speakers. The Latin America focused team is primarily located in Paris, where dual-qualified (Colombia/Paris) Eduardo Silva Romero is co-chair of the global international arbitration practice; he has ‘indisputable experience in commercial and investment arbitration’ and focuses primarily on arbitration involving states and state-owned entities. José Manuel García Represa is another experienced figure in the team, typically handling a large case load; both he and Silva are particularly noted for their expertise in damage quantification. Senior associate Catalina Echeverri Gallego (‘a great professional’, ‘100% analytical and methodical’) is another Latin America specialist, while associates Javier Echeverri Díaz and Santiago Soto Garcia are also highlighted by clients. All named individuals are based in Paris. Antonio Gordillo left the firm in July 2023.Practice head(s):
Eduardo Silva Romero; Arif Ali
Testimonials
‘Dechert (Paris) LLP’s practice is characterised as highly sophisticated and legally robust. They have extensive experience in international litigation, in different locations and centers, with a strong focus on the client’s business.’
‘The lawyers are highly prepared and close. The partners participate directly in the strategy and in the day-to-day of the case. They are also concerned about the client, the business and any problem that might arise in the host country of the investment. I would mainly highlight Eduardo Silva Romero, José Manuel García-Represa and Catalina Echeverri Gallego.’
‘Dechert LLP can be characterised as having a disciplined team which maintain close communication with its clients, take the time to explain the incidents and strategies that they have contemplated for the cases and do not hesitate to take into consideration any contribution that the client wishes to contemplate. Their practice is remarkably innovative compared to other law firms, with respect to billing they are always involved and attentive to resolve any incident that may arise. Despite the fact that there is a wide difference in time zone, they are always willing to attend to any concern, by far one of the best firms we have worked with.’
‘Each of the people that make up the Dechert LLP team has made us feel safe by denoting that they control and manage the issues. Each one of them takes their time to analyse and understand the case carefully, they know that they must work step by step to have a solid strategy. Eduardo Silva Romero is a great professional and academic, who is always willing to explain any questions we may have. Denotes great leadership before his team and extensive knowledge in international arbitration issues. Catalina Echeverri is an exceptional person and great professional, always ready to attend to our concerns no matter what time it is; 100% analytical and methodical. They have extensive knowledge in investment arbitration and always guide the client to the best strategy. Santiago Soto Garcia is an excellent professional, demonstrates great experience when it comes time to analyse the expert reports in each of the investment arbitrations.’
‘It is a team of committed professionals who are fluent in Spanish and other languages. They are aware of the difficulties involved in state defence, and the various controls of public resources, and they are always willing to collaborate with the needs of the institution. In terms of knowledge, they are top-level professionals with the highest professional training, management of digital resources, with whom contact can be maintained despite the time difference between France and Ecuador. Their billing is clear and trustworthy.’
‘Dechert’s lawyers demonstrate a strong commitment to the work they do, they are always diligent and attentive to the requests made. They are aware of the need for transparency in the management of public funds and collaborate diligently with the institution in case of requirements from the Ecuadorian control body. Professionally, they have extensive knowledge in litigation and their experience in various matters is outstanding, for example in hydrocarbons, environment, infrastructure, investments, telecommunications and the calculation of damages. We highlight their commitment to work with the PGE and their intellectual generosity in sharing their knowledge with the institution’s lawyers.’
‘What makes this firm unique is that they have a diversified team. Composed of lawyers from Latin America and Europe, of different nationalities who have worked in public and private sectors. That is, they know and move perfectly in these “two worlds”. In the cases that I had to work with this firm, I see that they assign a large number of lawyers for each case, in which one creates a direct and personal bond with each one of them.’
‘Eduardo Silva Romero, José Manuel García Represa and Javier Echeverri Díaz are excellent lawyers and excellent people. Eduardo’s experience in commercial and investment arbitration is indisputable. He is also an arbitrator and has written many publications. As a lawyer, despite having a busy schedule, he always responded to my queries and calls regardless of what time it was. He has extensive experience in construction arbitrations and representing States. He and José Manuel create an exceptional duo due to their expertise is in damage quantification. José Manuel has a lot of experience in economics and calculations. Javier has considerable experience in construction arbitration and representation of states.’
Key clients
Interconexión Eléctrica (Grupo ISA)
Autopista del Norte
Carlos Mario Rios Velilla & Francisco Javier Rios Velilla
Katoen Natie Group
The Republic of Colombia
The Republic of Ecuador
The Argentine Republic
The Republic of Guatemala
Plurinational State of Bolivia
The Dominican Republic
Work highlights
- Represented one the largest power transmission companies in the world against Chile in an ICISD arbitration arising from the construction and operation of a power line.
- Represented a Brazilian investment holding company in a billion-dollar ICC corporate dispute.
- Successfully represented the first and largest solar photovoltaic power-generating company in Guatemala in an ICC arbitration initiated against a power distribution company and concerning two long-term power purchase agreements for solar plants.
Dechert LLP > Firm Profile
Dechert is a global law firm that advises asset managers, financial institutions and corporations on issues critical to managing their business and their capital – from high-stakes litigation to complex transactions and regulatory matters. We answer questions that seem unsolvable, develop deal structures that are new to the market and protect clients’ rights in extreme situations. Our 1,000+ lawyers across 20 offices globally focus on the financial services, private equity, private credit, real estate, life sciences and technology sectors.
Dechert’s lawyers work together to understand their clients’ most complex legal and business problems and efficiently deliver practical and innovative solutions all over the world.
Our clients face increasingly challenging times, from geopolitical uncertainty and the increasing scope of compliance requirements, to a proliferation of commercial and regulatory risks. We partner with businesses to navigate these situations, supporting clients in achieving their commercial goals. Our method is agile and intuitive.
We have some of the world’s leading lawyers advising on both domestic and cross-border matters. The firm is frequently retained to work on the most challenging transactions and disputes, and prides itself on its ability to deliver premium legal services and sound business judgment to its clients. We create strategies that protect both commercial and private interests with discretion and sensitivity.
Dechert lawyers bring to all of their assignments a focus on quality, responsiveness and value for money. We are driven by one key principle: exceptional client service.
Technology and innovation are central to the future development of our business, both in terms of client-facing products and internal resources that enable more cost-effective operations, such as innovations in project management, eDiscovery and client-specific extranets.
Dechert has a longstanding tradition of providing pro bono legal services to individuals and organizations who cannot otherwise afford legal counsel. Lawyers in all our offices and in all our practice groups make a difference every day by contributing their talents to providing pro bono legal services. We approach pro bono efforts with the same energy, enthusiasm and resources as work for commercial clients, and associates receive billable hour credit for their pro bono work. We require all lawyers to perform at least 25 hours of pro bono work per year to ensure universal participation in our pro bono program.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Financial services and Investment management | Christopher Harvey | ||
Corporate and securities | Mark Thierfelder | ||
Litigation | Catherine Botticelli | ||
Litigation | Jonathan Streeter | ||
Intellectual property | Martin Black | ||
Intellectual property | Jeffrey Plies | ||
Financial restructuring | Allan Brilliant | ||
Global finance | Laura Swihart | ||
Global finance | Jay Alicandri | ||
White collar defense and investigations | David Kelley | ||
Securities litigation | David Kistenbroker | ||
Securities litigation | Joni Jacobsen | ||
Antitrust | Steven Bizar | ||
Antitrust | Mike Cowie | ||
Employee benefits/executive compensation | Steven Rabitz | ||
Employee benefits/executive compensation | Howard M. Klein | ||
Tax | Joshua Milgrim | ||
International arbitration | Arif Ali | ||
Product Liability and Mass Torts | Sheila Birnbaum | ||
Product Liability and Mass Torts | Kimberly Branscome |
Lawyer Profiles
Dechert LLP > Firm Profile
Dechert is a leading global law firm with 22 offices around the world. We advise on matters and transactions of the greatest complexity, bringing energy, creativity and efficient management of legal issues to deliver commercial and practical advice for clients.
History of the firm: Founded in Philadelphia in 1875, Dechert has advised on matters involving Latin America for more than three decades. Its international network of trusted local counsel is bolstered by the firm’s foreign lawyer program, where lawyers from Latin American relationship firms are seconded to Dechert and vice versa.
Main areas of practice
Corporate and securities: Dechert’s corporate lawyers have advised companies seeking to expand their traction both within and outside Latin America for more than three decades. The firm represents buyers, sellers and advisers in connection with mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures. Dechert also handles a full range of corporate finance transactions, including initial public offerings and follow-on equity offerings, Rule 144A and Regulation S offerings, rights offerings, tender and exchange offers, and sovereign debt offerings.
Financial restructuring: Dechert represents distressed companies, buyers of distressed assets, investors in debt, equity holders and creditors in every phase of the insolvency and corporate recovery lifecycle in Latin America. The firm focuses on achieving clients’ financial and business goals in the most expedient manner possible, including advocating on their behalf.
Financial services and asset management: Dechert offers a broad range of transactional and regulatory services to Latin American banks, broker-dealers, investment managers, insurance companies and other financial institutions. It works closely with local counsel to facilitate public and private offerings of foreign collective investment schemes across the region. The firm has assisted clients in listing exchange-traded funds on Latin American stock exchanges and facilitated the approval of shares/units of investment funds for sale to pension funds administrators in Chile and Peru.
Global investigations: Dechert has considerable experience investigating and advising on anti-corruption compliance issues in Latin America, as well as matters involving tax and accounting fraud, money laundering and insider trading. The firm brings particular expertise to bear on matters involving FCPA and UK Bribery Act compliance, and also advises on civil and cartel investigations.
International arbitration and litigation: Dechert lawyers have acted as counsel or arbitrator in landmark arbitration proceedings involving Latin American parties, acting for and against state parties, majority and minority shareholders in joint ventures, and independent contractors. The firm also advises clients regarding their rights and remedies under investment treaties and other international instruments.
Governments, global corporations, corporate and sovereign debt holders, hedge funds and other financial institutions rely on the firm’s international litigators to resolve their most intractable cross-border commercial disputes, whether before courts, administrative tribunals or regulatory bodies. Its recent experience includes handling cross-border insolvency, sovereign debt and other commercial disputes involving such countries as Argentina, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Nicaragua.
International trade: Dechert handles a wide range of international trade matters, including export controls, economic sanctions, trade embargoes, customs procedures, trade defense measures and national security reviews of foreign direct investment. The firm’s practitioners include former national and multinational officials, comprising regulators, compliance officers, enforcement agents, trade negotiators and public affairs experts.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Chairman | Andrew Levander | ||
CEO | Henry Nassau | ||
Corporate and securities | Mark Thierfelder | mark.thierfelder@dechert.com | |
Financial restructuring | Allan Brilliant | allan.brilliant@dechert.com | |
Financial services and asset management | Douglas Dick | douglas.dick@dechert.com | |
Global investigations | Hector Gonzalez | hector.gonzalez@dechert.com | |
International arbitration | Eduardo Silva Romero | eduardo.silvaromero@dechert.com | |
International arbitration | Arif Ali | arif.ali@dechert.com | |
International trade | Amanda DeBusk | amanda.debusk@dechert.com | |
International trade | Jeremy Zucker | jeremy.zucker@dechert.com |
Client Testimonials
COMPANY/FIRM: Citigroup
TESTIMONIAL: “Dechert consistently provides differentiating legal advice, particularly on large, complex transactions.”
COMPANY/FIRM: Sun Capital
TESTIMONIAL: “The firm did a great job throughout the entire process. They have been proactive and delivered quality advice. As always, a pleasure working with such a great team.”
COMPANY/FIRM: Credit Suisse
TESTIMONIAL: “We continually have the highest degree of confidence in the work product and coverage of the Dechert team, and they are always a pleasure to work with.”
COMPANY/FIRM: Saint-Gobain
TESTIMONIAL: “Saint-Gobain frequently turns to Dechert to defend the company in its most consequential, high-stakes litigation in the United States. Their sophistication, depth of experience, and legal creativity – especially in the area of complex mass tort litigation, is simply unrivalled. When the case is unprecedented and alleged to be perilous, there is no better partner to have in the trenches than Dechert.”
Diversity
Leading from the Front
“Actionable allyship moves beyond passive solidarity and requires speaking up or intervening during acts of marginalization, even at the risk of backlash or negative consequences. As catalysts for change, Dechert remains committed to doing our part in fighting systemic racism, social injustice and inequity.”
Satra Sampson-Arokium, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
- Using his voice to take a powerful stand, our Chief Executive Officer, Henry Nassau, published a Leaders at the Front Pledge. His pledge is a bold action plan to create meaningful and measurable changes at Dechert and within the legal industry. Read his pledge here on the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s website.
- In 2021, Dechert became one of the first firms to pilot the Mansfield Rule in the UK. The Mansfield Rule, overseen by Diversity Lab, has become the standard by which U.S. law firms track and measure their diversity.
- Dechert was the first law firm to sign the Business Statement Opposing Anti-LGBTQ State Legislation, taking a stance against discrimination of LGBTQ people in proposed U.S. legislation.
By the Numbers
- 43% of the Policy Committee [senior leadership team] are women or diverse partners.
- 52% of the lawyers most recently promoted to partner [effective January 1, 2022] are women.
- 44% of our global offices are managed by women or diverse partners.
- 25% of partners globally are women.
- 74% of our most recent Fall 2021 class of new associates in the U.S. are women or diverse.
Key Initiatives
Aspiring Solicitors
Dechert is an Affiliate Partner of Aspiring Solicitors (AS). 2021 marks the fifth successful year of Dechert’s sponsorship of the organization’s national Commercial Awareness Competition, with the winners offered a vacation scheme and opportunity to interview for a training contract at Dechert.
Diversity and Inclusion Week
During the firm’s second annual DEI Week, Dechert hosted a conversation with Dr. Makaziwe Mandela, the eldest daughter of President Mandela, who shared insights on her family’s work to bring greater unity to the world. Our community also joined in to connect across differences and inspired each other to take a break by sharing their favorite vacation or staycation photo, making a difference with acts of kindness, and some other lighthearted and fun moments
Sponsorship and Sustained Support (SASS) Program
Through our Global Women’s Initiative, we continued to identify and implement initiatives that promote opportunities for women to advance and lead throughout the firm. We continued to organize our SASS women into several cohorts led by partner faculty. SASS cohorts are designed to provide support and actionable skills as women continue learning and networking together to navigate the path to partnership.
Inclusive Leadership
Commitment to diversity and inclusion stems from the top. Our partners have been participating in interactive sessions on inclusive leadership since 2018. In 2021, the training expanded to the entire Dechert community. We covered such issues as affinity bias, attribution bias, covering, in and out groups, actionable allyship, unconscious bias, and inclusive leadership in times of crisis. Individuals participate in interactive sessions that center around dramatizations that prompt conversations, challenge stereotypes, and inspire change.
Comparative Guides
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Germany: Alternative Investment Funds
Published: September 2023
Authors: Angelo Lercara
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Alternative Investment Funds laws and regulations applicable in Germany.
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United States: Alternative Investment Funds
Published: September 2023
Authors: Christopher D. ChristianJennifer O’Brien
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Alternative Investment Funds laws and regulations applicable in United States.
-
Hong Kong: Alternative Investment Funds
Published: September 2023
Authors: Michael WongStanley TiuAmanda Liu
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Alternative Investment Funds laws and regulations applicable in Hong Kong.
-
Ireland: Alternative Investment Funds
Published: September 2023
Authors: Ciara O’LearyDan MorrisseyThe authors would like to thank David Higgins and Jeff Mackey for their contributions to this chapter.
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Alternative Investment Funds laws and regulations applicable in Ireland.
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Luxembourg: Alternative Investment Funds
Published: September 2023
Authors: Patrick GoebelChristine Renner
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Alternative Investment Funds laws and regulations applicable in Luxembourg.
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United Kingdom: Alternative Investment Funds
Published: October 2023
Authors: Abigail BellDaniel HawthorneThiha Tun
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Alternative Investment Funds laws and regulations applicable in United Kingdom.
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Preserving Directors’ Business Judgment Despite Encroaching ESG Mandates
Published: May 2024
Authors: Richard Horvath Stephen Leitzell
- Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense
- Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices
- Investment fund formation and management > Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds
- Real estate > Real estate finance
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort
- Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
- Finance > Structured finance: securitization
- Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)
Firm Rankings
- Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
- Antitrust > Merger control
- Dispute resolution > E-discovery
- Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes
- Dispute resolution > International litigation
- Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense
- Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco)
- Finance > Fintech
- Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate
- Healthcare > Life sciences
- M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: large deals ($500m+)
- Tax > International tax
- Tax > US taxes: non-contentious
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- Environment > Environment: transactional
- Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings
- Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings
- Finance > Capital markets: global offerings
- Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings
- Finance > Commercial lending
- Intellectual property > Patents: prosecution (including re-examination and post-grant proceedings)
- Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional
- M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+)