Dechert LLP > Silicon Valley, > Firm Profile
Dechert LLP Offices
3000 El Camino Real
Five Palo Alto Square, Suite 650
Palo Alto, CA 94306-2112
CALIFORNIA
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Dechert LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
United States > 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.
United States > Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital)
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.
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 21 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
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mr Timothy Spangler | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Scott Warren | Partner | View Profile |
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.
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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.
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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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Environmental, Social & Governance and the Duty of Oversight: A Trojan Horse Attack on the Business Judgment Rule
Published: April 2023
Authors: Richard Horvath Stephen Leitzell