Led by Gus Black, Dechert LLP advises funds and managers across a broad range of derivatives matters, including total return swaps, equity derivatives products and facility-linked derivatives. Buy-side clients regularly turn to John McGrath for advice on both performing and non-performing financial products, while Karen Stretch focuses on transactional and advisory derivatives work, related markets regulation, and international capital markets and fund finance transactions.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Approachable, knowledgeable, professional.
- Karen Stretch delivers advice of the highest technical quality, which is also client-friendly in being practical and implementable. Her availability and friendly persona make her our go-to counsel for advice on derivatives matters.
- The Dechert team focuses its practice on advising investment funds and hedge funds, which means their advice is tailored towards my firm's sector - making it much more relevant and implementable. The derivatives practice works closely with Dechert's fund formation practice, making the advice given to a firm like mine seamless and well integrated.
- Karen Stretch is our main contact and is able to clearly explain certain concepts and key legal points so that we can decide on the best course of action.
- Karen Stretch in the London office of Dechert is far and away the most effective attorney I have dealt with in the derivatives and fund finance space. Her execution of ISDA and CSA agreements with counterparties and her full breadth of knowledge of the regulatory constraints in Europe and the United States are exemplary. Karen stands out from other competitors because she is the best listener of all attorneys I have dealt with. She is laser-focused on what the client requests and is always clear and diplomatic with unvarnished advice on views the client may hold that are inconsistent with a reasoned outcome. Karen is also a great person to deal with on a personal level and is always willing to bring in her global team to address any client needs.
- Dechert has a particular capability to work collaboratively across the globe to attend to client needs in a way that is seamless to the client. They are laser-focused on the scope of the project and always meet the intended deadlines as needed. In the derivatives space, that is a competitive advantage they offer that is highly prized by the client.
Key clients
- Fondazione Enasarco
- Cheyne Capital Management (UK) LLP
Work highlights
Advising Cheyne Capital Management (UK) LLP on a range of derivatives, trading and related regulatory matters.
Acting for Fondazione Enasarco in its long-running dispute with Lehman Brothers Finance SA (the Swiss Lehman Brothers entity) concerning the close-out of a derivative transaction.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Gus Black
Other key lawyers
John McGrath; Karen Stretch