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Dechert

Dechert

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United States • Dispute resolution

4

Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)

The team of ‘polished litigators’ at Dechert maintains a broad appellate footprint with a presence across all 13 federal circuits, frequently handling disputes involving administrative law, securities, and bankruptcy. Practice co-head Michael McGinley, who splits his time between Philadelphia and Washington DC, argued three cases before the U.S. Supreme Court within a four-month period in early 2025. Co-head Steven Engel, based in Washington DC, focuses on agency regulations and constitutional challenges, often advising on government and congressional investigations. Another key member is Eric Brunstad Jr, based in New Haven, who brings invaluable experience having argued 11 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Dechert has extremely knowledgeable and polished litigators with excellent communication skills and attention to the client. The team is always responsive and available in a timely manner to review and explain the next steps.’
  • ‘Eric Brunstad Jr is very experienced in appellate jurisdiction and has argued many cases at the US Supreme Court and various Court of Appeals levels. He has an experienced and efficient team.’
  • ‘Eric Brunstad Jr is a brilliant lawyer who is personable and able to communicate with clients and judges in a clear, articulate fashion.’
  • ‘Dechert has extremely smart appellate lawyers who are also practical. It handles enough district court work to be able to help at both levels and is very efficient with its time.’

  • ‘Michael McGinley is very smart, has high integrity, and is trustworthy. If he does not have expertise in a given area, he will find someone smart from Dechert who is a leader in that field of practice.’

Key clients

  • BLOM Bank S.a.L.
  • Zillow Group, Inc.
  • St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School
  • Ad Hoc Group of PREPA Bondholders
  • MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas PLC
  • Fox Corporation
  • Citadel Equity Fund Ltd.
  • Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation
  • Erie Indemnity Co.
  • Transform Holdco LLC
  • Humana, Inc.
  • Cammeby’s Realty Corp.

Work highlights

Represented BLOM Bank in a unanimous Supreme Court victory affirming that plaintiffs are prohibited from refiling a lawsuit seeking to hold the bank liable for aiding and abetting.
Practice head

Steven Engel; Michael McGinley

Other key lawyers

Eric Brunstad Jr