Dechert

Since its founding in 1875, Dechert has become a force in the global legal market. In the United States, the firm is known for its work in antitrust, international arbitration, financial services, life sciences, strategic transactions and private equity, litigation, white collar, product liability, real estate, and securities.

Business Savvy

The firm’s long history began with founders who served as U.S. ambassadors and law professors, historic clients such as The Pennsylvania Railroad, and mergers that were influenced by world wars. In the late 1990s, Dechert began reshaping its business model to become more specialized. The firm began focusing on private equity, intellectual property, and white-collar criminal defense. The firm also significantly expanded overseas beginning in the late 1990s and throughout the early 21st century by adding offices in multiple locations from France and Dubai to Germany and Singapore.

A Range of Expertise

Dechert attorneys handle cross-border work, contribute to a bustling corporate practice, and are known for their litigation savvy. They advise across multiple industries, including financial services, private equity, private credit, real estate, life sciences and technology. 

Dechert has one of the world’s premier financial services practices. The firm advises 9 of the top 10 global asset managers, drawing on both its far-reaching domestic and international presence and its practice leaders, who are considered some of the biggest players in the market.

The Dechert litigation team has more than 350 attorneys with extensive experience in a wide range of areas, including complex commercial litigation from product liability and appellate litigation to private equity industry litigation. Moreover, its highly regarded real estate lawyers approach their matters from a cross-practice standpoint, bringing in knowledge of construction, regulatory compliance, litigation, and environmental, and tax laws to address client needs.

Dechert recently launched “The Wharton Business program for Dechert,” a unique business program in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, to further develop its attorneys. Led by esteemed Wharton professors on the Philadelphia campus, the program was designed to deepen client relationships and anticipate risks by enhancing participating lawyers’ understanding of clients’ businesses through the exploration of key issues such as corporate finance, private equity, future global business trends and business strategy, bringing these topics to life.

A Supportive Culture

Dechert has found a unique way of rewarding mentoring and teaching within the ranks through its Exceptional Teacher Awards program. All attorneys, business professionals, and practice groups are invited to nominate the individuals who have been the most proactive in training and developing the firm’s people. Nominations are reviewed by a formal committee of partners and associates, and recipients are awarded $10,000 plus a commemorative plaque. The firm offers similar awards for Diversity Champions and Innovators.

Support comes in many forms, and another way that the firm stands by its lawyers is through wellness initiatives. THRIVE@Dechert is a work-life and wellness program that offers resources for healthy living, including Meditation Mondays, which is a 30-minute program of guided meditation led by a certified meditation teacher, and Mental Health Advocates, who are employees trained to both recognize and support colleagues struggling with mental health issues.

• Dechert advised Energy Harbor Corp. in its proposed acquisition by Vistra Corp. The transaction combines Energy Harbor's nuclear and retail businesses with Vistra's nuclear and retail businesses and Vistra Zero renewables and storage projects under a new subsidiary holding company, referred to as "Vistra Vision."
• Dechert advised KKR with more than 22 individual financing transactions totaling over US$11 billion, including asset-based facilities, rated notes issuances, repurchase transactions and other innovative structures.
• Dechert secured victory for Zillow, in a high-stakes federal lawsuit. The case was brought by REX-Real Estate Exchange, alleging anticompetitive and deceptive behavior relating to Zillow’s display of online real estate listings. The jury rejected REX’s claims, clearing Zillow of all allegations and negating REX’s claims for over US$400 million in damages.
• Dechert works with Freedom Now, an international organization established to seek the release of prisoners of conscience globally. Dechert lawyers liaise with local counsel and clients’ families; submit petitions to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; and coordinate advocacy efforts of governments and special interest groups to secure clients’ release. Several clients have been liberated from prison.

• Top 10 for both United States and international pro bono work, 2023—The American Lawyer
• Only law firm ranked ‘Elite’ in all categories, 2023—Chambers Associate
• Recognized among the ‘Most Innovative Law Firms’ in North America, Europe and Asia, 2023—Financial Times
• ‘Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services’, 2023—Great Place to Work
• Recognized among the ‘100 Best Companies’, 2023—Seramount