law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients (individuals or corporations) about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to r ...
of more than 900 lawyers with practices in
corporate
A corporation is an organization—usually a group of people or a company—authorized by the state to act as a single entity (a legal entity recognized by private and public law "born out of statute"; a legal person in legal context) and re ...
and
securities
A security is a tradable financial asset. The term commonly refers to any form of financial instrument, but its legal definition varies by jurisdiction. In some countries and languages people commonly use the term "security" to refer to any for ...
, complex
litigation
-
A lawsuit is a proceeding by a party or parties against another in the civil court of law. The archaic term "suit in law" is found in only a small number of laws still in effect today. The term "lawsuit" is used in reference to a civil actio ...
,
finance
Finance is the study and discipline of money, currency and capital assets. It is related to, but not synonymous with economics, the study of production, distribution, and consumption of money, assets, goods and services (the discipline of fina ...
and
real estate
Real estate is property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this (also) an item of real property, (more general ...
,
financial services
Financial services are the Service (economics), economic services provided by the finance industry, which encompasses a broad range of businesses that manage money, including credit unions, banks, credit-card companies, insurance companies, acco ...
,
asset management
Asset management is a systematic approach to the governance and realization of value from the things that a group or entity is responsible for, over their whole life cycles. It may apply both to tangible assets (physical objects such as buildings ...
, and
private equity
In the field of finance, the term private equity (PE) refers to investment funds, usually limited partnerships (LP), which buy and restructure financially weak companies that produce goods and provide services. A private-equity fund is both a ty ...
. In 2021, the firm raised revenues by 25%, with a total of $1.3 billion.
History
The firm's first predecessor, MacVeagh & Bispham, was formed in 1875 by
Wayne MacVeagh
Isaac Wayne MacVeagh (April 19, 1833January 11, 1917) was an American lawyer, politician and diplomat. He served as the 36th Attorney General of the United States under the administrations of Presidents James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur.
...
and George Tucker Bispham. MacVeagh previously served as
United States Ambassador to Turkey
The United States has maintained many high level contacts with Turkey since the 19th century.
Ottoman Empire
Chargé d'Affaires
*George W. Erving (before 1831)
* David Porter (September 13, 1831 – May 23, 1840)
Minister Resident
* David Port ...
, and Bispham authored the treatise "Principles of Equity," which was considered the definitive work on
the subject
A subject is a being who has a unique consciousness and/or unique personal experiences, or an entity that has a relationship with another entity that exists outside itself (called an "object").
A ''subject'' is an observer and an ''object'' is ...
at the time. MacVeagh went on to become
United States Attorney General
The United States attorney general (AG) is the head of the United States Department of Justice, and is the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government of the United States. The attorney general serves as the principal advisor to the p ...
under President
James Garfield
James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 – September 19, 1881) was the 20th president of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881 until his death six months latertwo months after he was shot by an assassin. A lawyer and Civil War gene ...
, and then
United States Ambassador to Italy
Since 1840, the United States has had diplomacy, diplomatic representation in the Italian Republic and its predecessor nation, the Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946), Kingdom of Italy, with a break in relations from 1941 to 1944 while Italy and the U ...
in 1893. Bispham went on to become a professor at
University of Pennsylvania Law School
The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (also known as Penn Law or Penn Carey Law) is the law school of the University of Pennsylvania, a private research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is among the most selective and olde ...
in 1884.
The MacVeagh & Bispham's successor merged with another Philadelphia law firm, Dechert, Smith & Clark, in 1942. After undergoing several more name changes, the firm was known as Dechert Price & Rhoads for many years beginning in 1962, shortening its name to Dechert in 2000.
In the 2018 AmLaw Global 200 survey, Dechert ranked as the 43rd highest grossing law firm in the world. In the same year Dechert reached a settlement with two former staffers over claims that it discriminated against certain staff members because of their sex and age.
Two former payroll staffers at Dechert filed a complaint against Dechert in 2017, claiming they experienced a culture of bias against older and/or female employees at the firm that led to their firing in 2016. They also alleged there was a “boys club at the firm that gave beneficial treatment to younger male employees. Previously, on the eve of trial, the law firm and former associate Ariel Ayanna reached an eleventh-hour deal in a ‘Macho culture' retaliation case The attorney had claimed big-league firm Dechert fired him to get back at him for taking time off to care for his mentally ill wife and their newborn, the National Law Journal reported.
Financial Times
The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and published digitally that focuses on business and economic current affairs. Based in London, England, the paper is owned by a Japanese holding company, Nik ...
ranked Dechert in the Top 10 ''Most Innovative Law Firms'' in 2019. In 2021, Dechert ranked 5th for the same recognition. Dechert and administrative services provider for the international law firm agreed in the same year to settle claims by a former site manager in Washington D.C. that he was subjected to discrimination and retaliation because he had a stroke, federal court records show.
In 2022, Dechert’s UK unit agreed to pay £20 Million to a former client for compensations for damages caused by its former UK partner and white-collar crime head Neil Gerrard.The UK High Court found Neil Gerrard committed ‘gross and knowing breach of duty’ as he leaked confidential documents of his client.
Furthermore, the UK Dechert unit was sued by former partner Monica Gogn for workplace discrimination due to race and sex. The employment tribunal filing document stated that the proceedings levelled against “Dechert LLP & Others” “dismissed following a withdrawal of the claim by the claimant”.
Pro bono activities
Dechert has been recognized among the top 10 U.S. law firms for
pro bono
( en, 'for the public good'), usually shortened to , is a Latin phrase for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment. In the United States, the term typically refers to provision of legal services by legal professionals for pe ...
work in ''
The American Lawyer
''The American Lawyer'' is a monthly legal magazine and website published by ALM Media. The periodical and its parent company, ALM (then American Lawyer Media), were founded in 1979 by Steven Brill. The report confirmed that it remained the top law firm for international pro bono work. In August 2014, Dechert received the
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association (ABA) is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. Founded in 1878, the ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of acad ...
Pro Bono Publico Award.
In 2020, Dechert received the ABA Business Law Section National Public Service Award. In 2021, the firm was rated #1 for international pro bono work by ''
The American Lawyer
''The American Lawyer'' is a monthly legal magazine and website published by ALM Media. The periodical and its parent company, ALM (then American Lawyer Media), were founded in 1979 by Steven Brill.Harvey Bartle III
Harvey Bartle III (born June 6, 1941) is a Senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Education and career
Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Bartle received a Bachelor of A ...
, chief judge of the United States District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania
* Joseph S. Clark, mayor of Philadelphia (1952–56) and United States senator for Pennsylvania (1957–69)
* Q. Todd Dickinson, former
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property
The Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property, or USC(IP), is a senior official in the United States Department of Commerce and the principal advisor to the United States Secretary of Commerce on the intellectual property matters. In t ...
*
Steven Engel
Steven Andrew Engel (born June 29, 1974) is an American lawyer. He served as the United States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel in the Donald Trump administration. Engel, who previously worked in the George W. Bush admi ...
, deputy assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel under
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...
and
United States Assistant Attorney General
Many of the divisions and offices of the United States Department of Justice are headed by an assistant attorney general.
The president of the United States appoints individuals to the position of assistant attorney general with the advice and ...
for the
Office of Legal Counsel
The Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) is an office in the United States Department of Justice that assists the Attorney General's position as legal adviser to the President and all executive branch agencies. It drafts legal opinions of the Attorney ...
in the
Donald Trump administration
Donald Trump's tenure as the 45th president of the United States began with his inauguration on January 20, 2017, and ended on January 20, 2021. Trump, a Republican from New York City, took office following his Electoral College victory o ...
*
Glenn Fine
Glenn Alan Fine (born March 22, 1956) is the former principal deputy Inspector General of the Department of Defense and former Acting IG of the Department of Defense. Fine previously served as the Inspector General of the United States Departme ...
, former inspector general for the
U.S. Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a federal executive department of the United States government tasked with the enforcement of federal law and administration of justice in the United State ...
*
Miriam González Durántez
Miriam González Durántez, Lady Clegg (born 31 May 1968) is a Spanish international trade lawyer, vice chair of UBS Europe and founder of Inspiring Girls. She is the wife of Nick Clegg, who served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom ...
, head of international trade practice
*
Paul G. Haaga, Jr.
Paul G. Haaga Jr. is an American businessman who was the acting CEO of NPR. He is the former chairman and director of Capital Research and Management Company. He retired from Capital Group at the end of 2012. Haaga is also the chair of the Faceb ...
, vice chairman of Capital Research and Management Company, a constituent company of the
Capital Group Companies
Capital Group is an American financial services company. It ranks among the world's oldest and largest investment management organizations, with over $2.6 trillion in assets under management. Founded in Los Angeles, California in 1931, it is ...
* David N. Kelley, former United States Attorney and Deputy U.S. Attorney for the
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (in case citations, S.D.N.Y.) is a United States district court, federal trial court whose geographic jurisdiction encompasses eight counties of New York (state), New York ...
*
Cheryl Ann Krause
Cheryl Ann Krause (born January 1968) is a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Biography
Early life and education
Krause was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up outside Philadelphia, Pe ...
, United States Circuit Judge of the
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (in case citations, 3d Cir.) is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:
* District of Delaware
* District of New Jersey
* Ea ...
*
Noyes Leech
Noyes E. Leech (August 1, 1921 – July 1, 2010) was an American lawyer and professor.
Early life and education
Leech was born in Ambler, Pennsylvania, to Charles Sherman and Margaret (Reid) Leech.
He attended Lower Merion High School (1939), an ...
(1921–2010), law professor at the
University of Pennsylvania Law School
The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (also known as Penn Law or Penn Carey Law) is the law school of the University of Pennsylvania, a private research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is among the most selective and olde ...
*
Scooter Libby
Irve Lewis "Scooter" Libby (born August 22, 1950) is an American lawyer and former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney known for his high-profile indictment.
From 2001 to 2005, Libby held the offices of Assistant to the Vice President ...
, chief of staff to Vice President
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce Cheney ( ; born January 30, 1941) is an American politician and businessman who served as the 46th vice president of the United States from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. He is currently the oldest living former U ...
Edward A. McDonald
Edward A. McDonald (born 1947) is an American criminal defense lawyer and actor. He practices law at the New York City branch of Dechert LLP, primarily working on white-collar crime and securities law. McDonald has appeared in ''Goodfellas'' an ...
, portrayed himself as a federal prosecutor in
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese ( , ; born November 17, 1942) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. Scorsese emerged as one of the major figures of the New Hollywood era. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominatio ...
's "
Goodfellas
''Goodfellas'' (stylized ''GoodFellas'') is a 1990 American biographical crime film directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Nicholas Pileggi and Scorsese, and produced by Irwin Winkler. It is a film adaptation of the 1985 nonfiction book '' Wis ...
"
*
Mary A. McLaughlin
Mary A. McLaughlin (born 1946) is an inactive Senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Education and career
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, McLaughlin received a Bache ...
Lisa Scottoline
Lisa Scottoline (; born July 1, 1955) is an American author of legal thrillers.
Life
Born in the Lower Moyamensing neighborhood of Philadelphia, Scottoline attended Lower Merion High School and then went on to earn a B.A. in English magna cum la ...
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter (February 12, 1930 – October 14, 2012) was an American lawyer, author and politician who served as a United States Senator from Pennsylvania from 1981 to 2011. Specter was a Democrat from 1951 to 1965, then a Republican from ...
, United States senator for Pennsylvania (1981–2011)
See also
*
List of largest United States-based law firms by profits per partner
This is a list of American law firms by profits per equity partner (PPEP, sometimes reported as profits per partner or PPP) in 2022.
See also
*List of largest law firms by profits per partner
*List of largest United States-based law firms by he ...
LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
Martindale-Hubbell is an information services company to the legal profession that was founded in 1868. The company publishes the ''Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory'', which provides background information on lawyers and law firms in the United S ...