Dechert LLP () is an American multinational law firm 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 r ...

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, finance 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, asset management, 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 t ...

. 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 Por ...

, 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, and then

United States Ambassador to Italy Since 1840, the United States has had diplomatic representation in the Italian Republic and its predecessor nation, the Kingdom of Italy, with a break in relations from 1941 to 1944 while Italy and the U.S. were at war during World War II. 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 oldes ...

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, Ni ...

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”. Cira Centre, Philadelphia-east

Pro bono activities

Dechert has been recognized among the top 10 U.S. law firms for pro bono 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 aca ...

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 ad ...

, 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., 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 federal trial court whose geographic jurisdiction encompasses eight counties of New York State. Two of these are in New York City: New ...

* Cheryl Ann Krause, 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 * East ...

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

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 (2001–2005)M. Leibovich. “In the Spotlight And on the Spot,” Washington Post, October 23, 2005
/ref> * Edward A. McDonald, 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 many major accolades, inclu ...

'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 '' W ...

" *

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 ...

, judge for the United States District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania“Judge Profile: Mary A. McLaughlin,” The Legal Intelligencer
/ref> *

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 ...

, ''New York Times'' best-selling author“Lisa Scottoline: A Legal Thriller!,” Penn Law Journal, Spring 2001
/ref> * Norma Levy Shapiro, first woman partner and retired judge for the United States District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania *

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 fr ...

, United States senator for Pennsylvania (1981–2011)

References

External links

* *
Profile
from

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 ...

{{Philadelphia Corporations Intellectual property law firms Biopharmaceutical law firms Law firms based in Philadelphia Law firms established in 1875 1875 establishments in Pennsylvania Foreign law firms with offices in Hong Kong Partnerships

History

Pro bono activities

See also

References

External links