Dechert

Dechert LLP (/ˈdɛkərt/) is an American multinational law firm of more than 900 lawyers[5] with practices in corporate and securities, complex litigation, finance and real estate, financial services, asset management, and private equity.[6] In 2021, the firm raised revenues by 25%, with a total of $1.3 billion.[3] On the 2022 Global 200 survey, Dechert ranked as the 41st highest grossing law firm in the world.[7]

Dechert LLP
HeadquartersPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania[1]
No. of offices22[2]
OfficesGlobal
No. of attorneysapproximately 1000 (2017)
Major practice areasGeneral practice
Key peopleCEO Henry Nassau,
Chairman Andrew J. Levander
RevenueIncrease US$1.3 billion (2021)[3]
Profit per equity partnerIncrease US$4.2 million (2021)
Date founded1875
FounderWayne MacVeagh and George Tucker Bispham [4]
Company typeLimited liability partnership
Websitedechert.com

History

The firm's first predecessor, MacVeagh & Bispham, was formed in 1875 by Wayne MacVeagh and George Tucker Bispham.[4] MacVeagh previously served as United States Ambassador to Turkey, and Bispham authored the treatise "Principles of Equity," which was considered the definitive work on the subject at the time.[8][9] MacVeagh went on to become United States Attorney General under President James Garfield, and then United States Ambassador to Italy in 1893.[8] Bispham went on to become a professor at University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1884.[10]

Over the next few decades, MacVeagh & Bispham and its successor represented a number of banks, railroads, insurance companies, and coal companies.[11]

MacVeagh & Bispham's successor merged with another Philadelphia law firm, Dechert, Smith & Clark, in 1942. After several more name changes, the firm was known as Dechert Price & Rhoads for many years, beginning in 1962. The firm shortened its name to Dechert in 2000.[12] By the early 2000s, the firm included about 700 lawyers in 12 worldwide offices.[11][13]

In the 2018 AmLaw Global 200 survey, Dechert ranked as the 43rd highest-grossing law firm in the world.[14] 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.[15][16] [17] 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[18][19] at the firm[20] that led to their firing in 2016.[18] They also alleged there was a "boys club"[21][22] at the firm that gave beneficial treatment[19] to younger male employees.[20] Previously, on the eve of trial, the law firm and former associate Ariel Ayanna reached an eleventh-hour deal in[23] a ‘Macho culture' retaliation case[24][25] 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.[26]

Financial Times ranked Dechert in the Top 10 Most Innovative Law Firms in 2019.[27] In 2021, Dechert ranked 5th for the same recognition.[28]

The UK Dechert unit was sued by former partner Monica Gogn for workplace discrimination due to race and sex. In 2020, an employment tribunal filing document stated that the proceedings leveled against "Dechert LLP & Others" were "dismissed following a withdrawal of the claim by the claimant".[29] Dechert and an administrative services provider for the firm agreed in 2021 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.[30]

In August 2022, Dechert's UK unit agreed to pay £20 Million to a former client for compensation for damages caused by its former UK partner and white-collar crime head Neil Gerrard.[31][32][33] It comes after a decade-long proceeding that resulted in the High Court finding in May 2022 that Dechert, its former white-collar crime head Gerrard, and the Serious Fraud Office had committed acts of wrongdoing[34][35][36] in their dealings with the law firm's then-client Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation(ENRC). London's High Court found that Dechert and Gerrard – who was ‘obsessed with making money'[37] and ‘lost any real sense of objectivity, proportion or indeed loyalty to his client [38][39][40][41] had acted deliberately, or at least recklessly.[42][43] Judge also ruled Neil Gerrard committed ‘gross and knowing breach of duty'[44] as a solicitor by, among other things, disclosing confidential and privileged information to the UK watchdog, the SFO, and leaking to the media[45] confidential documents[46] of his client Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation PLC (ENRC).[47][48][49][50][51] He concluded in his judgment in 2022 that Gerrard was a "highly unreliable and at times dishonest witness" who was "plainly lying" about his contacts with the SFO.[52] The judge found senior SFO officials breached their duties[53][54] by holding a series of unauthorized meetings with Gerrard in which they received information that was plainly against former Dechert's client interests in what the judge described as a case of bad faith opportunism.[45][55][56][57] Indeed, though he denied it at trial, Gerrard allegedly referred to billing in the case as ‘rape mode'.[58][59][60] The law firm now faces costs upwards of $50 million. Dechert faces two more UK trials[61][62][63] and two US lawsuits[62][64] related to Gerrard. One lawsuit involves a claim under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, for its alleged role in an international ‘hack and dump scheme', which it denies [65][66][67][68][69] Media reported that regulators are probing the firm.[70] The U.K.'s SRA, the legal watchdog, has received several complaints.[71][72]

The firm's profitability increased significantly in 2021,[73] but fell in 2022.[74] The firm ultimately placed 36th on The American Lawyer's 2023 Am Law 200 ranking, based on its 2022 revenue.[7] In 2023 Dechert announced that it would cut 5% of its global workforce due to "faltering demand", as several other large law firms publicly confirmed cuts.[75][76]

Dechert's headquarters moved to Philadelphia's Cira Centre in 2005.

Pro bono activities

Dechert has been recognized among the top 10 U.S. law firms for pro bono work in The American Lawyer's Pro Bono Survey, an annual report that rates the nation's 200 highest-grossing law firms based on their level of pro bono activity.[77] The report confirmed that it remained the top law firm for international pro bono work.[78] In August 2014, Dechert received the American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award.[79]

In 2020, Dechert received the ABA Business Law Section National Public Service Award.[80] In 2021, the firm was rated #1 for international pro bono work by The American Lawyer.[81]

Notable lawyers and alumni

See also

References
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