Dechert Adds Partners, Continuing Strategic California Expansion

Dechert’s Explosive California Growth Includes Five Laterals and Two Relocations Since Start of 2020

Dechert continues its strategic expansion in California with the additions of distinguished former federal prosecutor Hartley West and leading corporate governance litigator Rick Horvath to the firm’s global litigation practice in San Francisco. In addition, Dechert litigation partner Joshua Hess and corporate partner Jonathan Stott have relocated to San Francisco from the firm’s Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia offices, respectively.

Today’s announcements are the latest in Dechert’s ongoing commitment to growth and expansion in California, which has included welcoming an acclaimed product liability trial team led by partners Kimberly Branscome and Jay Bhimani to the Los Angeles office in 2020, and experienced IP litigator Jennifer Swan to the Silicon Valley office earlier this year.

Andrew Levander, Chair of Dechert’s Policy Committee, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome Hartley and Rick to the firm. California continues to lead innovations across the globe and remains a strategic growth area for our firm. The additions of our new partners, along with the moves of our existing partners, will bolster our corporate and litigation capabilities in California, and deepen our bench of top talent on the West Coast.”

Mark Perlow, Managing Partner of Dechert’s San Francisco office, said: “We are excited to be joined by our new colleagues, Hartley and Rick, and our existing colleagues, Joshua and Jonathan, as we continue to execute on our plans to expand our presence and further build on our strengths in California.”

Ms. West is an accomplished first-chair litigator and trial lawyer with extensive experience advising on high-stakes government enforcement defense and asset forfeitures. She regularly advises clients facing investigations into alleged violations of antitrust, fraud, corruption, trade secret, and money laundering laws. She served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, including as Deputy Chief of its Economic Crimes and Securities Fraud Section. She also clerked for the Honorable John T. Noonan Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She received a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.S. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Mr. Horvath focuses his practice on securities litigation, and has considerable experience advising on a wide range of transactional and corporate governance matters. He regularly represents boards of directors, significant investors, and public companies, and his wide-ranging practice includes strategic advice to boards and investors, shareholder litigation in Delaware and nationally, and matters before the SEC and FINRA. He received a J.D. from University of Pennsylvania School of Law, and an M.S. and B.A. from Lehigh University.

Ms. West commented: “Dechert’s elite global litigation platform is a terrific fit for my practice. It’s become highly important to operate within a global context to help our clients navigate their most significant legal challenges and business opportunities. I look forward to working with this fantastic team to further expand the firm’s West Coast presence.”

Mr. Horvath added: “I’m very excited to be joining Dechert’s top-flight litigation team. I’m honored to collaborate with my new colleagues in California and around the world to counsel our clients on their most critical litigation, transactional and governance needs.”

Mr. Hess, who returned to San Francisco from Dechert’s Washington, D.C. office, focuses his practice on white-collar and securities litigation and antitrust matters, with a particular emphasis on the defense of class action and shareholder litigation involving the asset management industry.  

Mr. Stott, who relocated to San Francisco from Dechert’s Philadelphia office, represents private equity sponsors and other alternative asset managers in complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, carve-out transactions, structured equity investments, joint ventures and other transformative capital events.

Dechert’s interdisciplinary corporate team of more than 200 lawyers around the world counsels our clients on domestic, international and cross-border matters. Dechert attorneys use their knowledge of complex market dynamics and shifting legal backdrops to assist our clients with structuring transactions across all categories and geographies.

Dechert’s global litigation practice is comprised of more than 350 lawyers across 17 offices in the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, combining the knowledge and expertise of former law clerks and government officials, top litigators from top-ranked firms and amazing homegrown talent.

About Dechert

Dechert is a leading global law firm with 22 offices around the world. We advise on matters and transactions of the greatest complexity, bringing energy, creativity, and efficient management of legal issues to deliver commercial and practical advice for clients.