Dechert Recognized Among Financial Times’ Top European Innovative Law Firms for 2014

Dechert LLP has been named among the Financial Times' Top 50 European Innovative Law Firms, ranking 17th overall in results released yesterday. The annual report recognizes firms based on "originality of the legal work," "rationale" behind strategy and "the impact of the work on the client's business."

"At Dechert, we strive to provide practical commercial judgment that solves our clients' most pressing business problems as well as their legal ones," said Andrew J. Levander, chair of the Firm's Policy Committee. "This recognition is a testament to the innovation and entrepreneurial energy of our lawyers, and our relentless commitment to meeting our clients’ needs."

In addition to the firm's overall ranking, Dechert's Financial Services practice was "highly commended" in the Client Service category for World Compass, a marketing compliance program developed by partners Christopher D. Christian and Gus Black that offers investment firms advice in more than 100 jurisdictions. The Dechert team includes Allison Trumbull, Selena Chisholm, Joshua Katz, Amber Kopp and Kenny MacLeod with paralegals Brenda Meyette, Tochie Bolarinwa, Bhavini Patel, Daniel Lucas, Daniel Mansfield in addition to all the contributing partners and associates throughout the Dechert network who maintain content for jurisdictions in which Dechert practices law.

The firm was also "commended" in the Social Responsibility category for its collaboration with Oxfam to conduct an analysis of Kenya's ratification of the Maputo Protocol bill on women's rights. Led by Miriam Gonzalez, a Dechert team including Karen Anderberg, Navpreet Atwal, Chloe Barker, Tracey Cane, Tricia Carlin, Karen Coppens, Sarah Fidler, Victoria Fitzpatrick, Emma Nichols, Nathalie Sadler, Joshua Smith and Jennifer Wileman worked on the analysis of this important bill, which is now a framework for other African nations.

In addition, the firm was "commended" for work on two matters in the Finance category. The Finance and Real Estate practice was recognized for their representation of Wells Fargo on the acquisition of Hypothekenbank Frankfurt's UK operations and on related financing provided to Lonestar in matters handled by partners Richard D. Jones and Jeremy Trinder and associate David Gervais, with assistance from Mark Stapleton (Tax), Charles Wynn-Evans (Employment), Judith Livingstone (Finance & Real Estate), Laurence Gorley (Finance & Real Estate), Catherine Gooding (Finance & Real Estate), and James Beeson (Finance & Real Estate). The Capital Markets practice was noted for its advice to Development Bank of Kazakhstan on the first intermediated exchange offer under US Rule 144A in a transaction handled by Louise Roman, Patrick Lyons and Jennifer Buckett with Yelena Pestereva and Victor Mokrousov advising on Kazakhstan law matters.

Read the full Financial Times Innovative Lawyers 2014 report.

About Dechert

Dechert is a global specialist law firm with a deep bench of experts focused on sectors with the greatest complexities and highest regulatory demands. We deliver practical commercial insight and judgment to our clients’ most important matters. Nothing stands in the way of giving clients the best of the firm’s entrepreneurial energy and seamless collaboration in a way that is distinctively Dechert.