The American Lawyer Names Dechert Top Law Firm for International Pro Bono Work

The American Lawyer has recognized Dechert LLP as the top law firm for international pro bono work and among the top 10 in the U.S. in its national pro bono rankings for 2016. The firm also took the number one spot for international pro bono work the previous year.

“Dechert has a longstanding tradition of providing pro bono legal services and giving back to the local communities in which we serve,” said Henry N. Nassau, Chief Executive Officer of the firm. “We approach pro bono efforts with the same energy, enthusiasm and resources as work for commercial clients. These rankings by The American Lawyer are a public recognition of those efforts.”

The international chart ranks firms with at least 20 non-U.S. lawyers. Half of the score comes from the average number of pro bono hours performed by lawyers outside the U.S. while the other half comes from the percentage of lawyers outside the U.S. who did more than 20 hours of pro bono work. The national chart ranks the Am Law 200 firms by their pro bono score for work performed by U.S.-based lawyers. Scores are based on a combination of the percentage of lawyers who bill in excess of 20 pro bono hours and the average pro bono hours per attorney.

“We strive to find projects that match the personal interests of our lawyers, allowing them to pursue projects they have a passion for,” said Suzanne E. Turner, partner and chair of Dechert’s global pro bono practice.

Dechert lawyers handle hundreds of pro bono matters covering a wide range of issues, including civil rights, international human rights, child advocacy, special education, access to public benefits, asylum, landlord-tenant matters and the representation of numerous nonprofit organizations. The American Lawyer specifically noted Dechert’s work in challenging voter identification laws in several states. In a separate article, the publication also highlighted the firm’s work with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project in the pro bono representation of Shaurn Thomas, who was recently released from prison after spending 24 years there for a crime he did not commit.

About Dechert

Dechert is a global specialist law firm 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.