Executive Leadership

Corey Smith has served as the chief operating officer of Dechert LLP since 2018. In this capacity, he works closely with the Firm’s chief executive officer and is responsible for the oversight of the firm’s global operations and supporting functions spanning the United States, Europe and Asia. These functional areas include finance, talent and human resources, marketing, information technology, legal and administrative operations, and real estate.

Mr. Smith also serves as a member of the strategic planning, investment and benefits committee as well as the firm’s Policy Committee in an ex officio capacity. Before being elevated to Chief Operating Office, Mr. Smith served as Chief Financial Officer from 2013 to 2018, and prior to that as the Director of Global Financial Operations where he was instrumental in centralizing and consolidating the financial functions in order to support the Firm’s growing global footprint.

Prior to joining Dechert, Mr. Smith was a Director of Advisory Services for PricewaterhouseCoopers where he specialized in providing management consulting services focused on financial and operational performance improvement. His client base represented several of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Fortune 500 clients where he assisted with successfully completing key strategic initiatives including revenue enhancement and cost reduction initiatives. He also specialized in defining and implementing enterprise-wide risk management and compliance programs. Prior to his role in the Advisory Services practice, Mr. Smith also worked in the firm’s Business Assurance service line where he planned and performed financial audits.

Education

• Widener University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)
  

Certifications

• Public Accountant, Pennsylvania

Alison Nina Bernard has served as the chief talent and human resources officer at Dechert since 2017. She oversees all aspects of the firm’s talent program, including recruiting, professional development, diversity and inclusion, culture and human resources.

Ms. Bernard has more than 20 years of experience working in law firms, including Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP; Goodwin Procter; and Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison. She has held various roles, including Director of Corporate Practice and Director of Attorney Development, and practiced corporate law focusing on business transactions for technology companies.

Education

• Northwestern University, B.A., English
  
• New York University School of Law, J.D.

As chief strategy officer (CSO), Mozhgan Mizban works with firm leaders to help prioritize and execute on strategic opportunities for the firm. She is focused on identifying the right opportunities for smart and deliberate expansion, including attracting and maintaining talent that is dedicated to outstanding results and extraordinary client service while maintaining Dechert's strong values. Ms. Mizban teams with Dechert partners and business professionals to continuously prioritize and scale in line with client, market and talent opportunities. She has been with the firm since 2019.

Prior to joining Dechert, Ms. Mizban was the CSO and a senior management consultant at Paul, Weiss for nearly 13 years. Her responsibilities included leading the firm's practice group, department and firm-wide strategic planning efforts, as well as a number of other initiatives, including client interviews, client teams, client service, business development, marketing, alumni relations, communications and public relations. 

Education

• University of San Francisco, B.S., Information Systems Management

George Pantelides is Dechert’s chief administrative officer, overseeing the firm’s administrative operations and delivering the highest levels of solutions-focused client service. He has been with the firm since 2014.

As the firm’s lead on business continuity, Mr. Pantelides has been an integral part of Dechert’s global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, speaking to clients on COVID-19 preparedness and on various panels covering legal industry topics, including return-to-office operations after the pandemic shutdowns and the future of work. He has more than two decades of experience working in both fee-earning and administrative roles at law firms, previously serving as Dechert’s director of administration for EMEA and as an operations manager at another global law firm. 

Mr. Pantelides is a proud member of Dechert’s LGBTQ Allies program, a qualified mental health advocate and an ambassador for Aspiring Solicitors, an organization that aims to increase diversity in the legal profession. He was also a member of Dechert's Future of Work Committee and is a member of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA). 

Education

• University of East London School of Law and Social Sciences, B.A.
  
• College of Law, London, Legal Practice Course (LPC)
  
• Harvard Law School Executive Education, Leadership in Law Firms
  

Chief Information Officer (CIO) Michael Rinehart joined Dechert in 2021 and is responsible for the oversight, growth and implementation of the firm’s information technology and innovation strategy.

Mr. Rinehart came to the firm with 20 years of experience in industry and professional services. He was most recently at Fox Rothschild, where he served as CIO for 10 years.

Education

• Drexel University, B.S., Mechanical Engineering

As Dechert’s Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Satra Sampson-Arokium is responsible for strategic oversight, design and implementation of the firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Ms. Sampson-Arokium works closely with Dechert’s Management Committee and Diversity and Inclusion Committee in setting and implementing the firm’s strategic DEI plans and priorities. She brings an increased focus on client partnership and collaboration to further our shared DEI goals.

Prior to joining Dechert, Ms. Sampson-Arokium served as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at another international law firm where she was responsible for designing, developing and implementing leading-edge diversity and inclusion strategic initiatives. Prior to that position, she spent more than a decade at a leading global audit, consulting and financial advisory firm in various roles, including leadership roles in global enterprise risk services and global diversity.

Education

• Marist College, Masters in Public Administration (MPA)
• State University of New York at Albany, B.A., Political Science