Executive Leadership

James A. Lebovitz is the chief operating officer of Dechert LLP and a partner in the corporate and securities group. As chief operating officer, Mr. Lebovitz works closely with the Firm’s co-chairs to position Dechert as a leading global law firm advising asset managers, financial institutions and corporations on issues critical to managing their business and their capital. He is responsible for the oversight of the firm’s global operations and supporting functions spanning the United States, Europe and Asia including finance, talent and human resources, marketing, information technology, legal and administrative operations, and real estate.

Before being elevated to chief operating officer, Mr. Lebovitz served in a number of leadership roles including as the firm's finance partner, a member of the Firm's Policy Committee, and chair of the firm’s business and technology practice groups. Prior to joining Dechert in 1999, Mr. Lebovitz served as general counsel of a publicly-traded healthcare company in San Diego, California.

Mr. Lebovitz also continues to represent clients in securities transactions, mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances and general corporate matters. He has extensive experience advising public and privately held corporations in the life sciences, healthcare, financial and business services sectors, business development companies and other specialty finance companies, and investment banks in corporate transactions and financings

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.

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