Legal Week Hails Dechert as Major Winner in British Legal Awards

 
November 20, 2020

Dechert LLP was highlighted by Legal Week as a major winner at this year’s British Legal Awards, which celebrate the UK legal sector’s finest achievements, after taking home two awards and being named as finalist in two other categories.

The firm’s white collar, compliance and investigations practice was named as Legal Week’s “International Litigation and Disputes Team of the Year” for its role in European aerospace leader Airbus SE’s ground-breaking settlement of a global corruption investigation.

Dechert played a leading role advising Airbus on the investigation and global strategy throughout the four-year investigation, taking special responsibility for interactions and negotiations with the UK’s Serious Fraud Office. Alongside Airbus, the firm’s white collar team also developed and deployed the innovative global disclosure strategy that underpinned the company’s collaboration efforts with enforcement agencies.

Airbus reached a US$4 billion, same-day settlement in January 2020, believed to be the first settlement agreement with the UK’s Serious Fraud Office, France’s Parquet National Financier, and the U.S. Departments of Justice and State.

The settlement was recently named “Most Important Development of the Year” by Global Investigations Review, while Dechert’s white collar practice was recognized by The Lawyer as “Conduct, Enforcement or Business Crime Team of the Year” for the representation.

An international Dechert pro bono team also won the “CSR/Diversity Initiative of the Year” category for helping win the release of Mohammed Ould Mkhaitir, a Mauritanian blogger condemned to death for apostasy. The representation, led by London partner Paul Kavanagh and Paris-based national partner Marie Fillon, formed part of Dechert’s wider partnership with Freedom Now, a Washington, D.C.-based human rights organization chaired by Dechert partner Jeremy Zucker that seeks the release of prisoners of conscience around the world.

Additionally, Legal Week recognized London associate Mark Evans as one of its Rising Stars in Private Equity for 2020.

Dechert itself was shortlisted for “Transatlantic Firm of the Year” for sustained success in cross-border matters involving North America and Europe, while the firm’s white collar team was a finalist in the “Competition/Regulatory Team of the Year” category for its work on the Airbus matter.

Winners in the British Legal Awards were announced in a virtual ceremony on November 19.

About Dechert 

Dechert is a leading global law firm with 26 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.

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