The American Lawyer Recognizes Dechert’s White Collar Team for Airbus Investigation

Dechert’s white collar, compliance and investigations practice was recognized for a first-of-its-kind resolution of the global Airbus investigation, receiving the “Best Provider Collaboration Award” at The American Lawyer’s Industry Awards 2020.

Airbus responded to the unprecedented, multi-jurisdictional investigation by creating a Virtual Law Firm of white collar and export control practitioners, comprising Dechert, Clifford Chance, August Debouzy, Paul Hastings, and Arnold & Porter, with eDiscovery and forensic accounting support from Forensic Risk Alliance.

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.

Dechert played a leading role advising Airbus 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.

Dechert and the other members of the Virtual Law Firm were all recognized by The American Lawyer.

The Airbus resolution was recently named “Most Important Development of the Year” by Global Investigations Review. For its role in the representation, Dechert’s white collar practice was recognized as “Conduct, Enforcement or Business Crime Team of the Year” by The Lawyer and named “International Litigation and Disputes Team of the Year” by Legal Week in the 2020 British Legal Awards.

Winners in The American Lawyer’s Industry Awards were honored in an online ceremony on January 14. As previously announced, Dechert’s Philadelphia-based associate Kate Unger Davis was recognized as a “Young Lawyer of the Year”, one of just five lawyers named to the national list.

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.