Financial Times Names Dechert Among the Most Innovative Law Firms in North America

Dechert LLP and its lawyers have once again been honored by the Financial Times for creativity and fresh thinking in the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards for North America.

This year, Dechert was again ranked as one of the “Most Innovative Law Firms in North America.” This firmwide recognition is calculated on the strength of firms’ legal innovations, alongside scored assessments of their digital maturity, commitment to pro bono, policies towards people and financial success.

The firm was ranked second in the “Most Digital Law Firms in North America” category for its success in utilizing data and technology to increase efficiency in its legal work, institutionalize knowledge, and improve client relationships.

Partner John Timperio, co-chair of the firm’s global finance practice and real estate practice, was named one of the FT’s Top 10 “Most Innovative Legal Practitioners in North America” for repeat innovations in the design and launch of complex structured financial products. Mr. Timperio’s pioneering work in CLOs and structured loan facilities has included development of several new asset classes in the structured credit space.

A number of Dechert matters were also ranked and recognized in other categories, including:

• STANDOUT – Dechert’s decade-long partnership with U.S.-based nonprofit Freedom Now was named a “Standout” in the “Innovation in Access to Justice and Civil Rights” category. Partners Jeremy Zucker and Hrishikesh Hari help drive the collaboration, through which Dechert teams acting pro bono have represented many dozens of prisoners of conscience around the world, bringing their cases before the United Nations, and engaging in various forms of international advocacy until those clients have been released. The FT highlighted Dechert’s representation of Iranian women’s rights defender Saba Kord Afshari, which was led by partner Andrew Pontano.
• HIGHLY COMMENDED – A transatlantic team led by IP partner Katherine A. Helm and antitrust partner Alec Burnside was highly commended in the “Innovation in Healthcare & Life Sciences” category. The firm advised U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly in a patent dispute with Swiss rival Novartis, which involved the offensive use of a U.S. federal discovery statute to assist with foreign proceedings.

Lawyers and firms recognized by the Financial Times were honored at an award ceremony held at Gotham Hall in New York City on December 4.

About Dechert 

Dechert is a global law firm that advises asset managers, financial institutions and corporations on issues critical to managing their business and their capital – from high-stakes litigation to complex transactions and regulatory matters. We answer questions that seem unsolvable, develop deal structures that are new to the market and protect clients’ rights in extreme situations. Our 1,000+ lawyers across 21 offices globally focus on the financial services, private equity, private credit, real estate, life sciences and technology sectors.