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

Dechert and its lawyers have again been honored by the Financial Times for devising creative solutions to clients’ business issues in the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards for North America.

This year, Dechert was ranked the fourth “Most Innovative Law Firm in North America”, a recognition that draws on the firm’s legal innovations, digital maturity, commitment to pro bono, policies towards people and financial success. Notably, the firm was top-ranked for social responsibility and for its policies towards people.

Michael McGinley, global co-chair of Dechert’s securities and complex litigation practice group, was recognized among the FT’s Top 10 “Most Innovative Legal Practitioners in North America” for arguing three cases in quick succession before the U.S. Supreme Court, including a successful defense of Lebanon’s BLOM Bank in a case that tested the limits of liability for banks operating in regions impacted by international conflict. Mr. McGinley, who was recently honored as a Law360 “Appellate MVP of the Year”, has won multiple victories in appellate courts this year, helping earn Dechert a place on the National Law Journal’s “Appellate Hot List” for 2025.

Several Dechert teams were also ranked and recognized in the FT awards:

“Highly Commended” - in the “Innovation in Unlocking Capital” category, for driving the first Canadian-dollar floating-rate “single asset single borrower” securitization structure jointly offered in the United States and Canada. A Dechert team, led by firm co-chair David Forti and partners Justin Gdula and Stewart McQueen and with counsel Bill Lee, acted as lender’s counsel to Citibank and Royal Bank of Canada.

“Highly Commended” - in the “Innovation in Pro Bono” category, for setting precedent in labor trafficking law. A pro bono team led by partner Mauricio España and with associates Alyssa Walters and Allison DeJong and Dechert alumna Julia Markham-Cameron pursued a five-year litigation on behalf of four immigrant women, winning a rarely granted “Doe” motion allowing their clients to proceed under pseudonyms in federal court and securing a key attachment motion preventing the defendant from offloading assets.

“Commended” - in the “Innovation in Restructuring” category, for the innovative debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing at the heart of Brazilian airline GOL’s Chapter 11 case. Allan Brilliant and Jeff Katz led a team that devised a hybrid DIP financing structure featuring loans and tradable bonds that ultimately paved the way for GOL’s financial recovery.

The Financial Times regularly ranks Dechert among the most innovative law firms in the world. Dechert is the top-scoring firm for U.S. lawyers ranked individually by the FT. The firm itself was named among the FT’s Top 20 Most Innovative Global Law Firms of the Past 20 Years.

Lawyers and firms recognized by the FT were honored at an award ceremony held at Gotham Hall in New York City on December 8.

About Dechert

Dechert is the law firm that helps business leaders lead.

For more than 150 years, we have advised clients on critical issues – from high-stakes litigation to first-in-market transaction structures and complex regulatory matters. Our lawyers in commercial centers worldwide are immersed in the key sectors we serve – financial services, private capital, real estate, life sciences and technology.

Dechert delivers unwavering partnership so our clients can achieve unprecedented results.