Philadelphia Business Journal Names Dechert Counsel Wilfred T. Beaye, Jr. to Its 2026 “40 Under 40” List

Wilfred T. Beaye, Jr., a counsel in Dechert's Securities and Complex Commercial Litigation Group, has been named to the Philadelphia Business Journal's 2026 “40 Under 40” list, which recognizes 40 rising leaders across the greater Philadelphia business community who have made a significant impact before turning 40.

Mr. Beaye’s practice at Dechert spans securities and complex commercial litigation and internal investigations, with matters ranging across government investigations, M&A disputes, antitrust and commodities litigation and digital assets. Among recent highlights, he represented a leading private equity firm through parallel federal and state government investigations in the healthcare sector and secured the return of nearly US$10 million in digital assets for a cryptocurrency client by successfully challenging a federal forfeiture action. He also advises leading companies and venture capital firms on AI governance and deployment and teaches the subject as a Lecturer in Law at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

A graduate of Harvard Law School, where he served as Executive Managing Editor of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, Mr. Beaye went on to help secure a first-of-its-kind trial victory against the Federal Trade Commission as part of the team at a leading New York firm. He then brought that trial experience to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, where he tried five cases to verdict, including two complex multidefendant trials in federal court, and led multiple grand jury investigations into hate crimes and police misconduct. His pro bono practice reflects the same commitment: he served as a lead attorney on a civil rights class action that resulted in court-ordered healthcare reforms at a maximum-security prison and helped secure asylum for two Honduran women and their children who fled after receiving death threats.

“Wil is one of the most complete lawyers I have seen at his stage – a trial-tested litigator who has also positioned himself at the forefront of the legal questions that will define the next decade of practice,” said Sozi Pedro Tulante, co-managing partner of Dechert’s Philadelphia office. “As a prior recipient of this award, I know that he is deserving and that it reflects what his Dechert colleagues and clients see every day.”

“Wil brings the instincts of a trial lawyer to every matter he touches – rigorous preparation, sound judgment under pressure and a genuine drive to win for clients,” said Michael McGinley, global co-chair of the Securities and Complex Commercial Litigation Group. “The fact that he has also developed real fluency in generative AI makes him increasingly valuable to clients navigating that terrain. This recognition is well-deserved.”

Honorees were recognized at a cocktail reception and awards ceremony on Thursday, June 4 at Water Works in Philadelphia and will be featured in a special issue of the magazine.

About Dechert

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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.

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