Dechert Names Six to Global Partnership

Dechert LLP, an international law firm, announced today that six lawyers have been newly elected as partners effective January 1, 2017.

“We congratulate this talented group of individuals and welcome them to the partnership,” said Henry Nassau, the firm’s Chief Executive Officer. “They are an outstanding representatives of the firm and I am proud to have them at Dechert.”

Krystyna M. Blakeslee, Global Finance, Associate, Hartford ─ Blakeslee focuses her practice in commercial real estate finance and investment with concentrations in the origination, acquisition and disposition (including securitization and syndication) of mortgage loans, mezzanine financings and subordinate debt, post-closing modifications and loan sales and purchases. She has experience with retail, office, hospitality, and condominium properties, as well as construction financing, TIC structures and ground lease transactions. In addition, Blakeslee has experience in restructuring and workout of complex distressed-debt structures, as well as asset management and commercial leasing. Finally, Krystyna has experience in joint venture investments and acquisitions of real estate assets, including hotels, and advises funds in connection with their investment and financing activities in real estate.

Carl A. Morales, IP, Associate, New York ─ Dr. Morales holds a Ph.D. and is a registered patent attorney in the Patent Counseling and Prosecution practice of Dechert’s intellectual property group. He applies his scientific and legal training toward acquiring, protecting, and managing the patent rights of a variety of clients in the biotechnology, chemistry, pharmaceutical and medical device industries. He has prepared and prosecuted patent applications in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and numerous foreign patent offices. His practice also includes pre-litigation case assessments; preparing patentability, validity, infringement, and enforcement opinions; and due diligence evaluations.

Bernardo L. Piereck, C&S, Associate, Washington, D.C. ─ Piereck represents private equity, private company and public company clients on mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures, and securities matters. His experience includes cross-border mergers and acquisitions involving both strategic and financial buyers, sellers and financial sponsors in inbound and outbound transactions. Piereck also advises clients on a variety of other general corporate and business matters in multiple industry sectors including energy, life sciences, healthcare, financial services, and technology.

Giovanni Russo, C&S, National Partner, Munich ─ Russo focuses his practice in corporate law, advising institutional investors, corporates and management teams on domestic and cross-border private equity, venture capital and M&A transactions. His practice covers both the buy-side and sell-side of acquisitions as well as co-investments. Russo’s recent experience includes advising on high-profile, complex corporate matters in the Internet, digital media, e-commerce and mobile applications industries. In addition, he counsels clients on employment issues arising in connection with mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings and reorganizations, both contentious and non-contentious.

Gregory A. Schernecke , C&S, Associate, Philadelphia ─ Schernecke focuses his practice on corporate finance; mergers and acquisitions, with a particular emphasis on private equity; and general corporate matters, including public company reporting and governance issues. He represents companies and investment banks in cross border public and private financing transactions and securities offerings of debt and equity. Schernecke also represents strategic and private equity buyers and sellers in merger and acquisition transactions across a wide range of industry sectors, including travel and hospitality, technology, consumer products, financial services, healthcare and industrial manufacturing.

Adam T. Teufel, FSG, Associate, Washington, D.C. ─ Teufel regularly advises registered investment companies, their advisers and their boards of directors on a wide range of corporate and regulatory matters, such as the development and launch of new funds, regulatory compliance matters, fund governance issues, and fund/adviser reorganizations and acquisitions. He routinely represents funds and advisers before the SEC and other regulators in response to inquiries and examinations. Teufel has significant experience with exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and their advisers, including obtaining SEC exemptive relief, the development and launch of novel ETFs and advising on a wide range of issues unique to index- or actively-managed ETFs and related products.

About Dechert

Dechert is a global specialist law firm focused on sectors with the greatest complexities and highest regulatory demands. We deliver practical commercial insight and judgment to our clients' most important matters. Nothing stands in the way of giving clients the best of the firm's entrepreneurial energy and seamless collaboration in a way that is distinctively Dechert.