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

The Financial Times has ranked Dechert LLP among the ten most innovative firms for legal expertise in North America in its 2018 North America Innovative Lawyers Awards.

The annual report, which combines the Financial Times’ independent journalism with extensive research carried out by RSG Consulting, recognizes “highly innovative” firms whose lawyers have “made a critical contribution to transforming their clients’ businesses.” Firms are judged on the originality of their legal work, the leadership displayed and the impact of their work on a client’s business.

The FT consistently ranks Dechert among the world’s most innovative law firms.

This year, New York-based litigator Neil Steiner was selected as one of the ten most innovative lawyers in North America for challenging restrictive voting laws under the National Voter Registration Act and the Voting Rights Act. Over the past decade, Steiner has led Dechert’s efforts to bring litigation against restrictive and discriminatory voter ID laws, voter-roll purges and early-voting barriers across the United States.

A Dechert team led by Steiner was also awarded a ‘Standout’ ranking in the ‘Rule of Law and Access to Justice’ category for defeating a proof-of-citizenship law in Kansas. The law, promoted by Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach, introduced additional burdens to voter registration that fell heaviest on the poor and marginalized. Working alongside co-counsel from the ACLU, Dechert convinced a Kansas federal court to block the law permanently.

In the ‘Managing Complexity and Scale’ category, Dechert received a ‘Highly Commended’ ranking for developing the innovative IP strategy that underpinned drug discoverer Nimbus Therapeutics’ novel agreement with Celgene Corporation. Led by IP partner Andrea L.C. Reid, Dechert defined and bifurcated the IP governing two uses of the same target, working closely with a team from Goodwin Procter, which drafted the complex transaction agreements.

In the same category, a Dechert team led by corporate partner James Lebovitz was ‘Commended’ for advising FS Investments, a sponsor of alternative investment products, in the establishment of a joint venture partnership with global investment firm KKR & Co., creating a business development company (BDC) platform with US$18 billion in assets, the world’s largest.

Dechert was also ‘Commended’ in the ‘Enabling Business Growth’ category. A Dechert team led by New York corporate partner Carl de Brito advised Barings in a novel tri-party deal under which Triangle Capital Corporation, a US$1 billion listed BDC, sold its entire loan book and externalized its management to Barings with a mandate to build a new portfolio. According to the FT, the transaction is likely to become a blueprint for future M&A deals in the BDC space.

Winners were honored at an award ceremony held at Gotham Hall in New York City on December 10.

Read the full Financial Times North America Innovative Lawyers 2018 report.

About Dechert 

Dechert is a leading global law firm with 27 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.