Dechert Develops Innovative Legal Solutions to Address COVID-19 Issues as Part of the World’s First Virtual Global Legal Hackathon

Dechert is proud to have participated in the world’s first virtual global legal hackathon to help find legal solutions to issues related to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Launched by the Financial Times, the Global Legal Hackathon challenge is a four-week initiative held in April and May designed to "unleash the talent and creativity of the world's legal industry to collaboratively innovate solutions to the most pressing legal, regulatory, and civil society challenges posed by” the COVID-19 crisis. 

Dechert harnessed the creative energy of a team of 36 lawyers and other professionals, spanning every one of the firm’s legal practices and from across the firm’s global offices – Boston, Brussels, Chicago, London, Munich, New York, Philadelphia, Singapore and Washington D.C. – to find innovative solutions to help individuals and companies impact by the pandemic. 

Dechert has submitted three projects into the challenge: 

• The first project, “Back To Business,” provides jurisdictional-specific guidance on business preparation, infection control measures, remuneration, data protection and more to help businesses get back to their normal working environment. This information is available on the COVID-19 hub on Dechert’s website and the intention is to keep updating it.
  
• The second project, “Legal Framework for Addressing Basic Housing Needs in Times of Extreme Disruption”, acknowledges the increased likelihood of housing-related issues and proposes imposing a moratorium on rent, mortgage and other housing-related payment obligations, and establishing a financial mechanism to fund those payments following the end of a moratorium. 
  
• The third project, “Helping Private Businesses Access Growth Equity Capital During COVID-19 and Beyond”, looks to provide founder-owned and private family owned businesses with guidance and advice on accessing growth equity capital, as well as giving access to a global network of industry experts.  
  

More than 2,700 participants from 225 organizations, and from more than 70 countries submitted over 170 projects. Participants included several of the world’s largest multinationals and banks, as well as universities and governments. 

About Dechert

Dechert is a leading global law firm with 26 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.