Dechert Secures Unanimous Victory for BLOM Bank Before U.S. Supreme Court

Dechert recently secured a unanimous victory before the U.S. Supreme Court in Blom Bank SAL v. Honickman, a case brought by victims of Hamas terrorist attacks who alleged that the Lebanese bank aided the group through routine financial transactions.

On June 5, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the plaintiffs are prohibited from refiling a lawsuit seeking to hold BLOM Bank, one of Lebanon’s oldest banks, liable for aiding and abetting, finding that final judgments can only be reopened under "extraordinary circumstances."

This significant victory brings an end to the suit against BLOM Bank, which has consistently expressed that it abhors terrorism and has itself been a target and victim of such acts. Dechert has represented BLOM in this case since 2019.

Beyond this particular case, the Supreme Court's decision establishes an important precedent for all civil cases in the federal system moving forward.

The Dechert team representing BLOM Bank included litigation partners Michael H. McGinley, Steven A. Engel and Jonathan R. Streeter, along with associates Tamer Mallat and Brian A. Kulp.

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 nearly 1,000 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.