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Key people at Dechert LLP.
Dechert LLP is a multinational law firm providing legal services in corporate law, complex litigation, asset management, and private equity, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The organization operates across 21 global offices and employs a workforce of more than 900 lawyers. In 2021, the firm generated $1.3 billion in revenue, ranking as the 41st highest-grossing law firm globally on the Global 200 survey and securing the 49th position on the Vault Law 100. Dechert serves corporate clients, financial institutions, and asset managers, with notable historical and current figures associated with the firm including former Chairman Bart Winokur, current Chief Operating Officer James Lebovitz, and former partner Leonard Garment. The modern organization traces its roots to a predecessor firm originally founded in 1875 by Wayne MacVeagh and George Tucker Bispham before merging with a practice formed by Robert Dechert.
Key people at Dechert LLP.
Dechert LLP is a multinational American law firm founded in 1875, with over 900 lawyers across approximately 26 offices worldwide in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.[1][2][3][4] The firm specializes in high-stakes sectors including financial services, private capital (such as private equity and investment funds), real estate, life sciences, technology, complex litigation, corporate and securities, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory matters like antitrust and white-collar defense.[4][5][6][7] Dechert's mission centers on delivering "global insights, commercial judgment, and battle-tested command of the law" to clients navigating complex regulatory environments, with a track record of $1.51 billion in gross revenue in 2024, ranking it 36th on the Am Law 200 and 48th on the Global 200.[4][7] While not an investment firm, Dechert significantly impacts the startup and tech ecosystems through its deep expertise in private equity, venture financing, M&A, and IP for emerging companies in life sciences and technology.[5][6][7]
Dechert's roots trace to 1875 in Philadelphia, when Wayne MacVeagh and George Tucker Bispham formed MacVeagh & Bispham; MacVeagh later became U.S. Attorney General under President Garfield and served as ambassadors to Turkey and Italy, while Bispham authored the seminal "Principles of Equity" and taught at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.[1][2][8] Early clients included powerhouses like the Pennsylvania Railroad (retained from 1877 for nearly a century), Girard Trust Company, and coal and insurance firms, with the firm defending against property value claims in landmark cases that reached the U.S. Supreme Court.[1]
The firm evolved through mergers, including with Dechert, Smith & Clark in 1942 and becoming Dechert Price & Rhoads in 1962, before shortening to Dechert LLP in 2000 following a merger with UK's Titmuss, Sainer & Webb.[1][2] Post-WWII, it expanded practice groups in taxation, corporate, fiduciary, and litigation amid growing regulations.[1] Pioneering international growth, Dechert opened its first European office in 1968 and UK office in 1972, accelerating in the 1990s-2000s with offices in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, plus hires from Coudert Brothers in France.[1][2][3] By the early 2000s, it had 700 lawyers; leadership under Chairman Andrew J. Levander from 2011 onward supported revenue growth to $1.3 billion by 2021.[2]
Dechert rides trends in private capital, fintech, life sciences, and technology amid rising regulatory scrutiny, cross-border M&A, and IP complexities in AI, biotech, and cybersecurity.[5][7] Its timing aligns with globalization since the 1970s and post-2000 expansions, capitalizing on market forces like increasing private equity deals, fund formations, and enforcement actions in a high-interest, volatile economy.[1][6] The firm influences the ecosystem by enabling startups and scale-ups through M&A, venture financing, IP protection, and regulatory navigation—supporting tech innovators like those in Internet Capital Group while defending against mass torts and investigations for pharma/tech giants.[3][5][6] This positions Dechert as a key enabler for tech's growth in regulated sectors, fostering innovation via legal infrastructure.
Dechert is poised for continued expansion in private credit, national security, and tech-driven sectors like AI and cybersecurity, leveraging its global footprint amid evolving regulations and geopolitical shifts.[5][7] Trends such as sustainable investing, digital assets, and cross-border enforcement will shape its trajectory, potentially boosting revenues further as firms seek battle-tested advisors.[4][6] Its influence may evolve toward deeper tech integration and emerging markets, solidifying its role from historic railroad defender to modern private capital powerhouse—always ahead of regulatory tides, as its 150-year legacy demonstrates.[1][7]
