The firm
Dechert arrived in London in the 1990s and is the oldest of the transatlantic merged entities, with over 900 lawyers working from 18 different offices across the US and Europe. A significant proportion of the firm is based in the US, but the London office remains one of the largest and best-established of any US law firm. It continues to excel in its core practice areas, including corporate, real estate, finance (especially investment funds) and litigation. Interesting niche areas include Islamic finance and defamation.
The star performers
Corporate tax; Employment; IP;Defamation and privacy; Financial services; Islamic finance;Flotations; Investment funds; Property litigation.
The deals
Advised Blomfield Corporate Finance on both the $31.5m AIM IPO of The Family Shari'ah Fund and the AIM listing of Emerging Metals; advising Blackfriars Investments Limited and its clients on a range of property VAT issues; successfully acted for Karen Millen Ltd in a landmark case over unregistered design infringement in the Irish Commercial Court; represented Apollo Real Estate Advisors (UK) Ltd on its joint venture with Brack Capital.
The clients
Amber Master; Apollo Real Estate Advisors (UK) Ltd; Artemis Fund Management; Baring Asset Management; Cheyne Capital; The Crown Estate; ETF Securities.
The money
(from Legal Business magazine)
Turnover in 2008: $836.3m (+15% from 2007) Profits per partner: $2,350,000 (+18%)
The Lex 100 verdict
Trainees at Dechert are full of praise for their firm's commitment to training - 'we have a dedicated Training Director and the firm really does care about its trainees and their development'. Once more the induction week in Philadelphia proved a great hit and the 'perfect way to start my international legal career'. The atmosphere is welcoming and friendly and the six seat system allows you to experience a broader range of practice areas and reflects the flexibility of the firm. Trainees also like the open-minded approach to recruitment and the way in which the firm accommodates people with non-traditional backgrounds. The commitment to pro bono is also praised and the supportive working atmosphere encourages a good team spirit. On the downside there is some concern here about trainee retention rates 'even when the market is good', so this does cause trainees some stress. Other than the sandwiches at training sessions and the sweetcorn chowder in Café 4, trainees can't find too much else to complain about and overall seem a pretty contented bunch. They are happy their firm is still growing, especially in Asia, but like the fact that the London office 'retains the feel of a comparatively small and sociable firm'. If you're looking for a close-knit working environment, a strong focus on training and an international dimension to your work, Dechert is a good place to try.