Global firm Dechert has 26 offices spread out over three continents. In the United States, the firm has offices in Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Hartford, Los Angeles, New York, Orange County, Philadelphia, Princeton, San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Washington D.C. This growth stems from decades of expansion, with the most current version of the firm’s name dating back to 1962. Dechert got its start in Philadelphia, but the New York office is their largest in the United States. Though the firm is active across financial and corporate law, its registered funds work has generated the most recognition as a top tier practice.   

Focusses/specialisms  

In addition to its outstanding registered funds practice, Dechert also has notable restructuring and insolvency, private equity, hedge fund, M&A, capital markets, regulatory financial services and banking practices. Markedly, its M&A team in the Philadelphia office is a market leader in Pennsylvania.  

The banking practice represents borrowers and lenders in credit facilities and term loans associated with project financing, acquisition financing and general corporate financing. The team is very prevalent in the real estate and banking and finance industries. 

The capital markets team operates in the debt, equity and securitizations space, where the team represents issuers and underwriters. The debt capital markets team advises clients in convertible, investment grade and high yield bond issuances. The equity capital markets team advises on IPOs, at-the-market programs, public offerings and private share placements. In securitizations, the firm advises on mortgage backed securitizations, CLOs and CMBS matters.  

In investment funds, the team acts for issuers in private equity, hedge, feeder, mutual and ETF funds. It works on fund formations and fund raises, as well as buyout and compliance related matters. 

The M&A team represents private equity and strategic acquirers and sellers in asset acquisitions, company acquisitions, privatizations and mergers. In addition to acquisitions, the private equity team advises private equity clients in company investments. 

The restructuring and insolvency team advises creditors and debtors in out of court financial restructurings, Chapter 11 and 15 cases.  

Key clients  

Key clients for the firm include Citigroup Global Markets Realty, Freddie Mac, Crown Holdings, B&G Foods, Amkor Technology, FS KKR Capital, Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Main Street Capital, Credit Suisse, Starwood Property Trust, GIC, Covis Pharma, Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, Antares Capital Advisers, Eagle Point Credit Management, Purdue Pharma and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance.