Dechert LLP - The Who's Who Legal 100 2013

What is the Who's Who Legal 100?

The firm’s strongest performance is in our private funds chapter where 10 “outstanding” individuals are selected for inclusion. Dechert has a “market-leading” investment funds practice which was recently bolstered with the opening of an office in Frankfurt in early 2012. Achim Pütz splits his time between the Frankfurt and Munich offices and is a “go-to lawyer” for advice on complex alternative investment structures. Alongside him, Hans Stamm is a “tax specialist” noted for his particular expertise in private funds. Clients describe him as a “font of knowledge”. In London, three lawyers are listed including the “phenomenal” Peter Astleford. Co-chair of the firm’s global financial services group and head of the group for Europe, Astleford enjoys a “sterling reputation” in the sector. In Luxembourg, Marc Seimetz stands out for his “superior knowledge” on fund structures and compliance, while Paris-based Olivier Dumas excels in advising on fund formation in the private equity and alternative investment funds sectors. George Mazin and Kevin Scanlan in New York are both highly recommended and Declan O’Sullivan is noted for his “ability to convey complex information in a clear and easily understandable manner”.

The life sciences industry is a key focus for the firm and Dechert advises clients on a full range of matters including transactions, IP, regulatory and product liability. The firm achieves nine listings in the corresponding chapter, five of which are in the transactional sub-section. Lewis Ho is a “true star” in the field and receives listings across the IP, regulatory, transactional areas of life sciences as well as in our patents chapter. Ho is head of the life sciences practice in Asia and his practice focuses on helping life sciences companies monetise their intellectual property assets and enforce their IP rights. Paris-based lawyers Anne-Laure Marcerou and Emmanuelle Trombe appear in both the regulatory and transactional areas of the life sciences chapter and are “leaders in the field”. Also in Paris, Alain Decombe is managing partner of the office and a “brilliant” transactional lawyer. Jonathan Schur in New York advises pharmaceutical and medical device companies in M&A transactions, divestitures, joint ventures, licensing and distribution arrangements. He is “simply superb” according to our research.

Dechert’s competition practice is represented by five lawyers, all of whom are based in the firm’s US offices. In DC, Paul Denis and Paul Friedman are “revered practitioners”. Denis focuses on merger control while Friedman specialises in investigations and antitrust litigation. Two “superb” lawyers hail from the firm’s Philadelphia office, Stephen Stack and Joseph Tate, while the New York office is represented by Michael Weiner, co-chair of the antitrust/competition group who clients say provides “effective, reasoned advice”.

Five lawyers are selected for inclusion in the business crime defence chapter. In London, co-head of the firm’s white-collar and securities litigation practice Neil Gerrard is considered “first-rate”. He specialises in regulatory investigations and prosecutions undertaken by UK, US and EU regulators. Alongside him, Jonathan Pickworth is “highly proficient” in corruption, fraud and tax matters. In New York, Andrew Levander is highly regarded internationally, while fellow co-chair of the practice Benjamin Rosenberg is praised for his “strong defence of individuals and corporations”. Philadelphia-based Thomas Lee is a health-care fraud “expert”.

Dechert’s success lies in its strategic, pragmatic and responsive legal counsel, ensuring the firm is “top of the list” for clients seeking advice on transactions or in need of representation for disputes.