Profiles in Diversity Journal Honors Dechert for Pro Bono and Diversity Achievements

Dechert’s success in challenging a racially gerrymandered map of Miami’s voting districts has been named an “Innovation in Diversity” by Profiles in Diversity Journal, which recognizes trailblazing organizations that have innovated to advance diversity and inclusion initiatives.

A team of Dechert lawyers working pro bono, alongside the ACLU of Florida, represented several community organizations and residents in challenging the map, which had sparked community outrage for slicing through neighborhoods and separating racial groups into distinct districts.

In April 2024, U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore declared all five of Miami’s city commission districts unconstitutionally racially gerrymandered and mandated the creation of a new map for future elections. 

The litigation was the latest trial victory in Dechert’s two-decade commitment to challenging restrictive and discriminatory voting laws across the United States and ensuring all citizens’ right to vote. 

In its Fourth Quarter 2024 issue, Profiles in Diversity Journal also honored Dechert’s Los Angeles-based financial services partner Robert Robertson when it named him a Black Leadership Award honoree.

Mr. Robertson, who focuses his practice on investment management and corporate and securities law, has helped drive Dechert’s ambitious West Coast expansion strategy, which has focused on the funds and fintech sectors, with additional growth in white collar and commercial litigation.

As chair of Dechert’s Black Professionals Alliance, Mr. Robertson has overseen the group’s expansion to include Black business professionals as well as lawyers, an important step towards greater inclusion. He has also helped drive efforts to recruit, retain and advance Black talent via mentoring and development workshops, and plays a leading role in the firm’s Black History Month celebrations.  

Read 2024 Innovations in Diversity Awards

Read 2024 Black Leadership Awards

About Dechert 

Dechert is a global law firm that advises asset managers, financial institutions and corporations on issues critical to managing their business and their capital – from high-stakes litigation to complex transactions and regulatory matters. We answer questions that seem unsolvable, develop deal structures that are new to the market and protect clients' rights in extreme situations. Our nearly 1,000 lawyers across 19 offices globally focus on the financial services, private equity, private credit, real estate, life sciences and technology sectors.