Financial Times Ranks Dechert 11th Most Innovative Firm in Europe

Dechert lawyers in Europe were praised for their creativity and fresh thinking by the Financial Times as several of the firm’s novel achievements won recognition in the FT’s European Innovative Lawyers report for 2019.

This year, Dechert was ranked by the FT as the 11th most innovative firm in Europe. The firm is consistently ranked highly in the annual Innovative Lawyer reports, which combine the FT’s strong journalistic traditions with independent analysis carried out by specialist researcher RSG Consulting.

An international capital markets team led by London-based partner Patrick Lyons and associate Jennifer Rees won the “Accessing New Markets and Capital” category for their work on a novel “green” bond. The team advised Singapore-based Sindicatum Renewables on a multi-tranche bond denominated in Indian rupees and Philippine pesos, helping the client fund Asian clean energy projects in local currencies. The work won a “Standout” ranking — the highest possible — from the FT.

Dechert’s financial services group was ranked three times. A novel private equity structure designed for Borromin Capital Management (formerly known as Steadfast Capital) by partners Joachim Kayser and Christopher Gardner was “Highly Commended” in the “Creating a New Standard” category. The structure greatly simplifies portfolio management carried out in Germany. Frankfurt-based Joachim Kayser was also commended and ranked for his work on a novel “first loss” fee model for hedge funds, while London-based partner Monica Gogna was personally cited by the FT for her work on the AMUN cryptocurrency ETP, which was “Commended” in the “Accessing New Markets” category.

In the “Dispute Resolution” category, Dechert won a commendation for the novel use of U.S. federal statutes to aid discovery on behalf of a respondent State in international arbitration. The firm’s work in the area was led by partners Eduardo Silva Romero and Alexandre de Gramont and by special legal consultant Juan Felipe Merizalde. A team of Moscow-based lawyers, including associates Yuri Makhonin, Maryana Batalova and Pavel Dunaev, was also commended in the “Access to Justice” category for fighting on a pro bono basis to win systemic reform on mental health issues in Russia.

Results and rankings were announced at a ceremony at London’s Natural History Museum on September 12.

See the full Financial Times European Innovative Lawyers 2019 report.

About Dechert

Dechert is a leading global law firm with 26 offices around the world. We advise on matters and transactions of the greatest complexity, bringing energy, creativity and efficient management of legal issues to deliver commercial and practical advice for clients.