Dechert

Dechert LLP () is an international law firm of more than 900 lawyers with practices in corporate and securities, complex litigation, finance and real estate, and financial services and asset management. It was founded in Philadelphia and is registered as a limited liability partnership under Pennsylvania law. On the 2018 AmLaw Global 200 survey, Dechert ranked as the 43rd highest grossing law firm in the world.
History.
The firm's first predecessor, MacVeagh & Bispham, was formed in 1875 by Wayne MacVeagh and George Tucker Bispham. MacVeagh previously served as United States Ambassador to Turkey, and Bispham authored the treatise "Principles of Equity," which was considered the definitive work on the subject at the time. MacVeagh went on to become United States Attorney General under President James Garfield, and then United States Ambassador to Italy in 1893. Bispham went on to become a professor at University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1884.
The MacVeagh & Bispham's successor merged with another Philadelphia law firm, Dechert, Smith & Clark, in 1942. After undergoing several more name changes, the firm was known as Dechert Price & Rhoads for many years beginning in 1962, shortening its name to Dechert in 2000.
Pro bono activities.
Dechert has been recognized among the top 10 U.S. law firms for pro bono work in "The American Lawyer"'s Pro Bono Survey, an annual report which rates the nation's 200 highest grossing law firms based on their level of pro bono activity. The report confirmed that it remained the top law firm for international pro bono work. In August 2014, Dechert received the American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award.