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Dechert

Unverified

Philadelphia, PA

About

Dechert has built one of the most dominant financial services and asset management practices in the world, and for students interested in fund formation, investment management, or financial regulation, there is no better place to start. With approximately 830 attorneys across 13 offices worldwide, Dechert is headquartered in Philadelphia and maintains major offices in New York, Washington DC, London, Luxembourg, and Hong Kong.

Dechert was the first law firm to build a comprehensive funds practice spanning every key European and US fund domicile, and it remains the market leader. The firm has nearly 200 financial services lawyers globally, advising on everything from ETF launches and private credit platforms to GP-stakes transactions and regulatory compliance. Its complex litigation and white-collar practices are also highly regarded, particularly in cases involving financial services and securities.

The culture at Dechert is intellectually rigorous and collegial. The firm's relatively lean size means that associates get meaningful exposure to sophisticated matters early, and the financial services focus creates natural expertise development. Dechert is a place where deep specialization is valued and rewarded.

The summer program runs a free-market system with approximately 55 summers and a 2,000-hour billable target. PPP is approximately $2.8 million. Dechert recruits from top law schools with particular strength in the Northeast, and candidates who can speak to genuine interest in financial services, asset management, or securities regulation will stand out.

Recruiting & Summer Program

Summer Class Size

45 associates

Summer Offer Rate

100%

Billable Hours

1,950 hours

Practice Areas & Rankings

Source: Chambers USA 2026 Rankings

Practice AreaBandJurisdictions
AntitrustBand 1Pennsylvania
Capital Markets / SecuritiesBand 1Nationwide, Massachusetts
Commercial LitigationBand 1Nationwide, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds
Corporate / M&ABand 1Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds
Intellectual Property (General / Trademark)Band 1Pennsylvania
Real EstateBand 1Pennsylvania
White Collar DefenseBand 1New York
Commercial LitigationBand 2California
Corporate / M&ABand 2Nationwide, New York
Labor & EmploymentBand 2New York, Pennsylvania
Private EquityBand 2Nationwide
Real EstateBand 2Nationwide, New York, North Carolina
Banking & FinanceBand 3Nationwide, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds
Commercial LitigationBand 3District of Columbia, New York
AntitrustBand 4Nationwide, California
Capital Markets / SecuritiesBand 4New York
Government Regulatory / Public PolicyBand 4Nationwide
Labor & EmploymentBand 4Nationwide
Life Sciences / FDABand 4Nationwide
Private EquityBand 4New York
TaxBand 4New York
White Collar DefenseBand 4Nationwide
AntitrustBand 5District of Columbia
Banking & FinanceBand 5New York
Restructuring / BankruptcyBand 5New York
TaxBand 5Nationwide
White Collar DefenseBand 5District of Columbia

Firm Profile

Vault Rank (2026)

#51

AmLaw Rank (FY2025)

#39

Founded

1875

Chair / Managing Partner

David Forti

Partners

134

Attorneys

~830

Partnership Track

9 years

Billable Hours Target

1,950 hours

Summer Class Size (2025)

~50

Revenue (FY2025)

$1.6B

Revenue per Lawyer (FY2025)

$1.9M

1st-Year Total Comp (2026)

$245,000+

PPP (FY2025)

$6.2M

Offices (17 locations)

Philadelphia, PA(HQ)
San Francisco, CA
Chicago, IL
Charlotte, NC
Hartford, CT
Princeton, NJ
London
Paris
Frankfurt
Hong Kong
Dubai
Brussels
Austin, TX
Boston, MA
Los Angeles, CA
New York, NY
Washington DC, DC
Visit firm website

Data sources: Financial data from AmLaw 200, FY2025. Practice area rankings from Chambers USA 2026. Summer program data from Chambers Associate 2026. Office locations from firm websites. Last verified: March 27, 2026. View our data methodology

Dechert | Summer Associate Program & Rankings | BigLaw Bear