Dechert
UnverifiedPhiladelphia, 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 Area | Band | Jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Antitrust | Band 1 | Pennsylvania |
| Capital Markets / Securities | Band 1 | Nationwide, Massachusetts |
| Commercial Litigation | Band 1 | Nationwide, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds |
| Corporate / M&A | Band 1 | Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds |
| Intellectual Property (General / Trademark) | Band 1 | Pennsylvania |
| Real Estate | Band 1 | Pennsylvania |
| White Collar Defense | Band 1 | New York |
| Commercial Litigation | Band 2 | California |
| Corporate / M&A | Band 2 | Nationwide, New York |
| Labor & Employment | Band 2 | New York, Pennsylvania |
| Private Equity | Band 2 | Nationwide |
| Real Estate | Band 2 | Nationwide, New York, North Carolina |
| Banking & Finance | Band 3 | Nationwide, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds |
| Commercial Litigation | Band 3 | District of Columbia, New York |
| Antitrust | Band 4 | Nationwide, California |
| Capital Markets / Securities | Band 4 | New York |
| Government Regulatory / Public Policy | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Labor & Employment | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Life Sciences / FDA | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Private Equity | Band 4 | New York |
| Tax | Band 4 | New York |
| White Collar Defense | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Antitrust | Band 5 | District of Columbia |
| Banking & Finance | Band 5 | New York |
| Restructuring / Bankruptcy | Band 5 | New York |
| Tax | Band 5 | Nationwide |
| White Collar Defense | Band 5 | District 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)
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