The American Lawyer Honors Dechert for Innovation, Diversity and Legal Excellence
Dechert LLP has been honored for innovation and recognized for diversity and legal excellence in The American Lawyer’s Industry Awards for 2024. The awards were established to honor those who have contributed significantly to the advancement of the legal profession in the United States and set benchmarks for others to follow.
In the “Best Use of Technology” category, Dechert was named winner for the Innovation Team’s successful “build first” approach to Generative AI. Chief information officer Michael Rinehart and associate director for innovation Thor Alden devised a strategy towards Generative AI characterized by a willingness to “learn through doing” that successfully harnessed the potential of new technologies to deliver increased value to clients and ensure the firm stood out from its peers.
Dechert’s “build first” strategy towards AI has allowed the firm to understand new trends more quickly, customize tools to make them more effective, tailor training initiatives to the firm’s specific needs, create millions of dollars in value for clients, and provide a better overall service to clients in a more targeted and tailored manner.
The firm was also recognized as finalist in the following categories:
Legal Services Innovation Award – Dechert was named finalist for launching an Innovation Incubator designed to foster micro-innovation. The vehicle has proved highly successful in channeling attorney time towards projects with potential to change the way the firm does business. Over 1,000 projects are now conducted each year using technology pioneered by the Incubator, which has led to significant value creation for clients.
Best Diversity Initiative – Dechert was named finalist for developing a best-in-class program of DEI initiatives overseen by Satra Sampson-Arokium, the firm’s Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. Recent initiatives have included an innovative Partner Diversity Information Card dashboard, which offers partners real-time data on staffing and utilization processes for all associates and counsel in the U.S. and UK to highlight the importance of intentional and equitable team selection.
Young Lawyer of the Year - Beyond Practice – Washington, D.C.-based national security partner Hrishikesh Hari was named finalist for demonstrating exceptional leadership, superior legal expertise, and for driving meaningful improvements within the community. Mr. Hari, who assists clients in national security and white collar matters, advising on a range of significant international trade, cross-border investment, anti-corruption and public policy matters, has also defended human rights through legal support and high-leverage advocacy to Freedom Now, a Washington, D.C.-based human rights organization.
Individuals and firms recognized by The American Lawyer were honored at a ceremony in New York on November 13.
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 20 offices globally focus on the financial services, private equity, private credit, real estate, life sciences and technology sectors.
