The partnership at Dechert have re-elected Andrew Levander chair for another four-year term, while chief executive Daniel O’Donnell has been given another year as corporate partner Henry Nassau is primed to take on the role when O’Donnell stands down in July 2016.
Nassau has been made deputy chair for practice group management from July this year before taking up a four-year term as CEO in July 2016. Most recently he was chair of the firm’s corporate and securities practice and according to the firm ‘played an instrumental role in expanding the practice across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.’
In addition to his time at Dechert, Nassau also served as general counsel and chief operations officer of venture capital firm Actua.
Commenting on his appointment, Nassau said: ‘Dan and Andy have done a wonderful job of continuing the upward trajectory we saw under the leadership of their predecessors, most especially Bart Winokur. As a result, Dechert is in a stronger market position now than at any point in its history. I am committed to continuing that progress and am grateful for the opportunity to do so.’
Levander added: ‘Over the last five years, Dan and I have worked closely with the partnership and other firm leaders to build consensus, develop strategic priorities and ensure execution against those priorities. Henry is already a key member of the firm’s leadership team and is known for offering a particularly commercial perspective to his clients.’
Levander, who is also a partner in the firm’s white collar and securities litigation group, has worked for high-profile clients including Bob Diamond, former Barclays chief executive; Jon Corzine, former CEO of MF Global; Lehman Brothers’ outside directors; and John Thain, former CEO of Merrill Lynch. He will serve as chair until July 2019.
O’Donnell, who specialises in corporate M&A and private equity, joined the firm as an associate in 1976, becoming partner in 1982. Over his career, O’Donnell has been involved in M&A activity including the sale of Getty Oil to Texaco, the sale of Pennwalt Corporation to Elf Aquitaine, and the sale of Reliance Electric by Exxon Corporation.
kathryn.mccann@legalease.co.uk
