Key Takeaways
- • Dechert LLP was named "Law Firm of the Year" for private credit fund structuring in Alternative Credit Investor's inaugural Alternative Credit North America Awards 2026.
- • Dechert reports advising on 12 Rated Note Fund closings totaling over US$7 billion and five CLO Equity funds and CFOs totaling over US$1 billion, as of September 2025.
- • The firm counsels more than 50 percent of publicly traded BDCs and 18 of Private Debt Investor's top 20 public and private BDC managers, according to the publisher's summary.
- • Dechert's clients include the world's ten largest asset managers and 80 percent of Private Debt Investor's top 100 private credit firms or their affiliates.
- • Dechert was also a finalist for private credit transactions in the same awards and holds nine PDI "Law Firm of the Year" titles over 13 years.
Summary
Dechert LLP has been recognized as "Law Firm of the Year" for private credit fund structuring in the inaugural Alternative Credit North America Awards 2026, presented by Alternative Credit Investor. The awards were established to honor the most influential lenders and service providers in the global private debt industry.
The firm advises fund sponsors on fund structuring and formation across private credit, equity, real estate, secondaries and other strategies. According to the publisher's summary, the world's ten largest asset managers are among its clients, alongside 80 percent of Private Debt Investor's top 100 private credit firms or their affiliates. Dechert also counsels over 50 percent of publicly traded BDCs and 18 of PDI's top 20 public and private BDC managers.
Dechert's fund formation and structured products teams advise managers and borrowers on Collateralized Fund Obligations (CFOs), rated feeders and other fund financing structures. By September 2025, the firm had advised on 12 Rated Note Fund closings totaling over US$7 billion and on five CLO Equity funds and CFOs totaling over US$1 billion. Deals spanned senior secured credit, private equity, real estate debt, multi-strategy funds and closed-end funds.
The firm was also named a finalist for private credit transactions in the same Alternative Credit Investor awards. Dechert is among the two top-ranked law firms globally in Private Debt Investor's Hall of Fame, having won nine "Law Firm of the Year" titles over the 13-year history of PDI's Global Awards. The most recent win came in March, when PDI named Dechert Law Firm of the Year for Fund Formation in Europe.
Dechert states it has advised private credit clients for more than 30 years, across a US$3 trillion market spanning asset-based, distressed debt, permanent capital, direct lending, subordinated debt, specialty financing, special situations and venture debt.
The firm advises fund sponsors on fund structuring and formation across private credit, equity, real estate, secondaries and other strategies. According to the publisher's summary, the world's ten largest asset managers are among its clients, alongside 80 percent of Private Debt Investor's top 100 private credit firms or their affiliates. Dechert also counsels over 50 percent of publicly traded BDCs and 18 of PDI's top 20 public and private BDC managers.
Dechert's fund formation and structured products teams advise managers and borrowers on Collateralized Fund Obligations (CFOs), rated feeders and other fund financing structures. By September 2025, the firm had advised on 12 Rated Note Fund closings totaling over US$7 billion and on five CLO Equity funds and CFOs totaling over US$1 billion. Deals spanned senior secured credit, private equity, real estate debt, multi-strategy funds and closed-end funds.
The firm was also named a finalist for private credit transactions in the same Alternative Credit Investor awards. Dechert is among the two top-ranked law firms globally in Private Debt Investor's Hall of Fame, having won nine "Law Firm of the Year" titles over the 13-year history of PDI's Global Awards. The most recent win came in March, when PDI named Dechert Law Firm of the Year for Fund Formation in Europe.
Dechert states it has advised private credit clients for more than 30 years, across a US$3 trillion market spanning asset-based, distressed debt, permanent capital, direct lending, subordinated debt, specialty financing, special situations and venture debt.
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