Dechert has named Thomas Vartanian, David Ansell, and Robert Ledig as partners in its Washington, D.C. office.
All three were previously partners at Fried Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, where Vartanian was chair of the financial institutions transaction group.
They have combined more than 25 years of experience working together to counsel commercial and investment banks, holding companies, GSEs, broker-dealers, private equity investors, hedge funds, credit unions, technology companies, state governmental entities, and financial trade associations.
Vartanian advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, reorganizations, recapitalizations, acquisitions of distressed banks, purchase from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) as receiver for failed institutions, and matters involving GSEs. He previously served as general counsel of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corp.
Ansell counsels financial services companies on the formation and execution of complex corporate transactions, with a specific focus on bank regulatory matters. He has experience in cases that are pending before the federal bank regulatory agencies, including the FDIC, the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Housing Finance Board, the Office of Thrift Supervision, and the Comptroller of the Currency, where he was previously an attorney.
Ledit advises financial institutions on corporate, regulatory and enforcement, and litigation issues. He was previously an attorney in the office of the general counsel of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, where he was responsible for regulatory policy matters.
“We are very excited to join such a distinguished group of attorneys as are here at Dechert. Our areas of focus are well-suited to the firm’s established practices and global resources, and we believe our clients will be well-served by this move,” Vartanian said. “Dechert’s depth of talent is second to none and we are looking forward to working with such a talented team.”
“We are pleased to welcome such a dynamic team to the firm,” said Dechert chairman Barton J. Winokur. “Tom, David, and Bob enjoy high-industry profiles, and together they form one of the premier bank regulatory practices in the United States. This is a critical time for the industry as it faces a sea change in the regulatory environment. Their shared talents and experience will further enhance our brand as a leader in the representation of financial services firms.”
Dechert is an international law firm focused on financial services and asset management, corporate and securities, tax law, business restructuring and reorganization, complex litigation and international arbitration, life sciences, labor and employment, intellectual property, and finance and real estate.
