Dechert Strengthens Private Funds Practice with New Partners Arina Lekhel and Megha Kalbag

Dechert LLP has announced the addition of Arina Lekhel and Megha Kalbag as partners in its New York office, a move that significantly bolsters the firm's private funds, rated notes, and derivatives transactions capabilities. This strategic expansion underscores Dechert's commitment to providing innovative and tailored solutions to its clients in the asset management sector.

David Forti, co-chair of Dechert, highlighted the importance of this development, stating that Lekhel and Kalbag's expertise will be instrumental in enhancing the firm's service offerings to financial institutions and asset managers worldwide. Their arrival is expected to strengthen Dechert's market-leading work with private credit and CLO managers, particularly in the areas of fund formation, rated and CLO equity funds, and derivatives transactions.

Arina Lekhel brings over twenty years of experience in the formation and management of various asset-backed private funds, including credit funds, private equity funds, and both closed- and open-end funds. Her practice is focused on advising fund sponsors on fund formation and the funds' ongoing investment operations and compliance. Lekhel expressed enthusiasm about joining Dechert, noting the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the private funds group and assist clients in navigating the complexities of fund formation and management.

Megha Kalbag's expertise spans securities and commodities regulation, including digital asset regulation, financial market infrastructure, and transactional work in derivatives and structured products. Her regulatory practice is centered on key legislation such as the Dodd-Frank Act and the Commodity Exchange Act. Kalbag looks forward to leveraging Dechert's global platform and depth of expertise to help clients navigate the evolving regulatory landscape and develop effective trading strategies.

The addition of Lekhel and Kalbag follows the recent arrival of Joseph Dennis, a prominent private equity lawyer, in Dechert's London office, further expanding the firm's global financial services and investment management team. With nearly 200 lawyers specializing in financial services, Dechert is recognized as a leading global law firm for investment funds, offering unparalleled expertise across key markets worldwide.