Dechert takes Tyco GC for governance push

Dechert has hired former Tyco general counsel to bulk up its corporate governance and regulatory capabilities in the US.

William Lytton has joined the firm’s New York office as senior counsel in the corporate governance team.

Lytton said: “My role is about building up the firm’s strength in corporate governance. This is something that is crucial to large organisations in the US and therefore outside counsel need to make sure they can assist clients in this area.”

Lytton added that he will also be instrumental to Dechert’s lawyer training programme in the US.

“I am really excited about being involved in training at Dechert. I think I can offer a lot in terms of how to build good relationships with general counsel and the challenges these in-house teams face,” Lytton said.

Lytton, who joined Tyco in 2002 after the time of a scandal relating to excessive and unauthorised remuneration for its CEO, retired from the company in 2007.

Dechert chairman, Bart Winokur, said: “We are thrilled that Bill will be joining the firm. His experience navigating the most challenging legal issues is extraordinary and will be of invaluable assistance to our clients.”

As well as serving as general counsel to Tyco and International Paper, Lytton was deputy special counsel to US president Ronald Reagan during the Iran-contra investigation in 1986.