With the majority of Dechert's attorneys located in the U.S., it may hope the Atlantic Ocean is sufficient to separate them from the stain left by the actions of former London partner Neil Gerrard, who served as the co-head of the firm's white-collar practice.

But after a London High Court ruling last week found both the firm and Gerrard responsible for misconduct aimed at extracting maximum profits from client Eurasian Natural Resources  Corp., including instigating leaks to the press and investigators as well as misinforming the client about potential criminal liability, the playbook calls for more than just hope in order to mitigate against the specter of severe reputational risk.