Law Firm Dechert Says Lawsuits Over Alleged Use of Hired Hackers Have Been Resolved

Philadelphia-based law firm Dechert announced on Thursday that two U.S. lawsuits accusing it of employing hired hackers to gain courtroom advantages have been resolved without any admission of liability.

The lawsuits stem from claims made by aviation executive Farhad Azima, who in 2022 filed suit in federal court in Manhattan against Dechert, U.S. public relations professionals, and a private investigator. Azima alleged they orchestrated the hacking and leaking of his emails. A related lawsuit was also filed in North Carolina against private investigator Nicholas Del Rosso with similar allegations.

While Dechert had settled with Azima last year, proceedings against other defendants—including Israeli private investigator Amit Forlit, lawyer Amir Handjani, and New York PR firm Karv Communications—continued until recently. Legal documents indicate that motions to dismiss both the New York and North Carolina lawsuits with prejudice were filed late Wednesday.

Azima expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “I am thrilled and feel vindicated.” However, neither Azima, Dechert, nor the other parties disclosed details of the resolution or whether any new settlements were reached.

Dechert, Handjani, Karv, and Karv’s president Andrew Frank released identical statements confirming that all claims have been resolved without any admission of liability. Representatives for Del Rosso and Forlit did not respond to requests for comment.

Azima was previously found liable for fraud by a London court in 2020, a case heavily influenced by leaked private emails. He later accused Dechert—then representing a Middle Eastern investment fund involved in the case—of facilitating the email leaks. Following a Reuters investigation into email hacking linked to court cases, Azima successfully had his UK judgments overturned.

Forlit, accused by Azima as a key conspirator, is currently contesting extradition to the U.S. on separate cybercrime charges and has denied involvement in hacking.