Latham & Watkins LLP > New York, United States > Firm Profile

Latham & Watkins LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Antitrust > Cartel Tier 1

With a strong presence on both coasts, Latham & Watkins LLP has a market-leading cartel defense practice that runs the gamut of civil and criminal litigation, government investigations, and follow-on enforcement proceedings. Its client roster includes corporates and individuals from a diverse range of industries, including automotive manufacturing, food production and processing, and retail. The firm also benefits from its significant agency expertise and deep governmental relationships, with several of the team’s members having extensive former experience from the DOJ and the FTC. Notably, April 2022 saw Makan Delrahim, former Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ Antitrust Division, joining the firm’s Washington DC office. Also in DC is practice co-head Amanda Reeves, while New York’s Elizabeth Prewitt, a seasoned cartel defense litigator known in particular for her work on financial services cartel investigations, rounds out the firm’s East Coast team. On the West Coast, practice co-head Belinda Lee, based in San Francisco, represents multinationals in civil and criminal cartel litigation before global regulators and courts. Other key names from the San Francisco office include Niall Lynch, a recognized antitrust litigator with significant experience from the DOJ’s Antitrust Division, as well as Ashley Bauer, whose practice focuses on regulatory investigations and follow-on litigation.

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 1

The ‘incredibly creative and hard-working’ team at Latham & Watkins LLP excels in securing early dismissals, settlement and wins at trial concerning claims alleging anticompetitive collusion, monopolization, distribution, and pricing policies in the US and globally. In Washington DC, global chair of the practice Amanda Reeves’ work spans litigation and merger control in a range of industries including high technology, life sciences and consumer products among others. San Francisco-based Belinda Lee, global vice-chair of the practice, has extensive experience in defending global companies across the technology, manufacturing and transportation sectors in consumer class actions, unfair competition, and licensing disputes. The ‘well-prepared, consistent, detailed, and energetic’ Christopher Yates offers significant trial experience involving high profile clients, evidenced in the significant trial victory for Oracle against Hewlett Packard Enterprises in a dispute alleging unfair competition. In DC, Jennifer Giordano has expertise in defending clients in cases at both the trial and appellate level including multidistrict litigation, class actions and business-to-business litigation. Trial lawyer Al Pfeiffer leads on many matters and is noted for his experience in representing Fortune 500 companies and handling antitrust claims concerning dominant firm conduct. Aaron Chiu, who is based in the firm’s San Francisco hub, was promoted to partner in January 2022. The team has grown its capacity with the recent hires in April 2022 of former assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim in DC and Katherine Rocco, formerly at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, who joined the firm’s New York office. Daniel Wall is no longer at the firm.

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP remains active on complex, business-critical merger mandates for blue-chip clients, and enjoyed considerable success in contested mergers in 2022, most notably representing US Sugar against the DOJ’s challenge to its acquisition of Imperial Sugar, and advising Illumina on the multi-jurisdictional investigations into its acquisition of GRAIL. The team, which has a strong presence in Washington DC and the West Coast, was strengthened by the 2022 arrival of Katherine Rocco, a prolific merger counsel who has expanded the firm’s antitrust work in New York, and DC-based Makan Delrahim, formerly Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, reinforcing the firm’s DOJ and FTC expertise. As well as handling major US clearances, related investigations, and litigation, the firm also leverages its global base, particularly in Paris and Brussels, to advise on multi-agency approvals across jurisdictions. The team is led by global antitrust chair Amanda Reeves  in DC, who took the lead on the US Sugar clearance, and Bay Area-based vice chair Belinda Lee , while DC-based Michael G. Egge is a vastly experienced figure with a track record in complex clearances, most notably representing Illumina in the GRAIL deal. Also in DC, Farrell J. Malone  is noted for his cross-border expertise, while Bay Area-based Kelly Fayne continues to expand her profile in the market, notably working closely with Reeves on MGM’s $8.45bn acquisition by Amazon.

Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)

Latham & Watkins LLP’s premier appellate practice is commended for its ‘strong bench with a number of very talented advocates’. Among its other key attributes, the group stands out for its enviable win record, which saw the team argue five cases before the US Supreme Court during the 2021 term, and prevail in four. The team is also routinely engaged by Fortune 500 companies to handle complex and high-stakes cases before federal and state appellate courts. High-profile practice head Gregory Garre has argued 47 cases before the US Supreme Court; he recently acted alongside Roman Martinez to successfully represent Carlos Vega–a Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy–in a case establishing that police officers cannot be held liable for money damages under Section 1983 for failing to provide a criminal suspect with a Miranda warning. In another SCOTUS matter, Melissa Arbus Sherry, highlighted for her ‘great courtroom presence‘, delivered a unanimous win for Boechler PC in a complex taxpayers’ rights case. Other key contacts include Richard Bress, who has significant Supreme Court experience, and Michael Bern, who successfully represented Strabag on appeal in a €100m dispute with Libya regarding harm to Strabag arising from the Libyan Revolution. All named attorneys are based in Washington DC.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense Tier 1

At Latham & Watkins LLP, ‘the M&A litigation team is deeply experienced in this space and works seamlessly with the transactional team and client team‘. Clients remark that the lawyers are ‘zealous advocates while remaining pragmatic, and they focused on the broader outcome of a successful deal rather than focusing solely on winning the litigation‘. The firm is active in the Delaware Court of Chancery and the Delaware Supreme Court, as well as other fora around the country, and is involved in cutting-edge areas of the market, such as SPAC-related litigation. Michele Johnson in Orange County, Blair Connelly in New York and Colleen Smith in San Diego lead the securities litigation and professional liability practice, while up-and-coming partner Kristin Murphy in Orange County has a major role in SPAC-related cases.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco) Tier 1

Appreciated by clients for its ‘highly collaborative, co-ordinated and efficient’ approach, Latham & Watkins LLP has ‘superb expertise in complex product liability cases’, and is regularly involved in big-ticket aggregated cases, including class actions and MDLs. The team’s generalist approach to work in the space ensures that it has expertise across a wide range of consumer products, including within the hi-tech sector, however, it has undoubtedly gained most acclaim for its longstanding representation of Philip Morris in relation to mass tort and RICO suits. A significant amount of this work now relates to work outside of the country, with ‘very sharp’ Washington DC-based partner Christine Rolph being central to the firm’s role defending the tobacco giant against high-profile and high-value healthcare recoupment suits brought against it, including by Brazilian and South Korean governments. Key to Rolph’s success in the area, is her ability to digest and develop highly complex scientific information, an area where she has ‘reams of experience with expert development’. Recognized as a ‘master strategist’, litigation heavyweight Kenneth Parsigian has also been pivotal to the firm’s tobacco-related work both nationally and internationally, work which he combines with an eclectic mass tort offering which is reflective of his overarching role as a trial lawyer par-excellence. With a ‘work ethic that is second to none’, Gwyn Williams  co-heads the practice alongside Parsigan and is able to draw upon vast experience involving a variety of consumer products, which deal with a wide variety of state and federal consumer protection statutes.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP‘s nationwide offering, which draws upon lawyers with expertise across product liability, environmental law and complex commercial disputes, provides advice to clients facing down a variety of toxic tort private class actions, government investigations, and enforcement actions, as well as in the context of environmental clean-up cases. The firm has been at the cutting-edge of environmental issues for many years and regularly helps major industrial and manufacturing clients respond to high-stakes toxic tort matters, not only from a purely litigious perspective but also in a risk management context. In Chicago, the ‘creative and extremely hardworking’ Mary Rose Alexander  is adept at guiding clients, including energy and chemical companies, through all aspects of multi-plaintiff toxic tort and environmental litigation including case management, expert discovery and trial. As well as handling conventional matters relating to alleged exposure to chemicals, metals and solvents, she has also been active defending clients in cases where plaintiffs have initiated tort litigation as a means of advancing ESG goals. Boston-based partners Gwyn Williams  and Kenneth Parsigian co-head the firm’s  overarching product liability, mass tort and consumer class action group which houses the underlying toxic tort offering. Kegan Brown left the firm in January 2024.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP has a national securities litigation practice, combining an intimate understanding of the needs of major corporate issuers, among them Meta and Twitter, with in-depth experience in every stage of the litigation process from initial negotiations through discovery, motion practice, trial and appeal. It is one of the very few firms to have achieved successful jury verdicts in securities litigation in recent history. The practice is led by Andrew Clubok in Washington DC, New York partner Blair Connelly, and up-and-coming partner Colleen Smith in San Diego. For Twitter, Clubok was part of a large team that is defending a series of class actions alleging that the company misappropriated contact information collected for security purposes, and in turn, used that information for advertising purposes without consent. He is also acting for Meta in a securities class action concerning a stockdrop allegedly caused by the impact of Apple’s iOS privacy changes on the company’s advertising business. Matthew Rawlinson in Silicon Valley frequently handles cases in the technology sector, among them a series of lawsuits for Coinbase Global, Inc. arising out of the company’s innovative direct listing in 2021. In New York, Jeff Hammer, who is acting for Farfetch Limited in a securities class action that followed a nearly 45% decline in the company’s stock price, and emerging talent Jason Hegt are standout partners.

Energy > Energy transactions: electric power Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP ‘s energy & infrastructure industry group is a globally integrated and multidisciplined team, serving industry participants across the full spectrum of the power sector; examples include conventional power generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure, renewable energy, nuclear power generation, energy storage and other evolving electric power technologies. The firm advises on areas including complex transactions, M&A, secured lending, corporate finance and project development. David Owen is a partner in New York and is skilled in complex shareholder negotiations and has a focus on renewable energy projects, particularly wind and solar. Owen was the lead partner on a recent matter for Innergex Renewable Energy, where the team advised the client in three separate transactions, including the sale of its interest in the Shannon wind facility to Starwood Energy. Lauren Anderson (based in Houston) is an experienced lawyer for both private equity firms and strategics, bringing her knowledge into private equity transactions, M&A and general corporate matters. In Houston, Trina Chandler is a recognized M&A and private equity practitioner, having advised clients on strategic transactions across the power and renewables space, while New York-based Christopher Cross  represents companies, government institutions, sovereign and private equity funds and lenders in international joint venture. At the Washington, DC office, David Schwartz serves as global chair of the energy regulatory & markets practice, with Jeff Greenberg acting as global project development & finance practice chair from Los Angeles.

Energy > Energy transactions: oil and gas Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP’s ‘laser-focused’ team acts for its roster of clients across the full range of energy and infrastructure mandates, including the entire oil and gas value chain, from exploration and midstream infrastructure to LNG, refining and petrochemicals. Counting domestic and cross-border M&A, joint ventures and capital markets transactions in its workload, key clients include private and public oil and gas companies, private equity sponsors and lenders. In the firm's New York office, Eli Katz jointly leads the team alongside Justin Stolte, who advises on M&A, joint ventures and alternative finance transactions across the energy sector. John Greer has considerable experience in transactions involving exploration, pipelines and oilfield service companies and Ryan Maierson specializes in M&A and corporate finance, while Lauren Anderson specializes in private equity transactions, M&A and general corporate matters. Stephen Szalkowski focuses on acquisitions, joint ventures and private equity investments and James Garrett is frequently involved in landmark M&A transactions in the energy sector. Associate Ashley Nguyen has broad domestic and cross-border experience concerning strategic transactions in the energy and infrastructure sectors. All named lawyers are based in Houston, unless stated otherwise.

Energy > Renewable/alternative power Tier 1

With experience in acting for major energy companies, developers, and investors on high-value and high-impact projects in wind, solar, storage, and CCS, Latham & Watkins LLP earns its strong reputation as a market leader in the renewables space. The team is led by New York-based global energy and infrastructure group (E&I group) vice-chair Eli Katz, who has broad expertise in project financing as well as a niche focus on tax issues related to the sector, and Houston’s E&I group global chair Justin Stolte with a broad expertise in transactions. Also in New York, project finance partner Matthew Henegar and Kelly Cataldo are particularly strong in offshore wind and projects in the US and Latin American market, with Cataldo advising clients on the whole range of construction, financing and investment. Key names on the West Coast include project finance experts Jeffrey Greenberg in Los Angeles and Omar Nazif in San Diego, who is well-versed in development and financing of domestic and international energy projects. In Houston, M&A attorney Ashley J. Nguyen is noted. The firm’s reach was extended significantly in 2022, with the arrival of global co-chair of the firm’s ESG-practice Sarah Fortt in Austin, ESG co-chair Betty Huber, and M&A expert Caroline Blitzer Phillips and Jason Webber in New York, as well as Ethan Schultz, who splits his time between Washington D.C. and Houston.

Environment > Environment: litigation Tier 1

Environment > Environment: regulatory Tier 1

Environment > Environment: transactional Tier 1

Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings

Latham & Watkins LLP is at the forefront of DCM with an outstanding record in high-yield debt and a fast growing presence in investment grade debt. The firm is a clear leader in issuer-side engagements, though is one of the major players on underwriter-side mandates. With a strong core team in New York, it has prominent capital markets specialists across numerous US offices, including Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, Houston and Boston. The New York team was further enhanced by the hire of leading capital markets practitioner Corey Wright from Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP in January 2023. New York managing partner Marc Jaffe is rated for both debt and equity offerings, while New York-based global capital markets head Ian Schuman is noted for equity, convertible debt and high-yield debt offerings. Los Angeles partner Gregory Rodgers is at the forefront of convertible debt. Stelios Saffos is also a vice chair of the capital markets team.

Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings

Latham & Watkins LLP has a market leading reputation across the debt and equity capital markets fields. It has invested in significantly expanding its department over the last decade and successfully focused on growth markets such as tech and life sciences; it has developed substantial teams in Silicon Valley, Boston and other emerging company centers. Silicon Valley partner Richard Kline, chair of the firm’s technology industry group, who was hired in 2020, is one figure who has made a big contribution to the expansion of the practice. Gregory Rodgers is another key figure in Los Angeles and remains noted for direct listings. Nathan Ajiashvili is rated for life sciences offerings, while Ian Schuman is global head of capital markets. Vice chair Stelios Saffos, Marc Jaffe and Michael Benjamin are also prominent members of the team. All named lawyers are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Finance > Capital markets: global offerings

Latham & Watkins LLP is an international leader in global offerings, handling a large pipeline of debt, equity and equity-linked issuances every year. It represents both issuers and underwriters, and continues to be at the forefront of life sciences and tech offerings. It is growing its presence in Latin America transactions, and is also noted for Europe and Middle East offerings; it has deep connections to Israeli issuers and their underwriters, in particular. Marc Jaffe and Ian Schuman are giants of the capital markets arena and frequently advise on bulge-bracket global offerings. Nathan Ajiashvili is another prominent figure in global offerings, particularly in the life sciences sector.

Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings

Latham & Watkins LLP is one of few firms operating at the top of the capital markets arena in both issuer and underwriter engagements, including in the high-yield space. Beyond its core team of high-yield experts in New York, it has specialists in multiple offices across the country, including in Houston, Washington DC, Chicago and various California offices. The firm has deep connections to private equity houses and sponsor-backed issuers, public companies and various banks, and its steady pipeline of deals include numerous M&A and buyout-related debt offerings. It continues to expand and invest in its capital markets practice, bringing in prominent leveraged finance and high-yield debt expert Corey Wright and rising talent Lisa Collier from Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP in January 2023. They join a sizeable team which includes New York office managing partner Marc Jaffe, global chair of the capital markets group Ian Schuman, Keith Halverstam, vice chair Stelios Saffos, Senet Bischoff, Erika Weinberg and Washington DC’s Rachel Sheridan. All named partners are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Finance > Commercial lending

With high levels of activity on both sides of the market, Latham & Watkins LLP continues to offer top-tier advice to its clients, representing major banks and private credit lenders on the lender-side as well as upper-market private equity sponsors and large corporations on the borrower-side. The practice is reputed for its wide range of work and its ability to advise on investment-grade work as well as on innovative and complex loans, having recently assisted with high-profile leveraged buyouts and asset-based loans. In particular, the team stands out for its unique experience with unitranche and annual recurring revenue (ARR) loan structures – notable recent work includes advising Blackstone on a major ARR financing in connection with the Zendesk acquisition. Out of New York, the team’s commercial lending work is led by Daniel Seale, who offers experience advising banks and direct lenders on acquisition financings, as well as by Joshua Tinkelman, asset-based lending specialist Michèle Penzer, and leveraged finance expert Alfred Xue. Private equity chair Manu Gayatrinath, who has advised on major acquisition financings in the private equity space, and Jason M. Licht are key contacts in Washington DC, while Greg Robins works out of Los Angeles. The team was also recently strengthened by the arrivals of Corey Wright and Lisa Collier from Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP in January 2023.

Finance > Financial services regulation

Latham & Watkins LLP stands out for its comprehensive advice to major financial institutions, global banks, investment firms, broker-dealers, trade associations and large fund complexes. Within this field of expertise, the team is regularly retained for derivates regulation, restructurings, financings, fintech matters and compliance with FINRA, NFA and SEC rulemaking, with further emphasis on broker-dealer IPO and other registered securities transactions. The three-partner leadership team in New York is made up of Stephen Wink, Alan Avery and Yvette Valdez, focused on securities regulatory, federal and state banking laws, and digital assets, respectively. As co-chair of the firm’s global digital assets and Web3 practice, Valdez is a key contact for derivatives work as well as cryptocurrency matters. Counsel Pia Naib is another standout for work relating to crypto assets, showcasing further expertise in anti-money laundering and issues relating to the US Bank Holding Company Act. Arthur Long joined the team in September 2022, previously at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

Finance > Fintech

Latham & Watkins LLP‘s lawyers are ‘able to opine not only on “nuts and bolts” legal issues, but also market trends and norms where legal clarity is lacking‘. The firm has built up an excellent track record on fintech transactions and their regulatory implications, where it represents a mix of established technology companies, startups, and investment funds. The transactional side ranges from IPOs and M&A, through to joint venture agreements, data protection and broker-dealer arrangements. Coupled with this is an increasingly strong track record in blockchain and cryptocurrency. Yvette Valdez  jointly leads the team with fellow New York partner Stephen Wink  who is praised for his ‘great experience and depth of knowledge‘. Barrie VanBrackle, a recent high profile recruit from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, ‘really understands the intersection of fintechs and banking‘. Clients also rate Mitchell Rabinowitz  and Jenny Cieplak  (New York) for their ‘deep expertise’. Todd Beauchamp is another well regarded partner. All partners are based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

Finance > Project finance

Latham & Watkins LLP‘s project development & finance practice has deep, broad expertise in the full range of energy and infrastructure projects, with particularly notable recent work in offshore wind and LNG, where Jason Webber and Jonathan Rod are especially experienced. Global practice chair Jeff Greenberg  divides his time between Los Angeles and New York, with significant experience advising on large-scale and complex projects in the energy sector. Local finance department chair Chirag Dedania acts for commercial and investment banks, private equity funds, and other sponsors on projects in oil and gas, LNG, and infrastructure, including the development of the new terminal 6 at JFK Airport. His colleague Warren Lilien  frequently leads on big data centers and other digital infrastructure matters. Kelly Cataldo is also a name to note: her practice centers around renewables and she recently advised Apex Clean Energy on a suite of transactions connected to the Great Pathfinder Windfarm in Iowa. Gianluca Bacchiocchi and Guido Liniado are key contacts for work in the Latin American market, and Cameron Lyons‘s practice extends to project and acquisition financing of  LNG, residential solar, wind, and battery storage projects. All mentioned lawyers are based in New York.

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP’s broad and multidisciplinary restructuring and special situations practice has a well-established reputation for its senior secured lending expertise as well as significant debtor- and creditor-side experience. With extensive experience representing creditor groups and investors in relation to in- and out-of-court restructurings, George Davis in New York is global chair of the group, with vice chair Jeff Bjork based in Los Angeles. The practice has been involved in several recent high-profile mass tort bankruptcies, with Davis having led teams representing major biopharmaceutical company Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals in connection with its Chapter 11 bankruptcy involving several billion dollars of asserted tort, regulatory, and antitrust liabilities, a case which also saw a key role for New York-based Anupama Yerramalli. Notably, Keith Simon in New York has recently led a team representing Citi, as agent and subrogated lender, in connection with the chapter 11 reorganization of cosmetics company Revlon, and specifically its $500 million mistaken payment. Caroline Reckler in Chicago also stands out for her bankruptcy litigation work.

Finance > Structured finance: derivatives and structured products Tier 1

Based in New York, Latham & Watkins LLP covers the full range of over-the-counter and exchange-traded derivatives products, advising on swap, option and structured-note transactions involving interest rates, currencies, commodities, securities and credit, as well as derivatives relating to cryptocurrencies and digital assets. In addition to housing a robust commodities and derivatives regulation and enforcement practice, other key areas of expertise include equity-linked products and acting for US and international lenders and borrowers on margin loan transactions. Rafal Gawlowski chairs the financial institutions industry group and Witold Balaban, who splits his time between the firm’s New York and London offices, is noted for his standout experience advising on equity derivatives. Yvette Valdez acts for emerging companies, financial institutions and investment managers on regulatory issues associated with crypto-assets, and jointly leads the commodities and derivatives regulation and enforcement practice alongside enforcement expert Douglas Yatter. Courtenay Myers Lima advises on the structuring and distribution of innovative structured products, while Catherine Lee and Reza Mojtabaee-Zamani focus on equity-linked matters. Eric Rice, who was promoted to partner in January 2023, is another key contact in the group.

Healthcare > Life sciences Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP provides a diverse offering to a number of clients, including biopharmaceutical and biotech start-up companies, and medical device manufacturers. The team advises on a wide range of matters, including white collar investigations, IP disputes, and corporate transactions. Based in California, Shayne Kennedy is particularly adept at advising on public and private securities offerings, and life sciences M&A, while Judith Hasko has a great deal of experience in the execution of strategic licensing alliances, often assisting life sciences companies with securing funding. Arlene Lee Chow works out of the New York office, and routinely acts for biotech and pharmaceutical companies in IP and patent cases. Chicago-based Terra Reynolds is noted for her expertise in government and internal investigations, while the Boston-based Julie Scallen focuses on joint ventures and venture capital transactions within the life sciences and med-tech industries. In Washington DC, John Manthei maintains an FDA regulatory practice with a distinct emphasis on the medical device and biotech industries; Ben Haas has extensive experience in assisting clients with FDA submissions and pre-clinical testing, and Elizabeth Richards often negotiates contracts with clinical trial sites.

Industry focus > Sport Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP handles strategic M&A investments, contentious work for sports governing bodies, and assists firms investing in professional sports leagues. A standout transactional mandate for the firm was its advice to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital on the acquisition of Chelsea Football Club for £4.25bn. The firm has also increased its work for sport associations, and recently represented the NFL Players Association in a restructuring matter. Based in Los Angeles, ‘exceptional transactional lawyer‘ Adam Sullins is now the practice head, following the retirement of Joe Calabrese, and advises clients on the full range of sports law issues. Kendall Johnson in Los Angeles and Frank Saviano in New York are also key names to note in the team, and often operate at the intersection between sport and media/entertainment. New York-based Justin Hamill concentrates on high-value M&A and private equity deals.

Insurance > Advice to policyholders Tier 1

Litigation, arbitration, mediation and negotiation fall within the scope of Latham & Watkins LLP‘s work on behalf of policyholders, which includes COVID-19 business interruption matters, long-tail environmental and sexual abuse claims in addition to an increasing number of first and third-party cyber-security and data breach issues. The practice is particularly adept at handling D&O work and is noted for its work in the niche representations and warranties sector. David A. Barrett leads the group from Washington DC, handling major first and third party offers, COVID-related claims and sports concussion disputes. In Boston, Robert Gilbert, who has experience representing policyholders in North America, Europe, the Middle East Asia, advises clients on their first and third party claims, including those linked to catastrophic events, while in San Diego Drew Gardiner and John Wilson represent clients seeking D&O and E&O coverage. Brook Roberts, now in the firm’s Austin office, handles large-scale business interruption and bad faith claims. In addition to her commercial general liability recovery practice, Century City-based Kirsten Jackson counsels clients on captive insurance and reinsurance disputes.

Intellectual property > Patents: licensing Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP’s global practice is a key destination for life sciences and tech-related IP licensing matters. The solid team handles a broad range of highly complex IP transactions, from cross-licensing and joint development agreements to due diligence and expert review relating to the licensing of IP assets in public offerings and M&A. The practice is spearheaded by California’s Judith Hasko, an expert at negotiating, structuring, and executing cross-border strategic licensing alliances. She is supported by Christopher Hazuka who regularly advises both emerging and established life sciences companies in navigating complex transactions from the Bay Area and San Diego. The team has been strengthened by the recent addition of digital health and food technology expert Jengeun Jekkie Kim, who operates from the firm’s Bay Area office.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 1

The patent litigation team at Latham & Watkins LLP  offers expertise across cross all aspects of intellectual property, evidenced by an impressive history of success for Fortune 100 and numerous blue-chip companies. The team is well-integrated and highly capable of handling complex disputes across jurisdictions, in district and federal court, the International Trade Commission, and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. With experience across industries, the team regularly acts for major pharma companies, including Amgen, Biogen, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Regeneron, and Eagle Pharmaceuticals. David Callahan from the firm’s Chicago office is the global chair of the practice, regularly acting as a first-chair trial lawyer. The global vice chairs include Tony Sammi in New York, Jeff Homrig in Austin, and Jennifer Barry in San Diego. In Silicon Valley, Douglas Lumish is a key lawyer in the team, frequently acting on high-profile and precedent-setting matters. Maximilian Grant and Matthew J. Moore in Washington DC are both integral figures, with extensive experience.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (International Trade Commission) Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP offers a team of experienced patent litigators with impressive ITC expertise, frequently representing major companies in high-profile litigation. Notable cases from the last year include achieving a favorable settlement for Jaguar Land Rover, successfully asserting five patents against The Chamberland Group on behalf of the Overhead Door Corporation, and representing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company in an investigation linked to advanced semiconductor technology that is set to have industry-wide effects. Based in Washington DC, Bert Reiser and Jamie Underwood co-chair the ITC practice, both widely lauded for their expertise and litigious capabilities. Also based in Washington, Maximilian Grant, and Michael David are integral to the team, as is Douglas Lumish, who operates out of the firm’s Silicon Valley and San Francisco offices.

Intellectual property > Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters) Tier 1

Chicago-based global chair of Latham & Watkins LLP‘s intellectual property litigation practice David Callahan co-leads its ‘top-notch’ trade secret offering alongside its vice-chairs, the San Diego-based Jennifer Barry , New York’s ‘very experienced’ Tony Sammi, and Jeff Homrig, who works from the Austin office. Sammi is experienced in leading on big-ticket cases for well-known corporations, with one key example the $1bn defense of Universal Alloy Corp. in a highly technical trade secret dispute. The team is adept in advising its varied client portfolio on the full scope of related matters, from the development of programs to protect trade secrets at their inception, to enforcing and defending complex claims. There is experience across the offering in providing advice to clients in the cybersecurity, travel, automotive, and financial services sectors, in particular. Douglas Lumish , based in San Francisco’s Bay Area, leads on some of the team’s most noteworthy matters, such as its work for Skyryse, Inc in defense of the allegation that they stole aviation-related sensitive data belonging to the US Federal Government. Illinois’ Matthew Walch is described as ‘one of the best trial lawyers anywhere’. 

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional Tier 1

Maintaining its active position in the transactional space, Latham & Watkins LLP has a high-profile client list that spans a diverse range of industries. The firm has vast expertise in handling corporate transactions, as demonstrated by its representation of Rivian in its IPO, while the team also sees consistent activity in the M&A sphere, including overseeing Global Infrastructure Partners’ recent acquisition of Atlas Renewable Energy. The New York-based department head, Bradd Williamson, has vast experience of advising private equity funds and public companies on all aspects of executive compensation, employment, and benefits in complex corporate transactions. David Della Rocca is based in Washington DC, specializing in representing public and private corporations in spin-offs, IPOs and drafting incentive compensation arrangements, while the ‘outstanding’ Jay Metz operates out of Silicon Valley, handling benefits issues arising within landmark corporate dealings. Both Larry Seymour and Michelle Carpenter work in the Los Angeles office, with the former bringing vast experience of drafting executive arrangements and programs, while the latter regularly guides clients through SPAC deals and M&A. In New York, Austin Ozawa is also noted.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+) Tier 1

Global powerhouse Latham & Watkins LLP houses an elite M&A practice in the US that attracts instructions from several Fortune 500 companies in relation to their largest and most critical domestic and cross-border transactions. With extensive experience in the full spectrum of corporate and transactional matters, the team is often engaged in big-ticket public and private M&A, either negotiated or contested, representing both principal entities and financial advisors. Global chair of the firm’s M&A practice Justin Hamill focuses on large-scale transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures in the media, technology, financial services, healthcare and consumer products sectors; Hamill, who sits in New York, is also experienced in governance and emerging companies matters. Charles Ruck, who splits his time between Orange County and New York, serves as primary outside counsel to top public and privately-held companies in the context of hostile takeovers, strategic acquisitions, take-private deals and mergers. Global vice chair Mark Bekheit, who works out of Silicon Valley, has a thriving transactional practice in the Bay Area advising on transformative, multibillion-dollar technology deals. This is also a notable area of strength for Tad Freese. In the same office, Josh Dubofsky stands out for his experience in tech and healthcare-related transactions on behalf of corporate clients and private equity firms. Andrew Elken joined the New York office in August 2023.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: large deals ($500m+) Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP continues to be a preeminent firm in the private equity space, consistently active in multi-billion dollar bulge-bracket and middle market deals, spanning the entire PE life-cycle from cross-border carve-outs and SPAC mergers to structuring global tax-efficient investment vehicles. The firm’s standing in the market is reflected in the caliber of clients, representing the world’s largest publicly traded PE firms including KKR and The Carlyle Group. Global chair of private capital Paul Sheridan leads the practice from Washington DC, having particular expertise in leveraged buyouts and the acquiring and divesting of corporate divisions. Another key name in DC is the firm’s global corporate head Daniel Lennon, adept regarding PE investment transactions and related financing. In New York, Howard Sobel is extremely well-regarded in the market and a trusted advisor to clients such as Odyssey and Leonard Green. David Allinson and Justin Hamill also bolster the offering from New York, Allinson handles take-private transactions and PIPE investments, while Hamill led on Authentic Brands Group’s $2.5bn acquisition of Reebok. Alexandra Kelly has a particular focus on the financial, infrastructure and retail sectors; Boston-based Kristen Grannis is renowned for her work in the middle market space. David Beller continues to build a solid reputation in the market, especially regarding leveraged buyouts.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism Tier 1

The ‘incredibly responsive, collaborative’ practice at Latham & Watkins LLP is able to offer clients deep knowledge of activist funds and institutional investors. The group acts in a variety of matters, from proxy fights and board representation to engagement strategies and preventing unsolicited takeovers. Team members also demonstrate knowhow in navigating activist engagement while complying with legal and regulatory obligations. Josh Dubofsky in Silicon Valley is one of the leaders of the firm’s activism task force and provides activism and takeover planning and defense to dozens of public companies. He co-heads the team alongside Chicago-based Chris Drewry, who also advises public companies from small to large market cap on activism defense. The pair are well supported by Tiffany Campion in Chicago, who counts board members of public corporations among her client base, and Charles Ruck , who divides his time between New York and Orange County, who clients turn to for complex transactions and board-level advice within shareholder activism. Mark Gerstein retired in December 2022.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Venture capital and emerging companies Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP has an extremely well-balanced practice which ‘is comprehensive in respect to the legal aspects, as well as practical and business realities’. The firm’s national and global reach, in addition to its broader full service offering, ensures that it caters for all aspects of the venture life cycle. The group’s scale, particularly for corporate finance and M&A, makes it especially strong on later stage exits, including SPAC combinations, M&A and IPOs, with clients commending the team’s ability to ‘perform efficiently and strategically in complex transactions‘. The leadership team comprises global chair John Chory (Boston) and the ‘excellent‘ vice-chair Benjamin Potter (Silicon Valley), and they are backed by an impressive bench of highly experienced partners. Key individuals include Los Angeles-based Alex Voxman  (‘brilliant, tough, high-quality and direct‘) and Emily Taylor (‘a great guide and sounding board‘), who divides her time between London and Boston. The firm is also well represented in Austin, with partners Jenifer Smith and Scott Craig.

Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) Tier 1

Following the April 2022 arrival of global data protection and consumer privacy specialist Clayton Northouse from Sidley Austin LLP, Latham & Watkins LLP has strengthened its robust data breach, mission critical incident and investigations driven cyber practice. Global Co-Chair of the Privacy and Cyber practice, based in San Francisco, Michael Rubin defends clients facing data breach litigations and regulatory investigations before the FTC. Likewise, Jennifer Archie, is also experienced in defending clients against investigations commenced by the FTC, Department of Health and Human Services and consumer protection authorities. Archie is also a key contact for cyber-attack responses and leads cross-border data privacy projects. Antony Kim contributes further regulatory and investigatory advice to clients.  San Francisco-based Robert Blamires adds a dimension to the practice, focusing on cross-border data privacy matters and advising clients on undertaking technology-related transactions. New York-based Serrin Turner is a key defense lawyer for companies dealing with class action litigations following data breaches. Marissa Boynton also navigates clients through privacy and cybersecurity-related issues in corporate transactions as well as the full-spectrum of data mandates. All named lawyers are stationed in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: litigation Tier 1

Based primarily out of California, Latham & Watkins LLP litigates across the media and entertainment industry, with the practice particularly focused on Hollywood litigation and complex IP disputes at the intersection of content and new technologies. Trial lawyer and IP specialist Marvin S. Putnam  heads the practice, which is primarily based in the firm’s Century City office; in a recent highlight, he represented romantic singer Jonny Mathis in a tort suit brought by an independent contractor. Fellow Century City resident Jessica Stebbins Bina  is an esteemed trial and appellate litigator who is currently serving as lead defense counsel for First Access Entertainment in a wrongful death suit concerning the Swedish-American emo rapper Lil Peep. Robert Ellison's broad entertainment practice includes handling sensitive investigations and work for emerging companies. Laura Washington, a highly regarded trial and appellate lawyer, specializes in discovery work and managed responses to high-profile crises. Further recommended is antitrust and IP expert Andrew Gass who frequently represents major content providers clients in music-rights rate-setting cases.

Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: transactional Tier 1

A media and entertainment heavyweight with an international reach, Latham & Watkins LLP ‘s sizeable team handles industry-defining transactions for film and television studios, new media companies and private equity firms. Practice head Ken Deutsch specializes in investment and acquisitions across the entertainment space, he recently represented A24 in the receival of a $225m equity investment aimed at expanding the production and distribution capabilities of the company. Kendall Johnson has inked major deals for clients across the industry; her recent representation of MGM in its acquisition by Amazon spotlights her position as a major player in the field. New York-based joint venture expert Rick Offsay is adept at advising on complex financing arrangements such as Silver Lake’s recent investment in Shadowbox studios. Nancy A. Bruington is an expert in ‘complicated media collateral’,  she recently represented Entertainment One in a high value revolving credit facility. All lawyers mentioned are based in Los Angeles.

Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP has a ‘very knowledgeable, responsive and practical‘  team which is packed with ‘accountable and thoughtful advisors‘  who are ‘well informed on the market and what the standards are for NFTs, Web3.0 and other developing technology‘. Clients appreciate the team’s adaptability, with experience ranging from high-end corporate and private equity M&A support, through to advice on IP licensing, outsourcing and strategic collaboration mandates. Notable recent highlights include advising Marcolin, a leading global eyewear manufacturer, on the negotiation of a long-term license with The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) for TOM FORD eyewear, as part of ELC’s $2.8 billion acquisition of TOM FORD. Boston-based global vice chair Sarah Gagan is one of the lead partners in the US. Other key individuals include Anthony Klein in Silicon Valley whose ‘knowledge of the technology industry is unmatched’, Ghaith Mahmoud in Los Angeles, and highly rated counsel Kieran Dickinson in Washington DC.

Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP has combined its telecoms and broadcast practice with its privacy, copyright, and security team, producing an interdisciplinary approach in handling complex mandates where regulatory and data privacy issues intersect. The team boasts a strong litigation component across its regulatory and data protection work, being well-placed to represent major market players in contentious matters before regulatory bodies in enforcement actions and rulemakings; the practice also has significant transactional capabilities, which when coupled with the broad geographical footprint of the wider firm, makes the team suitably equipped to provide exhaustive assistance to clients operating in the telecoms space. Matthew Brill chairs the practice, which is based in Washington DC, providing leading regulatory and litigation expertise across the full range of matters from traditional broadcast to emerging tech, with a track record in representing high-profile members of the industry in federal and state rulemaking and enforcement proceedings. He works alongside the global chair James Barker , whose focus is on the regulatory component of high-profile transactions across the wireless, cable, satellite, and telephony sectors. Other lawyers of note are Matthew Murchison, whose capabilities cut across regulatory, litigation, and transactional, frequently representing clients in the telecoms and broadcast space before the FCC; and Sarang Damle, who brings a unique focus on copyright to the practice.

Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: transactions Tier 1

Working out of Washington DC, Latham & Watkins LLP utilises both the strong M&A capabilities and broad geographical footprint of the wider firm in conjunction with its active FCC practice to provide complete coverage for clients in their complex telecoms transactions. Having joined the telecoms and broadcast with the data privacy and security, and digital copyright practices, the firm is equipped to offer an integrated approach to corporate transactions where these areas intersect. The firm advises across all telecoms and broadcast sectors, working with significant telecoms operators, infrastructure companies, and investors in the industry on a number of high-value M&A, take-private, and take-public transactions. The team is led by Matthew A. Brill, employing his expertise that cuts across transactional, litigation, and regulatory to advise major telecoms and broadcast operators as well as investors and lenders in the industry on all aspects of their M&A mandates. He works alongside James H. Barker, who has worked on the regulatory and commercial aspects of various infrastructure, terrestrial broadcast, and private equity investment transactions, and Matthew T. Murchison, who brings a similar interdisciplinary breadth of expertise on a range of transactions in the telecom, broadcast, and satellite space.

Real estate > Land use/zoning Tier 1

Real estate > Real estate investment trusts (REITs) Tier 1

The team at Latham & Watkins LLP has a strong reputation for its expertise and experience through all phases of the REITs lifecycle. Core pillars of the group’s practice include complex roll-up IPOs and structuring high-value REIT organizations. Corporate finance and M&A expert Julian Kleindorfer jointly leads the team alongside Ana O’Brien  who specializes in complex REIT tax matters. Other key names include Lewis Kneib, who represents high-end clients on a range of capital markets transactions, and securities-focused William Cernius , who is based in Orange County. Brent Epstein focuses his practice on REIT public offerings. All lawyers are in Los Angeles unless otherwise stated.

Tax > US taxes: contentious Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP‘s team has expertise in a diverse range of high profile tax matters, including debt-equity and transfer pricing, employee benefits, tax-exempts, penalties and fraud. Practice head Miriam Fisher is well regarded for her record of representing taxpayers in high-stakes federal and state tax corporate controversies, with a history of acting for both multinationals and high net worth individuals. Fisher is based in Washington DC, alongside Jean Pawlow, who has significant experience in high profile tax controversy matters in the federal trial and appellate courts, in addition to alternative dispute resolution. Pawlow has broad sector expertise, and acts for clients in the pharmaceutical, retail, industrial and digital industries. Brian C. McManus, chair of the Boston tax department, specializes in IRS audits, appeals, and criminal investigations, and regularly handles disputes involving cross-border and offshore issues. Also key are Andrew Strelka, who rejoined in September 2021 from the Office of the White House, and Joshua Wu, who likewise returned to the firm in March 2021 from the Tax Division of the US Department of Justice. Strelka focuses on district tax court litigation, IRS appeals, summonses and enforcement, while Wu covers tax accounting disputes, IRS partnership audits, and offshore tax and reporting questions.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP is experienced across a diverse range of key sectors, including financial services, energy, retail, life sciences, and natural resources, among others. The group is noted for its expertise in bankruptcy and insolvency restructurings, international tax planning, investment funds, M&A, REITs, securities and financial products. Practice co-head Jiyeon Lee-Lim's recent activity involves big ticket SPACs that concern both IPOs and business combinations, while in Chicago, fellow co-head Joseph Kronsnoble specializes in bankruptcies - an area in which David Raab and San Francisco-based Kirt Switzer further excel. Washington DC-based Andrea Ramezan-Jackson advises public and private companies on complex tax-structured M&A and IPOs. In Los Angeles, Samuel Weiner and Pardis Zomorodi are noted for their respective strengths in loss preservation and debt cancellation, and REITs. Also recommended are Matthew Dewitz, a seasoned transactional tax attorney, and Houston-based Bryant Lee, who focuses on partnership taxation. All named individuals are based in New York unless noted otherwise.

Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP is active across the financial services landscape, servicing a variety of clients including commercial and investment banks, hedge funds, fintech and digital trading companies, and accounting firms. A number of practitioners at the firm have served in the DOJ and the SEC, offering a deep bench of expertise in the area of regulatory investigations and enforcement. The practice is further supported by the firm’s broad expertise in the financial regulatory space, which has recently expanded across key locations such as Hong Kong and London. This is underscored by expansion in the financial services litigation practice in September 2022, with Christopher Garcia and Raquel Kellert joining the firm from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, in addition to Marissa Alter-Nelson and John V.H. Pierce (who arrived in June) joining from Sidley Austin LLP and WilmerHale respectively. The practice is led by Andrew Clubok, Douglas Yatter  and Joseph Serino, based in New York. Richard Owens , also in New York, is regarded for his expertise in white collar investigations and defense and Heather Waller, in Chicago, focuses her practice on investigations by the SEC, DOJ and state securities regulators, with experience in the oil and gas, industrial and financial services and asset management sectors.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP is known for its work within high-stakes complex commercial disputes for corporate entities, having represented well established names such as Netflix in numerous putative class actions in state and federal courts. Sean Berkowitz  is based in Chicago and has been successful on the defense side against the government, advising clients and companies on regulatory investigations and developing strategies to resolve the matters before litigation. James Brandt  is a partner in New York and is regarded for domestic and international litigations, namely within commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Laura Washington is situated in Los Angeles and represents high-profile clients in business disputes in entertainment and media. Kuan Huang has a successful track record in complex commercial disputes at all stages of litigation, handling a broad practice including contract, fraud and bankruptcy. San Francisco's Elizabeth Deeley is another key name in the team, as is plaintiff-side specialist Eric Leon in New York.

Dispute resolution > International litigation Tier 2

Active in a broad range of international litigation matters, Latham & Watkins LLP is recognized for its capacity across cybersecurity, tax, intellectual property and white-collar defense, leveraging its deep bench of former federal prosecutors in government enforcement proceedings and regulatory investigations. Global chair of the litigation and trial department, Michele Johnson, based in Orange County, focuses her practice on representing large companies, directors and financial institutions in securities class actions, M&A litigation and other commercial litigation. Associate Elizabeth Annis, based in Washington DC, has experience in regulatory investigations with a cross-border component and Belinda Lee, based in San Francisco has been active in antitrust and regulatory investigations relating to an acquisition of a semiconductor chip designer.

Energy > Energy regulation: electric power Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP‘s energy and regulatory practice is involved in large and complex matters including market manipulation, tariff compliance, administrative litigation before FERC and state commissions, acquisition and sale of utilities, generation and transmission facilities, capital markets transactions and structured marketing and trading transactions in the power sector.  Lawyers such as James Blackburn are industry-trained, and have expertise in federal state energy regulation, as well as the operation of domestic energy markets. David Schwartz is a leading lawyer in the energy regulatory market and has extensive experience in advising clients in various matters, including the formation of the developing electricity markets in the US. Natasha Gianvecchio is skilled in negotiating long-term power purchase agreements for several major independent power developers and owners, and was involved in the matter of ‘Invenergy’ where the firm represented the company on the development and commercialization of the Grain Belt Express transmission line, which is expected to provide 5,000 MW of transmission capacity across four states in the Midwest. Tyler Brown is noted for his work on matters revolving around electric generation, transmission and distribution. Named lawyers are based in Washington, DC, including highly rated counsel Anna Biegelsen who joined from Norton Rose Fulbright in October 2022.

Energy > Energy regulation: oil and gas Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP handles the full range of commercial and regulatory issues, frequently representing companies involved in transportation and storage of natural gas, crude oil and refined petroleum products, as well as commodity traders and private equity sponsors. The Washington DC-based team is particularly active in administrative and appellate litigation, while frequently collaborating with the firm’s lawyers in the project finance, M&A, tax and environmental departments. Eugene Elrod is a recognized market leader, frequently representing clients in administrative litigation and arbitration, with a focus on federal and state regulation of natural gas, crude oil and petroleum. Patrick Nevins is regularly involved in high-stakes regulatory matters relating to administrative litigation and infrastructure projects.

Finance > Structured finance: securitization Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP advises its roster of clients on transactions involving commercial and esoteric assets, including aircraft leases, cell and broadcast towers, and rental car fleets, with demonstrable experience in whole-business securitizations. The team is also noted for its expertise advising collateral managers and arrangers on CLO transactions, loan warehouses, financing of CLO equity and risk retention funds, as well as related regulatory issues. In the firm’s New York office, Loren Finegold serves as global vice chair of the structured finance and securitization practice, acting on the securitization of cellular towers and other telecoms assets, in addition to CLOs and CMBS transactions, among others. The New York office is also home to Kevin Fingeret, who focuses on esoteric and operating assets, while Graeme Smyth advises on music royalty securitizations. Based in Chicago, Matthew Hays has experience in the automotive finance, banking, technology and manufacturing sectors, while Los Angeles’ Douglas Burnaford advises on ABS and CLO transactions. Dominic Yoong and Vicki Marmorstein also operate from the firm’s Los Angeles office.

Healthcare > Service providers Tier 2

Praised for its ‘excellent’ breadth and depth, Latham & Watkins LLP’s practice assists a diverse roster of financial investors, hospitals, and health systems with FCA and qui tam cases, compliance programs, and the negotiation of corporate integrity agreements. John Manthei and the ‘first class’ Ben Haas co-head the practice from Washington DC, while Judith Hasko co-leads the team from San Francisco. Also based in Washington, Stuart Kurlander often acts for providers before the CMS; and Eric Greig, noted for his ‘energy, commitment and intelligence‘, maintains a strong regulatory focus on issues regarding third party payors. In the San Diego office, Jason Ohta utilizes his experience in white-collar criminal defense to handle healthcare fraud cases. Terra Reynolds supports the team from Chicago, often litigating federal criminal cases.

Insurance > Insurance: non-contentious Tier 2

Latham & Watkins strengthened its insurance practice with the June 2022 additions from Clifford Chance of reinsurance and insurance capital raising expert Gary Boss, who heads the team, insurer investments and alternative capital specialist Analisa Dillingham and Kirsten Gaeta, who focuses her practice on M&A and capital market transactions in addition to joint ventures. Counsel Dean Agnos supports clients engaged in public and private mergers, stock and asset transactions and start-ups. At associate level, Lily Phan advises property and casualty, life and health insurers on a variety of transactions and corporate matters. The practice advises insurers, reinsurers and private equity investors on complex transactions, including reinsurance and restructuring matters that have ties to markets in Bermuda and the UK among others. Furthermore, the practice has extensive experience handling the establishment of new insurance companies, in particular with regard to alternative capital strategies. On the regulatory front, the firm is active in advising on governance and licensing issues. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.

Intellectual property > Copyright Tier 2

The US copyright team at Latham & Watkins LLP utilizes a global presence spanning North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East to advise clients across the tech, art, pharmaceuticals, and media sectors involved in high-stakes litigation, including such household names as Spotify, Johnson & Johnson, and Live Nation. The team is led by seasoned copyright litigators Andrew Gass in San Francisco and Sy Damle in Washington DC, who are lead counsels representing the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts in a widely-covered US Supreme Court case related to the “fair use” of copyrighted content; Digital Millennium Copyright Act expert Allison Levine Stillman in New York; and Joe Wetzel, also in San Francisco, a specialist in the music and software sectors. Elana Nightingale Dawson in DC and Britt Lovejoy in San Francisco were promoted to partner in January 2023.

International Trade > CFIUS Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP’s prominent corporate practice is a significant driver of its national security work and its CFIUS group frequently works alongside transactional teams to plan and develop mitigation plans. The group has established a particularly strong record on behalf of clients in the energy, technology, telecoms, life sciences and and transport industries, but it possesses experience in representing both US and foreign investors across the full range of economic sectors. Les P. Carnegie co-heads the CFIUS and national security practice, as well as the export controls, economic sanctions and customs practice; in a recent example of his work in the former sphere he represented Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation in obtaining CFIUS clearance in connection with their planned investments in IonQ. Damara Chambers co-heads the CFIUS department has advised a raft of private equity funds in CFIUS reviews over the past year. James Barker, who co-chairs the  connectivity industry group, is also recommended for CFIUS work.

Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital) Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP is active in funds-related work, taking a substantial share of the popular GP-led secondaries market. A growing practice both in terms of personnel and client base, the team advises various well-known private equity firms on the gamut of matters. June and July 2022 saw successive partner-level hires from Kirkland & Ellis LLP: John Kelley, a specialist in secondaries; and Jamie Walter, who joined the Washington DC office and focuses on regulatory law. They join a team spearheaded by Andrea Schwartzman, counsel to private fund sponsors and global asset management firms on fund formation, strategic capital raises and secondary transactions, managed account platforms, and portfolio investment structuring. Further key contacts include Barton Clark in Washington DC, California-based Nadia Sager, experienced investment funds lawyer Edward Nelson, Matthew Chase, who is particularly experienced at representing new and emerging managers, and Ivana Rouse in Houston, a key figure in building the firm’s practice there. Unless otherwise stated, all above named lawyers are based at the New York office.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Corporate governance Tier 2

The nationwide group at Latham & Watkins LLP includes former SEC senior officials and experienced corporate practitioners, who focus on highly specialized SEC matters involving complex disclosure and compliance issues under the US federal securities laws. Co-chairs Ian Schuman, Keith Halverstam, and Jenna Cooper in New York are key figures in the team and are well supported by Julia Thompson in Washington DC, who focuses on securities regulation. ESG issues are a key area of work for the team, which takes a multidisciplinary approach to a wide range of matters, including responsible investment, sustainability, and corporate integrity issues. Vice-chairs Stelios Saffos  and Jeffrey Lawlis are also key names.

Real estate Tier 2

Headed by Michelle Kelban  and Michael Haas in New York together with Chicago based Rachel Bates, Latham & Watkins LLP‘ ‘highly experienced, smart, up-to-date on industry practices and very responsive‘ nationwide real estate group maintains a strong reputation in real estate finance, both borrower and lender-side, REIT transactions, real estate focused private equity transactions and development work. Also in Chicago, Gary E. Axelrod continues to advise private equity sponsors and funds, REITs and institutional investors on major developments across the US. Working with Bates, he recently advised Highgate Capital Investments on its acquisition, along with Aurora Health Network, of the Wellness Infrastructure business of DigitalBridge Group, a digital infrastructure REIT in a transaction valued at $3.2bn. ‘Experienced and poised beyond his years‘ New York’s Justin Elliott and Mark Semotiuk maintain a strong reputation in the New York market for single asset and portfolio financings, acquisitions, dispositions, and restructurings. In Century City, Meghan Cocci ‘is a superstar in the hotel industry‘.  

Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers Tier 3

Andrew Clubok – Latham & Watkins LLP. Global chair of the firm’s securities litigation & professional liability practice, Andrew Clubok boasts an extensive track record of complete defense verdicts and dismissals of class actions, derivative lawsuits and arbitrations. 2022 has seen another strong year for Clubok, handling the ground-breaking defense of pharmaceutical company Puma Biotechnology, in the first federal securities class action to reach a verdict in nearly a decade. Clubok splits his time between Washington DC and New York.

Government > Government contracts Tier 3

Healthcare > Health insurers Tier 3

Latham & Watkins LLP‘s team combines a strong transactional practice with a focus on complex litigation. John Manthei and Ben Haas co-head the healthcare team from the Washington DC office, while fellow co-head Judith Hasko takes the lead from her base in San Francisco. On the litigation side, Gwyn Williams and David Tolley, both located in Boston, defend major insurers in a series of underpayment claims cases, while Washington DC’s Daniel Meron focuses on False Claims Act matters. Its transactional offering was further strengthened in October 2022 with the arrival of co-chair Jason Caron and Kevin Miller, both formerly at McDermott Will & Emery LLP. Based in Washington DC, Caron leverages clinical and government experience to advise clients on complex healthcare regulatory, reimbursement, and policy matters, while Chicago-based Miller’s practice focuses on advising private equity sponsors and portfolio companies on investment-related transactional healthcare insurance matters.

Intellectual property > Trademarks: litigation Tier 3

Latham & Watkins LLP utilizes a global presence spanning North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East to act in high-stakes infringement litigation for prominent names such as Peloton, Sephora, and Guthy-Renker. Jennifer Barry in San Diego, often represent major brands and celebrities, whereas David Callahan in Chicago is a specialist in the consumer products, telecoms, and automotive sectors, who brings over 30 years of experience. Elsewhere, technology expert Tony Sammi at the New York office advises on disputes involving VR headsets and 3D gaming, while in Austin, Jeffrey Homrig brings strength to cases at the state and federal levels and before the International Trade Commission (ITC). Perry Viscounty, who works out of the San Francisco and Orange County, CA offices, manages high-profile suits for emerging and established brands. Key sectors of focus include fitness, biotech, apparel, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and e-commerce.

International Trade > Customs, export controls and economic sanctions Tier 3

A dominant player in export controls and sanctions work, Latham & Watkins LLP’s enviable roster of multinational corporations frequently turn to the firm for support on compliance with OFAC, ITAR and EAR regimes. The group enjoys close relationships with a wide range of US and international clients, with strong recent showings in the technology, energy, life sciences, defense, and private equity spheres. Department co-head Les P. Carnegie is sought after for his broad combination of white-collar, trade regulation, and national security expertise; he successfully advised US-based Duolingo before OFAC and secured authorization for it to provide services in Syria. In another high-profile mandate, practice co-head Eric S. Volkman advised the International Olympic Committee on export controls and sanctions matters, including Russia and Belarus-related issues. The Washington DC-based group also includes CFIUS expert Damara Chambers, who has a significant export control and economic sanctions dimension to her practice, and talented counsel Andrew Galdes.

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 4

In 2022, Latham & Watkins significantly strengthened its US international arbitration capability with the hire of new global department co-chair John Pierce. New York-based Pierce, who joined from WilmerHale, has broad experience in representing clients in institutional and ad hoc arbitrations seated in both common and civil law jurisdictions. Counsel Santiago Bejarano, also based in New York, is dual New York- and Colombia-qualified and is noted for his emphasis on Latin America-related work. The growing team also brings to bear extensive international resources, with the ability to work alongside arbitration specialists in Paris and London.

Media, technology and telecoms > Outsourcing

Latin America: International firms > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP has a highly integrated Latin America practice with many team members crossing various disciplines at the same time as having high levels of core specialisation. Over the years, it has advanced to the forefront of energy and infrastructure transactions in the region, which now includes growth areas such as renewables and energy transition. While it has historically focused on investments going into Latin America, it is now increasingly active in cross-border transactions into North America by businesses in Brazil, Mexico, Chile and other jurisdictions. Moreover, it is leveraging its status as a leader in start-ups and emerging companies to target this sector in Latin America; it advised Avenir Growth Capital on its $111m Series B funding of Chile-based Xepelin, a provider of B2B payments and financial services for SMBs in Latin America. New York partner Antonio Del Pino, global chair of the Latin America practice, has an outstanding record in M&A and private equity transactions. Madrid’s Ignacio Pallarés has a long history of representing Spanish corporates in their investments in Latin America. Washington DC’s Carlos Ardila, a Colombian native, was promoted to partner in January 2023; he has impressive experience in corporate transactions and financings. Dual-qualified (Argentina/New York) associate Francisco J Lanusse is one-to-watch.  

Latin America: International firms > Banking and finance Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP is at the forefront of the private-credit segment in Latin America financings, building on its long history of bank lending in the region. Much of the practice centres on the energy and infrastructure sectors, with additional growth in fintech. The firm is also rated for its expertise in acquisition finance and hybrid financings involving capital markets components. The Latin America team is close to a range of corporate borrowers, sponsors, commercial banks and institutional investors, and is gaining increasing visibility and traction in the start-up segment. Head of the Latin America group, Antonio Del Pino handles a broad range of transactional matters, including acquisition finance, project finance and hybrid deals. Gianluca Bacchiocchi and Guido Liniado are key figures in the firm’s rising prominence in securitisation and structured financings in the energy and infrastructure segments, along with a wider range of project and infrastructure financings. Newly elected Washington DC partner Carlos Ardila and counsel Marcela Ruenes are also key members of the team. All named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise. David Penna left the firm in May 2023.

Latin America: International firms > Capital markets Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP’s commitment to Latin America, its global leadership in capital markets transactions, and its immense presence in energy and infrastructure, provides a foundation for a flourishing practice. This includes complex deals such as project and infrastructure bonds, bank/bond transactions and securitisations. Having expanded the team with lateral hires in recent years, it has further grown the senior bench with the promotion of Washington DC-based Carlos Ardila and New York’s John Slater to the partnership; both are native Spanish speakers and Slater recently advised on the first Mexico-focused SPAC IPO in Latin America. Mexico City native Roderick Branch, who divides his time between Chicago and New York, has worked on a range of headline deals over the years, including marquee transactions for Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF); he recently advised CAF on its largest ever bond financing, which closed in January 2023. Guido Liniado and Gianluca Bacchiocchi are leaders in project bonds, bank/bond transactions and sustainability-linked bonds, along with hybrid transactions backed by government receivables, commercial receivables and future flows of payment rights; Bacchiocchi has advised Goldman Sachs on a series of headline transactions in Latin America; and Liniado advised the banks on on the Rumichaca-Pasto toll road project, the largest-ever financing for a Colombian 4G toll road and the largest infrastructure sustainable bond in Latin America. The team also benefits from the firm’s national office, which features a group of former senior figures at the SEC.  

Latin America: International firms > Projects and energy Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP has a highly sophisticated projects and energy practice that is often engaged for innovative financings using bank and bond debt. It is at the forefront of the use of securitisation techniques to fund energy and infrastructure projects. It is also making further headway in the acquisition of renewables assets - including those financed by hybrid transactions. The firm has brought its expertise in novel areas such as energy transition to the Latin America market, including green hydrogen, carbon capture and battery storage, with Chile, Mexico, Peru and Colombia among its primary markets. Traditionally a sponsor-side practice, the firm has built out its client base to include a greater range of investment and commercial banks, and private equity investors. Gianluca Bacchiocchi and Guido Liniado are key figures in innovative and hybrid financings, including securitisation structures. Head of the Latin America practice Antonio Del Pino is a prominent name in energy and infrastructure M&A and private equity investments. Washington DC’s Carlos Ardila was promoted to the partnership in November 2022. Former global co-chair of the project development and finance practice David Penna joined Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in May 2023.

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration

Latham & Watkins LLP continues to impress the market with its notable experience in representing both Latin American states and private parties in investment treaty arbitrations; this includes a series of cases for the Republic of Colombia involving ICSID arbitrations brought by claimants relating to legislative, administrative and judicial measures introduced by the government – particularly as regards environmental and community matters. The firm is also noted for commercial arbitrations and enforcement proceedings with Paris-based global co-chair of the international arbitration practice, Fernando Mantilla-Serrano, who ‘stands out for his quick grasp of the essence of the matters’ and has long been a senior name in the region, leading on the vast majority of the firm’s Latin America cases. The hire of John V H Pierce as global co-head of the arbitration practice -from WilmerHale– in mid-2022, gives the practice considerable additional heft; and while not solely focused on the region, he does handle Latin America-related mandates. Pierce is based in New York, as is dual qualified (Colombia/New York) counsel Santiago Bejarano (‘always up-to-speed on the advice and willing to answer questions’) who is a key team member on many of the practice’s Latin America arbitration engagements; as is London-based Samuel Pape, who was elected to the partnership in January 2023. Paris associates Esperanza Barrón-Baratech (a Spanish national), Hugo Varenne and Diego Romero (who is qualified in Colombia, New York and Paris) are also key members of the team. Eugenie Caroit moved to Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper as Of Counsel in mid-2023.