Corey Wright > Latham & Watkins LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Banking powerhouse Latham & Watkins LLP is commended by clients on both the lender and borrower sides, with one noting that its ‘legal knowledge is robust and informed by significant experience in the space.’ On the lending side, it represents the large traditional banks on leveraged and acquisition financings, as well as direct lenders, in the form of non-bank financial institutions and debt funds. Its deep expertise fully equips the team to handle large unitranche financings in the billion-dollar range. Other areas of expertise include its work with sponsors and their portfolio companies on liability management financing transactions. On the borrower side, the team works with major corporation on a range of borrower-side financings. At practice head level, the New York office includes Daniel Seale who is skilled at handling acquisition financings and is highly regarded in the direct lending market; Alfred Xue who is a key name for traditional bank lenders and direct lenders on cross-border financings and Joshua Tinkelman who is highlighted for his work handling leveraged buyouts. Also forming part of practice head offering is Jason R. Bosworth in Los Angeles and Jason M. Licht in Washington DC. The team is ably supported by Michèle Penzer in New York who handles acquisition and project financings, along with Corey Wright and Lisa Collier who are also New York-based. Manu Gayatrinath  is also highlighted as a notable member of the team. Jennifer Ezring joined the New York office from Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP in October 2023.

Latham & Watkins LLP has an extensive capital markets practice, covering the full range of equity and debt transactions. The firm is widely recognized for its extensive issuer-side relationships, although it is also a major player in underwriter-side engagements. It has also achieved significant growth in investment grade bond deals in recent years, advising on deals worth nearly $93bn during 2023. The firm is active in offerings linked to the funding of acquisitions. Along with New York, the firm has capital markets specialists across its US network, including Chicago, Washington DC and Los Angeles. New York managing partner Marc Jaffe is a major name in equity and debt offerings with Corey Wright bringing extensive knowledge in debt transactions, including high-yield. Global chair of capital markets Ian Schuman has a fine record in convertible debt and high-yield debt offerings. Stelios Saffos and Greg Rodgers are also key names, the latter noted for his expertise in convertible debt. All individuals are based in New York.

Latham & Watkins LLP is at the forefront of the high-yield market, being equally strong in both issuer and underwriter side engagements. With a core team of capital markets specialists in New York that have extensive experience in high-yield, it has a range of sector experts in multiple offices around the country, including Houston, Washington DC, Chicago and several California offices. Marc Jaffe is managing partner of the New York office and a rounded capital markets specialist with deep expertise in high yield. Ian Schuman is global head of the capital markets team and another prominent figure in this space, as is Stelios Saffos, who is vice-chair of the global group. Corey Wright is a leading name in high-yield bond and bank financings.