James Garrett > Latham & Watkins > Austin, United States > Lawyer Profile

Latham & Watkins
301 CONGRESS AVENUE
SUITE 900
AUSTIN, TEXAS
TEXAS
United States

Position

James Garrett serves as Global Vice Chair of the firm’s M&A and Private Equity Practice. He previously served as Chair of the Houston Corporate Department.

James counsels private equity investors and their portfolio companies on the full spectrum of issues that arise across the investment life cycle, as well as private and public companies on their highest-stakes M&A and joint ventures.

James combines a sophisticated understanding of both the Texas and national markets with his business-focused approach to deliver practical advice to solve clients’ complex problems in the context of:

  • Energy and infrastructure transactions
  • Mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures
  • Growth equity and private financing transactions
  • Joint ventures
  • Corporate reorganizations
  • General corporate matters

He acts as a trusted advisor to clients in a broad range of sectors, unlocking the resources of the firm’s global platform to craft commercial solutions that advance their business objectives.

Drawing on his diverse transactional experience, he frequently counsels clients across a broad range of industries, including oil and gas, renewables, industrials, technology, software, digital infrastructure, and financial services, among others.

James serves as a Director for both CarePartners and the Texas Hearing Institute, and he is a member of The Children’s Fund. He previously served on the Founding Advisory Board of Greentown Labs Houston, the city’s first climatetech and cleantech-focused startup incubator.

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Energy > Energy transactions: oil and gas

Latham & Watkins LLP advises clients across the entire oil and gas value chain, from exploration and production to midstream infrastructure, LNG, refining, and petrochemicals. The firm represents public and private oil and gas companies, private equity sponsors, investment banks, and lenders on M&A, joint ventures, and capital markets transactions. Global Chair of Latham’s Energy and Infrastructure Group, Justin Stolte, is a trusted adviser to multinational exploration and production companies, frequently handling M&A and joint ventures. Co-head James Garrett is highly regarded for his expertise in high-value M&A, private equity, and private finance transactions, while fellow co-head Lauren Anderson brings additional strength in public and private M&A, project development, and finance. John Greer has led major mergers, company acquisitions, and inventory disposals across the US, Canada, and Brazil. Michael King  maintains a strong transactional focus, primarily advising sponsors and private equity clients in the upstream and midstream sectors. Ryan Maierson has a standout track record in LNG-related deals, covering inventory, project, and company transactions, alongside experience in wider hydrocarbons such as ammonia. James Robertson joined from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in October 2024. Stephen Szalkowski left the firm in March 2024. All individuals are based in Houston.