Latham & Watkins is widely recognised for the strength of its partner bench and deep institutional knowledge. The vastly experienced  Jonathan Brownson and Joydeep Choudhuri, who joined in June 2024 from Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, have hit the ground running with both completing a number of high-profile lender mandates, showing their worth on complex deals spanning the capital spectrum. Brownson and Choudhuri’s arrival bolsters an already strong lending offering that includes a raft of investment banks which continue to instruct the firm on many of their highest-profile bank and bond transactions. Choudhuri, in particular, also enhances the firm’s credit fund credentials which continues to forge a strong furrow in the market on conventional as well as hybrid capital deals for private equity clients seeking leverage on mid to upper-mid market M&A deals. Ross Pooley and Manoj Bhundia are also very adept at structuring transactions utilising private capital. Team head Dan Maze, who works with a number of investment banks, and Fergus Wheeler, a key contact for various private creditors, advise across a myriad of major transactions. Dominic Newcomb has forged strong relationships with financial sponsors, including core client EQT, and – alongside Charles Armstrong, who also advises on private equity-led refinancings, new money deals, and matters for corporate borrowers – is a principal contact for debtor-side work
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Very capable and knowledgeable partners and associates across the board (in all the key jurisdictions) which is unmatched by other firms.’

  • 'Solid bench. Great market reputation and strong expertise and ability to execute transactions smoothly.'

  • ‘Charles Armstrong is commercially focused and extremely diligent.’

  • 'Jonathan Brownson is great with client relationships and focus.'

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Key clients

  • JP Morgan
  • Barclays
  • Bank of America
  • Goldman Sachs
  • HPS Investment Partners
  • Bridgepoint Credit
  • Deutsche Bank
  • HSBC
  • Park Square Capital
  • KKR Credit
  • CVC Capital Partners
  • TDR Capital

Work highlights

Advised a group of 15 investment banks on the £1.6bn syndicated term loan, revolving credit facility and high yield bond financing of Motor Fuel Group’s £2.5bn acquisition of petrol forecourts from Morrisons.
Advised EQT on a £1.7bn financing for the purposes of the acquisition of Dechra Pharmaceuticals, a global specialist in veterinary pharmaceuticals and related products business.
Advised TDR Capital and its portfolio company EG Group, on a $3.4bn refinancing for EG Finco Limited and EG America.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

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Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Next Generation Partners

Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

Dan Maze

Other key lawyers

Dominic Newcomb; Ross Pooley; Manoj Bhundia; Charles Armstrong; Jonathan Brownson; Fergus Wheeler; Hugh O’Sullivan; Hendrik Smit; Angel Quek; Hayden Teo; Tracy Liu; Danielle Brown; Joydeep Choudhuri; Prue Criddle; Paul Yin