Latham & Watkins‘s highly capable team continues to field a considerable CFIUS workload, maintaining its strong reputation for handling a large portion of the CFIUS filings annually. With experience clearing deals in highly scrutinized sectors, the team handles complex and large transactions across sectors including energy, information technology, manufacturing, and finance, related to countries of interest. Les P. Carnegie, Damara Chambers, and James Barker co-lead the firm’s CFIUS and US national security practice from Washington DC. Carnegie has experience obtaining significant clearances for major clients of the firm. Chambers is noted for her broad expertise which covers negotiating significant national security agreements, and Barker is a go-to for large strategic companies, venture capital, and PE firms, and investment banks. Recent hires add to the government experience already boasted by the team, including Paul Rosen, who joined the team in 2025 and is highlighted for his prior experience as Assistant Secretary of the US Department of Treasury. Counsels Zachary Eddington and Ruchi Gill are also of note.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'I believe it is one of the deepest CFIUS benches among all the firms. They have multiple partners who could themselves anchor the practice alone.'
'They have a very good sense of seeing and understanding the business side of the equation, not just the regulatory CFIUS side. That makes a difference because it's the biggest deal flow firm in the world, they also just see more deals than anyone else.'
'They are really good at client relations, and the clients trust their judgment, not just their legal opinions.'
Key clients
- Desktop Metal, Inc.
- CyberArk Software
- Bunge Ltd
- Nippon Life Insurance Company
- Energy Capital Partners
- Terra-Gen, Energy Capital Partners
- Entrust Corporation
- Mawarid Investments Limited
- Coherus BioSciences
- Regulus Therapeutics
- Siemens
- Wolfspeed
Work highlights
Advised Desktop Metal, Inc. on CFIUS and trade controls matters in connection with its acquisition by Nano Dimension Ltd, which involved leading extensive negotiations with CFIUS and counsel for Nano on a National Security Agreement (NSA) in this deal, during which the Delaware Chancery Court ordered Nano Dimension to sign the NSA within 48 hours of the Court’s Order.
Assisted US grains merchant manufacturer, Bunge Limited, in obtaining CFIUS approval for its completed US$34 billion merger with rival Viterra, and assisted the client in obtaining FDI approvals in 8 other jurisdictions globally for this transaction.
Representing CyberArk Software Ltd., an Israeli publicly traded information security company offering identity management, in obtaining CFIUS approval in connection with the acquisition of Venafi Holdings.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Les Carnegie; Damara Chambers; James Barker
Other key lawyers
Paul Rosen; Zachary Eddington; Ruchi Gill