Favored for its ability to utilize its premier technology and life sciences offerings, Latham & Watkins LLP’s emerging companies and venture capital practice acts for an array of start-ups and growth companies on formations through to funding and exit transactions. The team also represents venture capital funds and other financial institutions on investment and exit strategies. In Silicon Valley, emerging companies chair Benjamin Potter is the key contact for a raft of start-up technology, fintech, healthcare, and life sciences clients; he recently advised Eigen Labs on its $100m Series B financing. Rounding out the lead partners are global department vice chairs Brian Patterson, who sits in San Francisco, and Haim Zaltzman, who splits his time between New York, San Francisco and Silicon Valley. In Century City, Alex Voxman is equipped to advise emerging companies and venture capital funds on the full suite of corporate, M&A, and financing matters, while in Boston Stephen Ranere specializes in venture capital and corporate transactions in the technology and life sciences sectors. Also in Boston, John Chory handles both company formations and subsequent IPOs. The group was boosted in 2024 by the hire of three new partners in San Francisco: duo Seth Gottlieb and Alex Kassai joined from Cooley LLP, while Zachary Fallon joined from technology-focused firm, Ketsal.
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Accolades
Client satisfaction
Key clients
- Abridge AI
- Agrovision Corporation
- Canva
- Coactive Systems
- Convex Labs
- Harbor Health
- Kidentify
- Layr Labs
- Mellis
- Meritech Capital Partners
Work highlights
- Advised Abridge AI on its $150m Series C financing and secondary transactions.
- Advised Canva on a $1.6bn secondary share sale.
- Advised Ramp on its $150m Series D-2 funding round, which was co-led by Khosla Ventures and Founders Fund.
Lawyers
Hall of fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Benjamin Potter; Brian Patterson; Haim Zaltzman
Other key lawyers
Alex Voxman; Stephen Ranere; Seth Gottlieb; Alex Kassai; Zachary Fallon; Scott Craig; Jana Kovich; Saad Khanani; John Chory