June 16, 2009
Latham & Watkins garnered a range of top tier rankings across a range of practice areas in the 2009 Chambers USA guide.
Latham's M&A practice was cited as "wide-ranging," with notable work in private equity-backed leveraged deals, high-end buyouts and midmarket corporate matters. The firm's capital markets practice was "widely praised for high-yield work" and "noted for some superb relationships with investment banks," while a number of corporate practices were also called out -- including the life sciences practice as "a force… providing high-quality work on transactional and M&A matters," the communications practice for "covering the entire scope of regulatory work," and the technology transactions practice as "stars in the outsourcing market…(with) a solid share of licensing work and technology development transactions.' Latham's banking practice received a top-tier ranking citing its "countrywide reputation" and remarks from clients that "they receive an excellent balance of legal and commercial perspectives and… attentiveness of the team at all levels." The project finance practice was recognized for "unsurpassed resources" that "covers project development, finance and M&A for sponsors and lenders in the power, renewables, alternative energy and oil and gas sectors."
Latham's environmental practice also gained a top-tier recommendation for a "wealth of knowledge (that) delights clients" in transactional and regulatory areas, with an environmental litigation team that "excels at cutting-edge cases, obtaining excellent results."
Latham's litigation department was cited for work in markets across the country that ranges "from stock options backdating lawsuits, to IP litigation, with an emphasis on securities and professional liability litigation," and with a group of attorneys that "stands out as a high-quality litigation shop...in all stages of litigation, including jury trials." Several of Latham's litigation practices were also recognized as market leaders, including the antitrust practice that "continues to reinforce its status as a national and global heavyweight," and the white collar and government investigations practice that "attracts an array of national and international clients."
Latham's tax department was recognized for counsel involving M&A, REIT structuring, private equity fund formation, distressed company restructuring and workouts on behalf of corporate borrowers, with clients citing "the team's collegial culture" and recent work that "has cemented its top-tier position." The firm's employee benefits and executive compensation practice was notably cited for "enjoying a particularly high profile in the executive compensation sector."