Achievements

Latham & Watkins advises the businesses and institutions that power the global economy.

We bring together world-leading talent, with deep sector knowledge and experience, to make our clients’ most ambitious goals a reality. In today’s highly complex and ever-changing world, Latham stands out as a steady market leader capable of assembling at a moment’s notice the exact right team across any set of jurisdictions to seamlessly respond to and execute on client needs.

 

This broad and diversified platform helps us anticipate and address any legal or business challenge anywhere in the world – with flawless execution. With a resilient culture imbued with a spirit of teamwork and innovation, Latham’s work at the cutting edge of commercial, financial, and legal innovation helps our clients thrive.

Our Work

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Concert Stage
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Sugarcane field at sunset
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Dubrovnik, Croatia
Courtroom
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Photo Taken In Milan, Italy
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Pool Edge
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Advising on Instacart’s IPO
An interdisciplinary Latham team represents the underwriters in the high-profile initial public offering of Instacart, one of the leading grocery technology companies in North America. Instacart’s shares began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on September 19, 2023.
Concert Stage
Litmus Music’s Creative Partnership With Katy Perry
Latham represents music rights business Litmus Music and Carlyle in a financing to support their creative partnership with music artist Katy Perry. The deal covers all five of Perry’s studio albums released for Capitol Records between 2008 and 2020, which include 16 multi-platinum singles.
A luxury fashion store with white interior
Establishing a Global Fashion Powerhouse
A multidisciplinary, cross-border team represents Tapestry, Inc., a house of iconic accessories and lifestyle brands consisting of Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman, on its US$8.5 billion acquisition of Capri Holdings Limited, a global fashion luxury group consisting of Versace, Jimmy Choo, and Michael Kors. The deal establishes a powerful global house of iconic luxury and fashion brands.
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Complete Dismissal of Stockholder Challenge to Switch Inc.’s US$11 Billion Take-Private Transaction
A Latham securities litigation team secured a dismissal with prejudice on behalf of the former board members of Switch, Inc. of a purported stockholder class action complaint challenging the US$11 billion take-private transaction of Switch. Showcasing the collaboration of the firm’s deal and litigation teams, Latham guided the clients through the US$11 billion deal on the corporate side, and successfully defended them in the subsequent stockholder class action.
Female chemist at work in laboratory.
Revolution Medicines Acquires EQRx, Inc. in Transaction Worth US$1 Billion
A Latham cross-border, multidisciplinary team advised Revolution Medicine in its acquisition of EQRx, Inc., a move that will enhance Revolution Medicines’ efforts to fulfill its vision to discover, develop and deliver pioneering RAS(ON) Inhibitor drugs on behalf of patients with RAS-addicted cancers. The all-stock transaction is intended to add more than US$1 billion in net cash to Revolution Medicines’ balance sheet.
Sugarcane field at sunset
Another Sweet Victory for U.S. Sugar
A cross-discipline, cross-office team of Latham litigators scored a major victory for client U.S. Sugar when the Third Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the Delaware federal court’s September 2022 ruling that the purchase of Imperial Sugar by U.S. Sugar is not only not anti-competitive, but also pro-consumer. In fall 2022 Latham delivered a hat trick of victories in rapid succession, successfully defending U.S. Sugar against the US Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ) challenge to the acquisition. As a result, U.S. Sugar successfully closed its purchase of Imperial Sugar in November 2022.
Modern central computer processors CPU, industry concept close-up view with depth of field effect.
Representing Wolfspeed in One of the Largest Private Capital Financings of 2023

A Latham team advised the publicly traded, leading semiconductor technology company Wolfspeed, Inc. in two financing transactions that total up to US$4 billion, representing one of the largest private capital fundings, largest direct lending transactions, and largest growth financings of 2023. The financing supports Wolfspeed’s previously announced growth plans and is a significant step toward achieving Wolfspeed’s US$6.5 billion global capacity expansion.

Victory in High-Profile Chess Cheating Dispute
A cross-office, multi-department Latham team achieved a decisive victory in the high-profile defamation and antitrust lawsuit brought in Missouri federal court by chess grandmaster Hans Niemann against Latham clients Chess.com. The dispute garnered widespread media coverage, including a segment on ABC’s Nightline, and on June 27, 2023, Judge Audrey G. Fleissig of the Eastern District of Missouri granted defendants’ motion to dismiss, tossing Niemann’s federal antitrust claims with prejudice.
Sports car on scenic road
Porsche's €2.5 Billion Sustainability-Linked Syndicated Financing
Latham’s finance team advised Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft (Porsche) on a sustainability-linked syndicated loan agreement with a total committed volume of €2.5 billion. The revolving credit facility is provided by a consortium of banks from Europe, Asia, and America with a sustainability component that links the financing conditions to the development of the share of purely electric vehicles delivered in total sales.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Securing Victory for Republic of Croatia
Latham successfully defended the Republic of Croatia in an investment treaty claim brought by a Dutch investment vehicle, Elitech BV, relating to potentially developing several golf courses, hotels, and other luxury facilities overlooking the World Heritage Site of the Old City of Dubrovnik. The Elitech claimants argued that the Republic of Croatia had unfairly denied the investors the approvals necessary to develop the golf resort and failed to provide an effective means of legal recourse. Latham secured victory, with the arbitral tribunal finding that Croatia was not liable in any way and the claim for damages should be rejected.
ACG’s US$1 Billion Brazilian Mine Acquisition

A Latham London team advised the placement agents on ACG's US$1 billion acquisition of two cash-generative mining operations in Brazil. The deal creates a major new force in global critical metals focused on the western electric vehicle value chain. The mines produce nickel sulphide and copper concentrates that are refined in Europe and North America and then supplied to car manufacturers. The Atlantic Nickel, a nickel sulphide mine in Santa Rita, and the Mineraçao Vale Verde, a copper mine in Serrote, will be acquired on a cash- and debt-free basis.

Courtroom
Defending Oracle's US$9.4 Billion NetSuite Deal
Latham successfully defended Oracle’s Larry Ellison and Safra Catz in one of the largest acquisitions to face a stockholder challenge through trial in the Delaware Court of Chancery. The stockholder derivative suit brought by certain Oracle investors challenged Oracle’s 2016 US$9.4 billion acquisition of NetSuite, Inc, alleging that Mr. Ellison used his control of Oracle — with the assistance of Ms. Catz, Oracle’s CEO — to cause Oracle to acquire and overpay for NetSuite, which Mr. Ellison co-founded and was a substantial investor. At trial, Latham demonstrated that plaintiffs’ claims were meritless and Vice Chancellor Sam Glasscock III issued a 101-page opinion in favor of Mr. Ellison and Ms. Catz.
Blue pipes going to oil refinery
Magellan Midstream Partners’ US$18.8 Billion Acquisition
Houston-based corporate deal team represents Magellan Midstream Partners on second-largest US public company merger in 2023 to date. Under the definitive merger agreement, ONEOK will acquire all outstanding units of Magellan in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately US$18.8 billion including assumed debt, resulting in a combined company with a total enterprise value of US$60.0 billion.
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Apollo’s €1 Billion Investment in Vonovia Portfolio
A Latham cross-border private equity real estate team advised Apollo, a global alternative asset manager, on its investment in a portfolio of high-quality real estate assets controlled by Vonovia, a leading European residential real estate company. Vonovia’s portfolio comprises more than 21,000 residential units valued at €3.3 billion on a debt-free and cash-free basis.
Virgin Orbit Chapter 11 Proceedings
Members of the firm’s Restructuring & Special Situations Practice represent the responsive space launch provider, Virgin Orbit, in its voluntary proceedings under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court in the District of Delaware in order to effectuate a sale of the business. With the support of Virgin Investments Limited in the form of debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing, Virgin Orbit intends to use the Chapter 11 process to maximize value for its business and assets.
One man, kickboxer with wrapped boxing bandages on hand.
Landmark Sports and Entertainment Merger
Latham represents Endeavor in the US$21+ billion merger between two world-renowned sports and entertainment brands, UFC and WWE. The deal will create a new publicly listed company when the transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2023.
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The Next Great Enterprise Cloud Software Platform
A multidisciplinary Latham team advises Silver Lake, the global leader in technology investing, in the US$12.5 billion take-private acquisition of Qualtrics, the leader and pioneer of the experience management (XM) software category. The all-cash transaction will make Qualtrics an independent, privately held company positioned to drive category-defining innovation and efficient growth at scale on its path to becoming the next great enterprise cloud software platform.
Successful Activism Defense in Major Merger Agreement
Latham’s shareholder activism team represented IAA on company defense matters in connection with opposition by activist investors Ancora and Discerene Group in the Ritchie Bros. merger. IAA announced that its stockholders have adopted the previously announced merger agreement providing for its stock and cash acquisition by Ritchie Bros. Accordingly, all stockholder and regulatory approvals required to consummate the transaction have now been obtained.
A pipette and microwell plates
Second-Largest Ever Healthcare Corporate Debt Issuance
A Latham corporate team represented Amgen Inc., one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies, in its US$24 billion senior notes offering, which will be used to fund Amgen’s acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics plc. The offering is the ninth-largest corporate debt issuance and second-largest healthcare corporate debt issuance in history, according to Dealogic.
Nissan’s New Framework Agreement With Renault Group
An international Latham team advised leading Japanese automotive group Nissan on the negotiation of the new framework agreement for the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. The agreement includes a three-dimension program that focuses on high-value-creation operational projects, enhancing strategic agility that explores existing strategies in electrification and low-emission, and a rebalanced cross-shareholding and reinforced Alliance governance.
North and South America lights map at night. View from outer space
CAF’s Largest-Ever Bond Financing
Members of Latham’s Latin America, Capital Markets, and Financial Institutions Practices represented Latin American development bank Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF) in its US$1.5 billion SEC-registered bond financing, its largest ever. CAF is a multilateral financial institution that seeks to promote economic development within Latin America and the Caribbean and has been instrumental in financing its shareholder countries’ recovery efforts since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2020, the firm has counseled CAF in more than 40 bond offerings exceeding US$7.5 billion in proceeds.
Car
Across-the-Board Win For Automobile Mirror Maker SMR
A jury in Grand Rapids, Michigan, delivered an across-the-board win to our client, automobile mirror maker Samvardhana Motherson Reflectec Group Holdings Ltd., which was accused of infringing patents for a side mirror developed to eliminate blind spots.
Energizing Mexico
Latham’s Latin America Practice represented TC Energía Mexicana’s joint global coordinators, lead arrangers, and bookrunners in a US$2.3 billion credit facility that supports the Mexican government’s priorities to supply natural gas to the central and southeast regions of Mexico. The credit facility will go toward the development of the TGNH Southeast Gateway Pipeline, a US$4.5 billion offshore natural gas pipeline project.
Pool Edge
An Aquatic Victory
Latham litigators successfully won their motions for summary judgement on behalf of client Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), now World Aquatics, in a pair of high-profile antitrust lawsuits brought by the International Swimming League and a putative class of elite swimmers. Plaintiffs alleged that FINA leveraged its position as the global governing body for aquatic sports to prevent the creation of a top-tier professional swimming league. The California federal court sided with Latham’s argument that World Aquatic's governing rules and alleged conduct did not unreasonably restrain trade.

Extensive Experience

Four Latham Lawyers Recognized in Report on Asia-Pacific Restructuring Practices of US Law Firms

Turnaround & Workouts report recognizes the most experienced restructuring lawyers in the Asia-Pacific region at major US law firms.

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Sweet Victory

Antitrust, Appellate, and Trial Litigators Score Another Win for U.S. Sugar

Cross-discipline team led by partners Larry Buterman, Melissa Arbus Sherry, Chris Yates, and Amanda Reeves cements earlier multi-court successes against the US Department of Justice high-profile challenge to U.S. Sugar’s purchase of Imperial Sugar.

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