Latham & Watkins Adds Prominent Capital Markets Partners in Bay Area

Latham & Watkins LLP¹ is pleased to announce that Rick Kline and Sarah Axtell have joined the firm as partners in the Corporate Department and members of the Capital Markets and Public Company Representation Practices. Kline and Axtell will practice from the firm’s Bay Area offices, advising clients in all areas of corporate and securities law with a primary focus on capital markets transactions and public company representation.

“We are thrilled to welcome such accomplished capital markets practitioners to Latham,” said Marc Jaffe, Global Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Corporate Department. “Rick and Sarah’s arrival further demonstrates our commitment to growing our Bay Area practice, and their robust experience advising companies throughout their entire life cycle will be of tremendous value to our clients.”

Kline and Axtell bring formidable experience in the tech sector, representing a full range of corporate clients on a wide variety of matters, including company formations, venture financings, M&A transactions, capital markets deals, and corporate governance matters, as well as significant experience advising boards of directors. They have also represented a number of banks in securities transactions.

Tad Freese, Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins’ Silicon Valley office, added: “Rick and Sarah are highly regarded corporate lawyers with deep ties to the tech community in the Bay Area and beyond. I’ve had the pleasure of working across the table from them for many years, and I know our clients will be well served by their astute and commercially-minded counsel. We are laser focused on tech and life sciences as two engines driving the global economy, with the Bay Area as the epicenter of that innovation and growth. Adding partners with Rick and Sarah’s sophisticated range of experience, phenomenal sector knowledge, and entrepreneurial mindset will help advance our market leadership.”

“We are delighted to add Rick and Sarah to our exceptional capital markets bench around the globe,” said Ian Schuman, Global Chair of Latham’s Capital Markets Practice. “Rick and Sarah have an impressive track record advising on high-profile tech company IPOs and direct listings, as well as other complex securities offerings and corporate matters. They will be an asset to our company clients at every stage, from formation through IPO and life as a public company, as well as to the venture capital and investment banks that finance them.”

Kline said: “Latham’s vast resources across disciplines and industries, as well as the firm’s global platform, provide an exciting opportunity to scale with clients. I’m excited to join Latham’s premier capital markets and public company representation practices that are well-known for steering cutting-edge transactions and navigating the most complex legal and business challenges.”

Axtell added: “Latham’s capabilities and the strength of the firm’s team-oriented approach to client service will greatly benefit clients. I’m thrilled to join Latham’s leading capital markets practice and continue our shared focus on tech and innovation in the Bay Area and around the world.”

Kline and Axtell join Latham from Goodwin Procter LLP. Kline received his JD from the University of Michigan Law School, BS from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and BA from the University of Pennsylvania. Axtell received her JD from the University of California, Berkeley and BS from Emory University.

About Latham & Watkins

Latham & Watkins delivers innovative solutions to complex legal and business challenges around the world. From a global platform, our lawyers advise clients on market-shaping transactions, high-stakes litigation and trials, and sophisticated regulatory matters. Latham is one of the world’s largest providers of pro bono services, steadfastly supports initiatives designed to advance diversity within the firm and the legal profession, and is committed to exploring and promoting environmental sustainability.

Notes to Editors

 1 Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan. Latham & Watkins operates in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office. Latham & Watkins works in cooperation with the Law Firm of Salman M. Al-Sudairi, a limited liability company, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.