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Latham & Watkins

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"L&W" redirects here. For the British publishing company, see Lawrence and Wishart.
Latham & Watkins
Company typeLimited liability partnership
IndustryLegal services
Founded1934
HeadquartersKPMG Tower
Los Angeles, California
Key people
Robert Dell, Chairman and Managing Partner
ProductsFull legal services
RevenueIncrease US$ 1.929 billion (2010)[1]
Number of employees
Approximately 2,000 Attorneys[2]
Websitewww.lw.com

Latham & Watkins LLP is a global law firm, one of the largest in the world. Latham currently employs approximately 2,000 attorneys in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.[3] The firm was started in Los Angeles in 1934 and has extensive Californian roots, but its largest office is now in New York City.

Latham has historically been one of the most profitable law firms. In 2007, Latham & Watkins became the first American law firm to attain more than $2 billion in yearly revenue.[4]

History

Dana Latham and Paul Watkins founded Latham & Watkins in January 1934 in Los Angeles, California. Latham's practice focused on US state and federal tax law and he eventually served as Commissioner of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under President Dwight Eisenhower. Watkins' practise focused primarily on labor. Although Latham & Watkins began with a focus on labor and tax law, the firm has grown into an international, full-service law practice with highly regarded practices in transactional, disputes and regulatory areas.[5]

When Latham & Watkins was founded, the firm consisted of three attorneys. The firm grew slowly, and, in 1960, there were 19 attorneys. The firm grew significantly in the 1960s, increasing the attorney headcount to 46 in 1970.[5]

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Latham & Watkins utilized a system of internal committees to run the firm and allowed associates to participate in the majority of these committees. The Associates Committee was founded in 1971 and governs the career development of the firm's associates. The Associates Committee includes both associates and partners. Through this committee, Latham & Watkins includes associates in the promotion process. Associates are also involved in the Diversity Committee, Recruiting Committee, Pro Bono Committee and TACE (Training and Career Enhancement) Committee.[5]

Jack Walker became the firm's managing partner in 1988 and set out to grow the firm. Latham & Watkins expanded into San Francisco, London, Moscow, Hong Kong and New Jersey. Bob Dell took over as managing partner in 1994 and remains in that position presently. Dell's tenure has been marked by the firm's international growth.[5]

The firm's focus on corporate transaction and its dependency on financial services clients resulted in difficult trading conditions in 2008. In that year, profits declined and in early 2009, the firm laid off 190 lawyers and 250 staff members[6][7][8] in the largest layoff up to that time by an American law firm.[9] Such was the severity of the cuts that the term "Lathamed," which by its most polite definition means to be laid off, was coined.[10][11] By 2010 revenues and profits were roughly equivalent to the figures in 2008. The firm has returned to growth mode, opening new offices in Houston and Boston in 2010 and 2011, respectively.[citation needed]

Recognition

The American Lawyer's 2010 "A-List" ranked Latham & Watkins 13th in the nation out of more than 200 firms.[12] This represents a ten point drop from its ranking a year earlier.[13] The survey takes into account factors such as revenue per lawyer, pro bono, diversity and associate satisfaction. It ranked 17th in the 2010 Vault.com Top Law Firms List, a survey that asks law firm associates to rank the perceived prestige of the major law firms.[14] This ranking represented a drop of ten spots from its 2009 ranking,[14] a drop which Vault.com's managing editor called "unprecedented".[15] In 2007, Vault.com ranked Latham as one of the "Best 20 Firms to Work For," one of only three large firms with New York offices to make the list.[16] However, in 2009 and 2010, Latham & Watkins was not included on the list of "Best 20 Firms to Work For" while 13 large firms with New York offices made the list.[17]

Latham was ranked first by Legal500, along with two other firms in the U.S., for project finance.[citation needed] Latham was also identified in the December 2006 issue of The American Lawyer as the Am Law 200's "most admired firm."[citation needed] Legal Business magazine awarded Latham the coveted title "Law Firm of the Decade" for its ability to handle the immense challenges posed by the legal industry globally over the last ten years and its financial and strategic success during the period. [citation needed]

At the 2008 ALB SE Asia Law Awards,[18] Latham & Watkins was crowned:

  • Deal of the Year – Project Finance Deal of the Year
  • Deal of the Year – Equity Market Deal of the Year

At the 2008 ALB China Law Awards,[18] Latham & Watkins was crowned:

  • Deal of the Year – Project Finance Deal of the Year

Notable clients and cases

Notable attorneys

Offices

Latham was originally founded in Los Angeles, though its New York office is its largest today. The executive committee members are spread around the world, with the firm's chairman being based in San Francisco. No office reports to another as it is the only global law firm with no headquarters. Latham currently has 2,100 attorneys throughout its offices.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2010/02/al100latham.html
  2. ^ http://www.ilrg.com/nlj250/
  3. ^ ILRG Listing of the 250 largest law firms
  4. ^ Ashby Jones, "Latham & Watkins Breaks $2 Billion Revenue Barrier", Wall Street Journal, February 11, 2008.
  5. ^ a b c d Latham.com, Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  6. ^ Abovethelaw.com
  7. ^ Typepad.com
  8. ^ Typepad.com
  9. ^ WSJ.com blogs
  10. ^ [1]
  11. ^ Kashino, Marisa (September 2010). "YOU'RE HIRED! WE WANT ALL OF YOU!". Washingtonian. Vol. 45, no. 12. p. 20.
  12. ^ [2]
  13. ^ Abovethelaw.com
  14. ^ a b Vault.com, "Law Firm Rankings: Top 100 Law Firms," 2010, Law.com accessed 2010-05-19
  15. ^ Vault.com, "Official New Vault Rankings," Mystal, Elie, August 18, 2009, Abovethelaw.com, accessed 2010-05-20
  16. ^ Vault.com
  17. ^ Vault.com, "Top 20 Firms to Work for," 2010, Vault.com accessed 2010-05-19
  18. ^ a b Legalbusinessonline.com.au
  19. ^ "$4.84 billion acquisition". International Law Office. September 13, 2004. Retrieved October 18, 2009, 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  20. ^ "Rise of Latham & Watkins" (PDF). Vol. 7, No. 1. M&A Journal. March 31, 2007, 2007. Retrieved October 18, 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "India Awards". Asia Law. December 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  22. ^ Reckard, Scott (2006 November 8). "Scientology groups to pay back $3.5 million". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008 April 24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  23. ^ Gray, Tyler (March 31, 2008). "Anonymous on Trial? Scientology Steps Up Skirmish". Radar. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  24. ^ Lat, David (April 1, 2008). "Latham & Watkins to Free Stress Tests?". Above the Law. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  25. ^ Lee, Lisa (October 10, 2008). "Latham gilds Lilly's ImClone offer". The Deal. Retrieved October 18, 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "Yahoo-Maktoob.com acquisition". Mideast Legal Business Online. September 3, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
  27. ^ Ingram, David (October 24, 2011). "A big gift for Bybee: Latham & Watkins gives judge $3.2 million worth of legal aid". The National Law Journal.
  28. ^ DHS.gov
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