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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 ]. 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.<ref name="latham.com"/> Dell will be retiring at the end of 2014, and will be succeeded by Bill Voge, a long time project finance partner at the firm. 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 ]. 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.<ref name="latham.com"/> Dell will be retiring at the end of 2014, and will be succeeded by Bill Voge, a long time project finance partner at the firm.

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<ref></ref><ref name="Typepad.com"></ref><ref></ref> in the largest layoff up to that time by an American law firm.<ref></ref> Such was the severity of the cuts that the term "Lathamed," which by its most polite definition means to be laid off, was coined.<ref>. Abovethelaw.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-15.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=YOU'RE HIRED! WE WANT ALL OF YOU!|author=Kashino, Marisa|work=Washingtonian|volume=45|issue=12 |date=September 2010|page=20}}</ref> 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|date=January 2012}}


== Recognition == == Recognition ==

Revision as of 16:15, 9 December 2015

"L&W" redirects here. For the British publishing company, see Lawrence and Wishart.

Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins
Company typeLimited liability partnership
IndustryLegal services
Founded1934
HeadquartersUnited States Edit this on Wikidata
Key peopleWilliam Voge, Chairman and Managing Partner
ProductsFull legal services
RevenueIncrease US$ 2.6 billion (2014)
Number of employeesApproximately 2,000 Attorneys
Websitewww.lw.com

Latham & Watkins LLP, founded in 1934, is the world’s largest law firm by revenue and one of the highest-paying law firms in the world. Latham currently employs approximately 2,000 attorneys in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm was founded in Los Angeles and has extensive Californian roots, but Latham's largest office is now in New York City. The firm claims it is the only fully integrated multinational law firm with no one headquarters.

Latham has historically been one of the most profitable law firms in the world. In 2007, Latham & Watkins became the first American law firm to attain more than $2 billion in yearly revenue. In 2015, the firm surpassed the likes of DLA Piper, Baker & McKenzie and Skadden to become the largest law firm in the world by revenue for the first time.

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.

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.

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.

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. Dell will be retiring at the end of 2014, and will be succeeded by Bill Voge, a long time project finance partner at the firm.

Recognition

The American Lawyer's 2013 "A-List" ranked Latham & Watkins 10th in the nation out of more than 200 firms. In 2013, the firm was recognized as an “A-List All-Star,” for being one of only four firms to make the A-List every year since the list’s beginning. The survey takes into account factors such as revenue per lawyer, pro bono, diversity and associate satisfaction. It ranked 10th in the 2013 Vault.com Top Law Firms List, a survey that asks law firm associates to rank the perceived prestige of the major law firms. 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. 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.

Latham was ranked first by Legal500, along with two other firms in the U.S., for project finance. Latham was also identified in the December 2006 issue of The American Lawyer as the Am Law 200's "most admired firm." 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.

At the 2008 ALB SE Asia Law Awards, 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, 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 current chairman being based in San Francisco. The incoming chair-elect is based in London. No Latham office reports or is subordinate to another as it is the only global law firm with no headquarters. Latham currently has over 2,000 attorneys throughout its offices located around the world.

Notable alumni

References

  1. The American Lawyer Firm Profiles: Latham & Watkins. Americanlawyer.com (2012-01-01). Retrieved on 2013-12-23.
  2. ILRG Largest 250 Law Firms in the US. Ilrg.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-15.
  3. ILRG Listing of the 250 largest law firms
  4. lw.com .
  5. Ashby Jones, "Latham & Watkins Breaks $2 Billion Revenue Barrier", Wall Street Journal, February 11, 2008.
  6. Jones, Ashby (April 27, 2015). "Latham & Watkins Tops the AmLaw 100 For the First Time". WSJ Law Blog. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  7. ^ Latham.com, Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  8. The A-List 2013. Law.com (2013-06-27). Retrieved on 2013-12-23.
  9. The 2013 A-List: The Complete Report
  10. Vault.com, "Law Firm Rankings: Top 100 Law Firms," 2010, Law.com accessed 2010-05-19
  11. Vault.com
  12. Vault.com, "Top 20 Firms to Work for," 2010, Vault.com accessed 2010-05-19
  13. ^ Legalbusinessonline.com.au
  14. "$4.84 billion acquisition". International Law Office. September 13, 2004. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  15. "Rise of Latham & Watkins" (PDF). Vol. 7, No. 1. M&A Journal. March 31, 2007. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  16. "India Awards". Asia Law. December 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  17. Reckard, Scott (November 8, 2006). "Scientology groups to pay back $3.5 million". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  18. Gray, Tyler (March 31, 2008). "Anonymous on Trial? Scientology Steps Up Skirmish". Radar. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  19. Lat, David (April 1, 2008). "Latham & Watkins to Free Stress Tests?". Above the Law. Archived from the original on April 5, 2008. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  20. Lee, Lisa; David Marcus; Amy Wu (October 10, 2008). "Latham gilds Lilly's ImClone offer". The Deal. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  21. "Yahoo-Maktoob.com acquisition". Mideast Legal Business Online. September 3, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
  22. 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.
  23. DHS.gov
  24. "Latham Around the World". Retrieved June 15, 2014.

External links

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