Latham & Watkins LLP - The Who's Who Legal 100 2012

What is the Who's Who Legal 100?

Latham excels in project finance, last year advising on 48 transactions globally, with an aggregate deal value of more than $25 billion. The firm fields 14 lawyers from six countries in the corresponding chapter. In New York, chair of the practice group Jonathan Rod is “highly nominated” in our research. Rod has “extensive experience” in Latin America and recently represented the Export-Import Bank of the US on the Hamaca crude oil project in Venezuela, a project with a value of $3.5 billion. DC-based John Sachs is an “outstanding” lawyer with expertise in power projects, oil and gas, water and transportation. Located in London, William Voge is an “exceptionally talented” finance lawyer specialising in structuring complex project financings including banks, multilateral agencies, export credit agencies and debt offerings in the capital markets. The “pre-eminent” Stephen McWilliams is managing partner of the Singapore office and represents both lenders and sponsors in high profile deals in Asia including advising the lenders in connection with the financing and development of 1,200MW Mong Duong II coal-fired power project, the first coal-fired build-operate-transfer project in Vietnam. In Abu Dhabi, Nick Collins’s “very active” practice focuses predominantly on projects in the Middle East and Africa and he has advised project sponsors, multilateral lending agencies, export credit agencies, commercial banks and Islamic finance institutions. At the associated law office of Mohammed A Al-Sheikh in Riyadh, Mohammed Al-Sheikh has a “wealth of expertise” covering Islamic finance, telecommunications, energy, power and water and features in the capital markets and M&A chapters also.

Twelve lawyers feature in the competition chapter, hallmarking this as another key practice sector of the firm. Abbott ‘Tad’ Lipsky Jr is “internationally renowned” for his expertise in competition law having handled cases around the world. Co-chair of the global antitrust and competition practice group Michael Egge is a “prominent figure” in the field and based in the Washington, DC, office. His expertise covers both merger control and cartel matters in the US, Europe and Latin America. Margaret Zwisler is also co-chair of the global practice and very “highly regarded” for her representation of antitrust defendants in trials. In San Francisco, Daniel Wall is “first rate” and his expertise covers the full range of competition law – litigation, government investigations, merger reviews and counselling. His particular strengths lie in advising on the application of antitrust laws to high technology industries. Susanne Zuehlke is located in the firm’s Brussels office and is “highly valued” by clients for her expertise in merger control proceedings and global cartel investigations. Zuehlke is “well versed” in German and EU law. John Kallaugher divides his time between the Brussels and London offices of the firm and specialises in the industry of transport, in particular aviation. His work is “greatly respected”.

The firm garners seven listings in the mergers and acquisitions chapter. The past year saw the firm handle deals with an combined value of more than $265 billion, and the international capabilities of the firm attracts the world’s leading companies, sovereign wealth funds, investment banks and private equity sponsors. Mark Gerstein is global chair of the firm’s M&A group and is hailed as an “exceptional talent” by peers. Gerstein has advised both public and private companies including Continental Airlines and Koch Industries as well as lenders and financial advisers in strategic acquisitions including UBS. Christopher Kaufman focuses his practice on high-tech companies and is “vastly experienced” in hostile takeovers representing both targets and unsolicited acquirers. Paul Tosetti stands out for his “phenomenal” practice, which has seen him represent Hilton Hotels, URS and Oracle. In Hamburg, Christoph von Teichman is a “sensational” transactional lawyer with a focus on the financial services industry.

Latham & Watkins is also recognised for its environmental practice and seven lawyers from its US offices are listed in the corresponding chapter. Robert Wyman is the global chair of the environment, land and resources department and global co-chair of the air quality and climate change practice group. Wyman is a “prominent figure” in the field and his practice includes both civil and criminal defence of government enforcement actions. Recently he defended a $1 billion power plant against a citizen suit challenge in the US District Court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Gene Lucero is deemed a “doyen” of environmental law and has defended clients in a number of criminal and civil enforcement actions brought by EPA and state agencies. Lucero has “extensive experience” handling environmental issues affecting land use and development. David Langer represents private sector and municipal clients on a range of environmental and land use matters and is a “trusted adviser” to many. Gary Gengel concentrates on high stakes environmental matters such as natural resource damage claims, remediations and toxic tort litigation, and is considered “world class”.

Further recommendations accrued by the firm demonstrate its breadth of expertise and global reach, making Latham & Watkins a premier law firm by all standards.