Profile: Latham & Watkins LLP

Latham & Watkins LLP - Who's Who Legal '70'

What is the Who's Who Legal '70'?

COMPETITION
Ten lawyers from key antitrust locations appear in the competition chapter. In Washington, DC, the firm offers a full-service antitrust practice dealing with US and international matters. Abbott Lipsky is “a smart guy with the ability to go deep into antitrust issues”. One contributor to the survey deemed him “probably the world expert on China”. He was chief antitrust lawyer for Coca-Cola from 1992 to 2002. Margaret Zwisler also operates from the DC office and is considered “outstanding” by her peers. Michael Egge joins Zwisler on our list. “Smart, and great to work with on a case”, Egge is known for his knowledge of the Latin American market.

Daniel Wall in San Francisco is also a leading figure of the firm’s global antitrust and competition group. His practice covers litigation, counselling, government conduct investigations and merger reviews. One impressed rival named him the “leading litigator on the West coast”; another cited his skills “both as an antitrust analyst and as a trial lawyer”. Peers also think well of Karen Silverman. She specialises in complex transactions and was described as “excellent” in the research. Bruce Prager in New York is renowned for his knowledge of antitrust issues associated with mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures.

The European practice is very much centred around Brussels, where office managing partner Andreas Weitbrecht is considered “a big player” with in-depth knowledge of German and EU competition law. He is joined by the “very active” Marc Hansen. Alain Georges operates from the Paris and Brussels offices and is global co-chair of the antitrust and competition group in Paris. John Kallaugher rounds off the firm’s representation in this chapter. Based in the London and Brussels offices, his broad-based practice drew many favourable comments. He also appears in the aviation chapter alongside Etienne Gentil, who was noted for his aviation finance work.

PROJECT FINANCE
The firm’s track record in energy projects is particularly well regarded. Recent deals include advising Fujian Refining & Petrochemical Company Limited on China’s first integrated refining and petrochemical project with foreign participation. New York-based William Voge is a “leading light” in the area and his oil, gas and energy-sector work was frequently complemented. His colleague at the New York office Jonathan Rod is admired for his Latin America expertise and his power sector knowledge. David Gordon is a “great talent” and has worked on many high-profile electricity financings. In the Washington office, the “very experienced” John Sachs is considered “one of the best lawyers in DC”. Sources noted Kenneth Blohm in San Francisco’s work on electricity, oil and gas, petrochemical and water projects. Hong Kong partner Joseph Bevash is said to be making “a big splash in the local market” and in London, Dennis Nordstrom is “highly rated” for energy and infrastructure work.

ENVIRONMENT
This “first-class” practice represented Sempra Energy Subsidiary in successful litigation concerning an electricity transmission line over the US-Mexico border. Seven partners feature in the following pages. Gene Lucero is “a very accomplished lawyer”, admired for his litigation skills. Robert Wyman is “among the very top air lawyers” in California. LA practitioner James Arnone also has excellent litigation credentials. In the DC office, David Hayes is global chair of the environment, land and resources department and a “top-class lawyer”. Robert Sussman at the same office has “tremendously impressive government experience” as former deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Gary Gengel represents the firm’s New Jersey office and David Mulliken, head of the firm’s European litigation department, appears for the London office.

CORPORATE AND FINANCE
M&A is another area where the firm displays transatlantic strength. Latham & Watkins recently represented Beckman Coulter in its acquisition of Biosite’s outstanding common stock. Five practitioners appear in the following pages, two of whom hail from California, where the firm is well placed to serve the state’s technology and biotech industries. LA practitioner Paul Tosetti has M&A experience in a wide range of industries including pharmaceuticals, motion pictures and hospitality. Christopher Kaufman has a focus on technology companies, and is based in Silicon Valley. In Chicago, Mark Gerstein is a global co-chair of the firm’s mergers and acquisitions group, and is noted for his proficiency in defending friendly and unsolicited tender offers. In Barcelona, the “fantastic” José Luis Blanco often works on matters such as management and leveraged buyouts, and related transactions. Peers have “only heard good things about” Christoph von Teichman, who is based in Hamburg.

Gerstein, Kaufman and Blanco also appear in the corporate governance chapter, joined by New York partner Charles Nathan. The firm’s work on government investigations, securities compliance programmes and internal investigations drew favourable comment.

Kaufman makes a third appearance in the capital markets section. In San Francisco, Tracey Edmonson focuses on corporate finance, especially high-yield debt offerings, debt tender offerings and equity-linked securities. Mark Stegemoeller in LA has represented many investment banking and corporate clients in securities offerings. Kirk Davenport co-chairs the firm’s international corporate finance practice group from New York.

Latham and Watkins has a transatlantic profile in the banking chapter. Two Chicago lawyers make the cut: banking practice co-chair David Crumbaugh represents commercial finance lenders and banks in matters including cross-border and senior debt transactions. Also at the Chicago office, James Doran represents banks and financial institutions on loan matters such as structuring and underwriting loan originations. Practice co-chair Marc Hanrahan is based in New York where he concentrates on senior lending transactions for banks and financial institutions. James Chesterman flies the flag for the London office.

Four of Latham & Watkins’ insolvency and restructuring lawyers appear in the chapter. Highlights for the group include working on the restructuring of the airline catering company Gate Gourmet. In New York, the “exceptional” Robert Rosenberg has a “fantastic reputation”. In Los Angeles, Michael Lurey is co-chair of the global insolvency and restructuring group where, according to one rival, “clients love him”. Fellow co-chair David Heller operates from Chicago and also leads the firm’s Latin American practice group. In London, John Houghton co-chairs the insolvency practice.

In the corporate tax section, Paris office managing partner Olivier Delattre focuses his practice on advising clients on national and international M&A tax issues as well as transfer pricing. One source named him as “one of the great tax lawyers”. Stephen Bowen in Chicago won praise for his federal income tax expertise.

Private fund work is another area of strength for the firm. Nigel Campion-Smith “has a great reputation” in the field and represents private equity investors and portfolio companies in the formation of investment funds. His colleague Scott Klein is a “top practitioner”, representing sponsors and investors in forming funds such as acquisition, workout, “special situation”, real estate and hedge funds.

Two real estate practitioners make the cut: Joshua Stein of the New York office received numerous votes from competitors. They praised his academic contributions to the field, stating: “He produces more scholarly work than almost anyone.” The “superb” Jürgen Hübner operates from Hamburg and is co-chair of the real estate practice group. He represents investors in commercial property investments in countries including Turkey, Mexico, Chile and the US.

INTERNET, TRADEMARKS AND COMMUNICATIONS
In the internet and e-commerce research, two Latham lawyers stood out: Ulrich Wuermeling of the Frankfurt office specialises in issues such as technology and outsourcing agreements, privacy, competition and consumer protection issues. DC’s Brian Smith also comes highly rated.

The firm is represented in France and the US in the regulatory communications research. Gary Epstein, in Washington, DC, is co-head of the communications practice group and leads the firm’s telecommunications practice, advising companies on US regulations on telecommunications, satellite and broadcast providers. From the Paris office, the “excellent” Christophe Clarenc’s practice was widely praised by competitors.

In the trademarks chapter, London lawyer Laurence Cohen achieved recognition for his broad-based intellectual property practice.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION
In London, arbitrator Robert Volterra is Latham & Watkins’ sole representative in the arbitration chapter. He is global chair of the international dispute resolution practice, advising and representing governments, private clients and international organisations on international dispute resolution matters. New Jersey partner Alan Kraus appears in the commercial litigation chapter. He has experience in complex litigation work in a range of areas.