Latham & Watkins
A global law firm advising companies, financial institutions, governments, and individuals on complex transactions, disputes, investigations, and regulatory matters.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Latham & Watkins is an American multinational law firm founded in Los Angeles in January 1934 by tax lawyer Dana Latham and labor lawyer Paul Watkins. It developed from a small California practice into one of the world's largest and most internationally integrated firms, with a broad platform covering transactional work, disputes, regulatory matters, investigations, tax, intellectual property, finance, and private equity. The firm operates as a limited liability partnership and is not publicly listed. Its early identity was shaped by the complementary practices of its founders. Dana Latham concentrated on state and federal tax matters and later served as Commissioner of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, while Paul Watkins built a practice focused primarily on labor law. For several decades the firm expanded gradually; it had only 19 attorneys in 1960. A major step in its national development came in 1978, when former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Carla Anderson Hills joined as a named partner and supervised the opening of the Washington, D.C. office. That move strengthened the firm's administrative and public-law capabilities and helped establish a model of recruiting senior lawyers with significant government experience. Latham then pursued sustained domestic and international expansion. Offices opened in San Diego in 1980, Chicago in 1982, New York in 1985, San Francisco in 1990, London in 1990, Moscow in 1992, Hong Kong and Tokyo in 1995, Silicon Valley in 1997, and Singapore in 1997. The network allowed the firm to advise multinational corporations and financial sponsors on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, leveraged finance, infrastructure, technology matters, and disputes spanning multiple jurisdictions. The firm is especially associated with high-value corporate transactions, private equity, litigation, investigations, restructuring, and sophisticated regulatory advice. It has represented clients before major courts and agencies, including the U.S. Supreme Court, and its lawyers have moved into prominent judicial, executive, legislative, regulatory, and corporate leadership positions. Its alumni include judges, cabinet officials, U.S. solicitors general, agency heads, congressional representatives, and senior executives at technology companies. Latham reached a major financial milestone in 2007 when it became the first U.S. law firm reported to have exceeded $2 billion in annual revenue. During the 2009 global recession, it reduced its workforce by 190 lawyers and 250 paralegals and support personnel. The cuts generated the informal legal-industry expression “Lathamed,” referring to being laid off. In 2018, the firm became the first law firm reported to have surpassed $3 billion in gross revenue. It has remained among the leading firms in global revenue rankings and profitability measures, although exact financial figures are included only where accompanied by a source and period. In the 2020s, Latham continued to refine its international footprint. In August 2023 it announced the closure of its Shanghai office as part of a consolidation of its China operations. The firm also participated in public debate over antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism on American college campuses after the beginning of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, joining other firms in a letter to law-school deans. In April 2025, amid government pressure on law firms during the second Trump administration, Latham agreed to provide $125 million in pro bono legal services for causes endorsed by Donald Trump. The arrangement prompted some companies, including Morgan Stanley and Microsoft, to move legal work to other firms. Latham remains an active, full-service global law firm serving clients across major commercial and financial centers.
History
Latham & Watkins began in January 1934 in Los Angeles, California, with Dana Latham and Paul Watkins. Latham was a tax lawyer whose later public service included leadership of the Internal Revenue Service; Watkins concentrated on labor law. The combination gave the young firm a foundation in both regulatory and employment-related work, although expansion was initially restrained. In 1960, the practice employed only 19 attorneys. The firm's national profile changed in February 1978, when Carla Anderson Hills became a named partner and led the establishment of a Washington, D.C. office. Hills had previously served as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and brought substantial government and administrative-law experience. The office combined lawyers from Los Angeles with senior recruits from federal agencies, creating a platform for public-law and regulatory work. During the 1980s and 1990s, Latham built a national and international network. It opened offices in San Diego, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, London, Moscow, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Silicon Valley, and Singapore. This expansion coincided with the growing importance of cross-border mergers, international finance, technology transactions, and multinational disputes. The firm increasingly operated as an integrated global practice rather than a collection of domestic offices. In 2007, Latham was reported to be the first American law firm to exceed $2 billion in annual revenue. The 2009 recession forced a significant reduction in headcount, including 190 lawyers and 250 paralegals and support staff. The layoffs became sufficiently associated with the firm that “Lathamed” entered informal legal-industry usage. Despite this setback, the firm continued to expand its leading corporate, private-equity, litigation, and finance practices. Latham reached another widely reported milestone in 2018 when gross revenue exceeded $3 billion, briefly making it the world's highest-grossing law firm. In subsequent years it remained near the top of large-firm revenue rankings and received extensive recognition for practices and individual lawyers. Its lawyers have handled major Supreme Court matters involving copyright, administrative law, disability rights, immigration, constitutional issues, and criminal procedure. Notable cases listed in connection with the firm include Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. v. Goldsmith, Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce, and Vega v. Tekoh. The firm has also produced a notable group of public and corporate figures. Former lawyers and alumni include judges such as Michael Chertoff, Patricia Guerrero, Amit Mehta, and Jonathan Lippman; government officials including Carla Hills, Christopher Cox, Gregory Garre, and Kathryn Ruemmler; and business leaders such as Matthew Prince and Julie Gao. These alumni reflect the firm's longstanding connections to courts, regulators, executive agencies, and major companies. In August 2023, Latham announced the closure of its Shanghai office while consolidating its China operations. Later that year it joined other law firms in a public statement condemning antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism amid campus tensions after the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war. In April 2025, the firm agreed to provide $125 million in pro bono legal services for causes endorsed by Donald Trump during a period of political pressure on major law firms. The agreement generated client and public-relations consequences, including reports that Morgan Stanley and Microsoft transferred legal work elsewhere. Latham continues to operate as an active international full-service firm.
- 2023
Shanghai office closure announced
[1]The firm announces the closure of its Shanghai office as part of a China-operations consolidation.
- 2018
Gross revenue exceeds $3 billion
[1]Latham becomes the first law firm reported to exceed $3 billion in gross revenue.
- 2009
Recession-era layoffs
[1]The firm cuts 190 lawyers and 250 paralegal and support positions during the global recession.
- 2007
Revenue exceeds $2 billion
[1]Latham becomes the first U.S. law firm reported to surpass $2 billion in annual revenue.
- 1995
Hong Kong and Tokyo expansion
[1]The firm expands its Asia-Pacific network through offices in Hong Kong and Tokyo.
- 1990
London and San Francisco offices opened
[1]The firm strengthens its U.S. and international presence with offices in San Francisco and London.
- 1978
Washington, D.C. expansion
[1]Carla Anderson Hills joins as a named partner and oversees the opening of the Washington, D.C. office.
- 1934
Firm founded in Los Angeles
[1]Dana Latham and Paul Watkins establish the firm in Los Angeles, California.
Products and positioning
A high-end, full-service international law firm serving multinational companies, private equity sponsors, financial institutions, governments, and prominent individuals in complex legal matters.
Legal services
Corporate and M&A
Latham advises public companies, private companies, financial sponsors, and investors on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, takeovers, governance, and other strategic transactions. The practice is designed for complex matters involving multiple jurisdictions, regulated industries, sophisticated financing structures, and substantial transactional risk.
Legal services
Private equity
The firm represents private equity sponsors and portfolio companies throughout the investment lifecycle, including fund formation, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, financing, add-on transactions, operational matters, exits, and restructurings. Its work commonly combines corporate, finance, tax, antitrust, employment, regulatory, and litigation advice.
Legal services
Litigation and investigations
Latham handles complex commercial disputes, securities litigation, class actions, appellate matters, white-collar defense, internal investigations, and government enforcement proceedings. Its lawyers appear before U.S. and international courts and agencies, including in matters with significant constitutional, regulatory, intellectual-property, or reputational implications.
Legal services
Capital markets and finance
The finance platform advises issuers, borrowers, lenders, underwriters, sponsors, and investors on public and private securities offerings, acquisition finance, leveraged finance, structured finance, project finance, and other capital-raising arrangements. The work supports both domestic and cross-border transactions.
Legal services
Regulatory, tax, and intellectual property
The firm provides specialist advice on tax planning and controversy, antitrust, trade controls, sanctions, technology regulation, data and privacy, intellectual property, employment, environmental law, and other regulatory matters. These practices support transactions and disputes as well as ongoing compliance programs.
Controversies
2025
Settlement involving pro bono commitments endorsed by Donald Trump
In April 2025, Latham agreed to provide $125 million in pro bono legal work for causes endorsed by Donald Trump. The agreement drew criticism and reportedly led some corporate clients, including Morgan Stanley and Microsoft, to transfer legal work to other firms.
Marketing campaigns
- 2023Law-school statement against discrimination
United States
Latham joined other law firms in a letter to 14 American law-school deans condemning antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism amid campus tensions after the beginning of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war.
Outcome. Public statement issued
Brand decisions
2025
Agreement to provide Trump-endorsed pro bono servicesStrategyBackground
The agreement occurred amid political and governmental pressure on major U.S. law firms during the second Trump administration.
Action taken
Latham committed to provide $125 million in pro bono legal work for causes endorsed by Donald Trump.
Aftermath
The deal generated reputational controversy and reports that Morgan Stanley and Microsoft moved legal work to firms that had not reached similar settlements.
Pro bono legal services commitment. $125 million (Announced April 2025)
2023
Consolidation of China operationsStrategyBackground
The firm reviewed its China footprint and announced that it would close its Shanghai office.
Action taken
Latham announced the Shanghai office closure while continuing to maintain other capabilities in the region.
Aftermath
The move reduced the firm's physical presence in China and formed part of a broader operational consolidation.
Recent events
- 2023
Latham announces closure of Shanghai office[1]
Other
The firm said it would close its Shanghai office as part of a consolidation of its China operations.
- 2023
Latham joins law firms addressing campus antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism[1]
Campaign
Following the beginning of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war and clashes at some U.S. campuses, the firm joined a letter to law-school deans condemning discrimination and prejudice.
- 2018
Latham becomes first law firm reported above $3 billion in gross revenue[1]
Other
The firm reached a reported gross-revenue milestone and briefly occupied the top position in global law-firm revenue rankings.
- 2009
Latham announces workforce reductions during the global recession[1]
Other
The firm eliminated 190 lawyer positions and 250 paralegal and support roles amid the economic downturn.
- 2007
Latham becomes first U.S. law firm reported above $2 billion in annual revenue[1]
Other
The milestone reflected the firm's rapid growth in large corporate, finance, and international practices.
- 1978
Latham & Watkins opens Washington, D.C. office through addition of Carla Anderson Hills[1]
Other
The firm expanded beyond Los Angeles and added a major administrative and public-law capability through Hills.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/latham-and-watkins · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled