Firm Again Recognized as a Leading Innovator

In another demonstration of the firm’s forward-thinking market leadership, Latham & Watkins tied for the second spot in the Financial Times’ 2015 North America Innovative Lawyers index. Latham has consistently placed among the top global law firms in Financial Times Innovative Lawyers reports covering North America, Europe and Asia.

Latham won praise in a number of categories, including jointly placing #1 in the “Expanding Clients’ Business” category for the firm’s work representing Allergan in its defense against a multibillion-dollar hostile takeover bid. Latham’s transactional and litigation teams were recognized for work in several landmark matters and practice areas, including: 

• “Standout” for representing Allergan in its defense against a hostile takeover attempt by Valeant Pharmaceuticals that became “one of the most vicious and high-profile battles during the current boom in corporate dealmaking,” culminating in Allergan’s US$73 billion acquisition by Actavis. 
• “Highly Commended” for being “one of the first to set up a financial technology practice that works at the intersection of finance, technology and regulation.” Through the formation of the firm’s FinTech practice, Latham “has won new client mandates, and is getting in at ground-level with start-up companies that have the potential to provide business for years to come.” 
• “Commended” for “advising a large group of international lenders in the project financing for the Cameron LNG project,” which involved “obtaining debt guarantees for them during the construction period.” 
• “Commended” for defending the London Metal Exchange against antitrust claims in a large multidistrict class action brought to federal district court. Latham successfully argued that its client was “carrying out regulatory and not commercial activity and was entitled to protection under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.”

Latham also won recognition for talent management initiatives in the report’s “Business of Law” section:

• “Highly Commended” for developing the firm’s annual Spring Challenge, “a comprehensive health initiative for the firm’s employees that combines exercise with giving back to the community.”