Nine Latham Partners Honored as MVPs of the Year

Nine Latham & Watkins partners have been named 2022 MVPs of the Year by Law360 in the legal news service’s annual selection of leading lawyers in a range of practice area and industry categories. The honorees "have distinguished themselves from their peers by securing hard-earned successes in high-stakes litigation, complex global matters and record-breaking deals," according to Law360.

The 2022 Latham honorees include:

Rachel Bates, Global Vice Chair of the Real Estate Practice, named in Law360’s Hospitality category. She advises clients on all aspects of their most complex and significant real estate transactions across a variety of asset classes, with a particular focus on the hospitality industry. She serves a broad range of market participants, including private equity sponsors, developers, leading hospitality brands, family offices, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and institutional investors. She recently advised Hyatt Hotels Corporation in its agreement to acquire Apple Leisure Group, a leading luxury resort-management services, travel and hospitality group, from affiliates of each of KKR and KSL Capital Partners, LLC for US$2.7 billion.

Sean Berkowitz, Global Chair of the Complex Commercial Litigation Practice, selected in the Trials category. He represents clients in complex litigation and regulatory investigations, including Fortune 500 companies and individual executives on their most important litigation matters in courts and venues throughout the United States. He also advises clients on government and regulatory investigations, and develops strategies to resolve those matters short of litigation.

Marc Jaffe, New York Office Managing Partner, former Global Corporate Department Chair, and former Capital Markets Practice Global Co-Chair, awarded in the Capital Markets category. He represents prominent US and foreign companies, investment banks, private equity and venture capital funds, and other investors in high-profile and precedent-setting capital markets and financing transactions and general corporate matters. Jaffe represented Rivian in the electric car company’s landmark US$11.9 billion IPO, the largest IPO of 2021 and one of the largest technology IPOs in history.

Michele Johnson, Global Chair of Latham’s Litigation & Trial Department, honored in the Securities (Litigation) category. In her practice as a member of the Securities Litigation and Professional Liability Practice, she represents Fortune 500 companies, boards of directors, financial institutions, and individuals in securities, M&A, and other complex commercial litigation.

Jean Pawlow, a member of the Tax Controversy Practice, named in Law360’s Tax category. With a breadth of experience in all stages of the IRS administrative process, federal litigation, and Tax Court litigation, she represents companies and individuals in federal, state, and local tax controversy matters involving myriad, complex tax issues. Pawlow is one of the partners leading Latham’s cutting-edge work on behalf of Netflix in which the team has obtained dismissals of several class action lawsuits against the media streaming giant related to franchise fees, victories that Law360 also recognized when naming Latham Tax Group of the Year.

Melissa Arbus Sherry, a member of the Supreme Court & Appellate Practice, selected in the Appellate category. She represents a full spectrum of clients in high-stakes appellate litigation across the country, particularly in the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Courts of Appeals, and state appellate courts. Sherry led a cross-practice Latham team that delivered a unanimous US Supreme Court win for Boechler PC, a resounding victory for taxpayers – especially low-income taxpayers and small businesses -- who narrowly miss the 30-day deadline for challenging the IRS’ decision to seize property in satisfaction of tax debts.

Justin Stolte, Global Chair of the Energy & Infrastructure Industry Group, awarded in the Energy category. He represents a broad range of clients in strategic transactions in the energy and infrastructure sectors, often involving novel and complex structures. He has helped Latham’s energy group solidify its leading position in the energy space – from traditional energy to energy transition – resulting in multiple accolades including being named to Law360’s Energy Practice Group of the Year in 2020 and 2021.

Adam Sullins, Global Co-Chair of the Entertainment, Sports & Media Practice and Global Vice Chair of the Entertainment, Sports & Media Industry Group, in the Sports category. He represents sports teams, owners and investors, media companies, corporate sponsors, as well as leagues, players associations, governing bodies, and athletes on a full spectrum of matters across the sports industry.

Serrin Turner, a member of the Connectivity, Privacy & Information Practice, in the Cybersecurity & Privacy category.  A former federal prosecutor, he represents and advises clients on a wide range of cybersecurity and privacy-related matters, including class-action litigation, regulatory investigations, commercial disputes, and incident response.