After a fateful coin toss in 1934 determined which name would appear first on the masthead, Latham and Watkins founded their two-man firm. The tiny firm established itself in the 1980s by taking on high-profile corporate clients. The prosperity turned around, albeit temporarily, as the economic recession of the 90s brought hardship for Latham. Major clients went bankrupt, forcing Latham to announce massive layoffs.
The Los Angeles-based firm was seen as an outsider until it established a higher profile and aggressively sought new clients. By 2000, Latham's annual revenue was $642 million, while profits per partner soared to $1 million. Latham consistently ranks among the top firms in M&A, equity and project finance. In the most recent issue of American Lawyer, Corporate Scorecard, Latham received the highest number of top-ten scores. Latham was number one in IPOs and REIT equity and debt, and Latham attorneys worked on four of the most powerful project financings of 2003. Today, the firm ranks as one of the largest worldwide, with 1500 attorneys in ten countries. The firm's aggressive European expansion earned it the U.S. Law Firm of the Year honors at the 2003 Lawyer Awards.
In addition to its impressive corporate law divisions, Latham has developed a powerful litigation practice. The firm's attorneys have been involved in some of the more controversial and groundbreaking court cases of the new century. In 2000, Latham's New York office challenged Texas' notorious death penalty in convict Ernest Watkin's capital punishment appeal, a trial which represented an indictment of Texas' death row. In a first-of-its-kind landmark lawsuit, Latham represented Tosco Corp., a Hawaiian oil refiner accusing a Japanese company of conspiring to manipulate crude oil prices illegally in 2001. Another groundbreaking case handled by Latham's attorneys came in 2000, when the House of Representatives took the Clinton administration to court over census data. Former Deputy Solicitor General and Latham partner Maureen Mahoney served as the House's lead counsel before the Supreme Court.
Latham has also been distinguished for its commitment to pro bono causes. America's largest pro bono service provider, Public Counsel, twice named Latham pro bono provider of the year, a distinct honor. The firm, which counts pro bono hours as billable hours, has also ranked first in American Lawyer's list of law firms with the most pro bono hours. The firm has represented child detainees of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and lobbied for a bill that would guarantee legal counsel to children detained by the INS. Fifty Latham attorneys and staffers logged over 3000 hours pouring over capital punishment sentences in a reform aimed at reducing error in death penalty cases. The firm has also been honored by the New Jersey Senate for its investigations into racial profiling.
Befitting a California-based firm, Latham is characterized as a laid back place to work. Even the East Coast and foreign offices offer a California-style relaxed atmosphere. The firm offers flexible part time work options for parents and participates in events, such as the Latham-sponsored National Conference for Minority Lawyers, to introduce minorities to Latham and increase the firm's diversity. Although associates have praised the friendliness of partners and claim partners treat them as equals, the prospects for making partner are not quite so appealing. The qualifications for partnership include more than tenure. Proven leadership abilities are a must. Despite the reputation as a relaxed firm, Latham puts great significance on billable hour requirements. On average, Latham attorneys will bill between 40 and 55 hours a week, spending 60 hours a week in the office, with some weekend work included.
Latham & Watkins currently has several openings in its Los Angeles, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Orange County, San Diego, Chicago, New York, Washington DC, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, and Tokyo offices, including opportunities for experienced corporate, litigation, employment, real estate, government, health care, entertainment, environmental and other associates. More information regarding attorney positions at Latham & Watkins can be found in the LawCrossing job database.
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