Latham & Watkins LLP

Counsel

Finance Partner

Adam Ravin is counsel in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Ravin is a member of the Finance Department and Restructuring, Insolvency & Workouts Practice.

Partner

Tax Partner

Partner

Adrien Giraud is a partner in Latham & Watkins’ Paris and Brussels offices and a member of the firm’s Global Antitrust & Competition Practice. He specializes in French and European competition law and has significant experience in merger control, behavioral antitrust matters (including damages claims), and State aid. Mr. Giraud has 18+ years of experience advising French and international clients in complex EU and French merger cases and in some of the most significant antitrust investigations of recent years. His experience also encompasses civil antitrust damages litigation, an area in which he has represented clients in proceedings before the French courts. Furthermore, Mr. Giraud advises companies and public authorities on state aid compliance and assists them with European Commission state aid investigations and related litigation before the European courts. Mr. Giraud is a member of the board of directors and general secretary of the Association des avocats pratiquant le droit de la concurrence. (APDC). He is also founder and president of l’Entente, a Brussels-based association of French-speaking antitrust professionals. A recognized thought leader, Mr. Giraud frequently contributes to publications on EU and French competition law.

Alfred C. Pfeiffer, Jr. is Vice Chair of Latham’s 600-lawyer global Litigation & Trial Department and is former Co-chair of the firm's Antitrust & Competition Practice. He has extensive experience in civil antitrust cases, civil and criminal government antitrust investigations, and other competition-related commercial cases.

Tax Partner

Alan Mendelson represents emerging and public growth companies, primarily in the life sciences industry. He served as the Co-chair of the firm’s Emerging Companies Practice from 2001 to 2013 and currently is Co-chair of the Life Sciences Industry Group. Mr. Mendelson has handled and supervised a variety of major business transactions.

Alexander Benedetti is a partner in the Paris office of Latham & Watkins. He primarily handles mergers and acquisitions, with particular emphasis on private equity and leveraged buyout (LBO) acquisitions. He regularly advises companies in a variety of general corporate matters, including governance issues, joint venture, recapitalization, restructuring transactions, securities law, and regulatory issues. Prior to joining Latham, Mr. Benedetti practiced for eight years at a leading global law firm.

Alexander Crosthwaite is a partner in the Paris office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the Corporate Department. He specializes in complex mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions as well as securities laws.

Dr. Alexander Lentz is a member of the corporate finance team focusing on capital market transactions, with particular expertise in high-yield bond offerings and leveraged finance deals. In the last several years, Mr. Lentz has advised corporate (in various industries), sponsor, and investment banking clients on various high-yield bond, leveraged, and other financing transactions with particular focus on the DACH region. Prior to joining the firm in 2010, Mr. Lentz was an associate for three years at another US law firm. Mr. Lentz advises on: Complex high-yield bond transactions (both under US and German law), including related liability management transactions Commitment papers for bridge-to-bond financing transactions P2P financing transactions ‘Cross-over’ bonds (e.g., in the real estate sector in the DACH region) High-yield bond advise in restructuring context Green bonds and sustainable finance

Corporate Partner

Corporate Partner

Alexandra Hagelüken advises creditors and borrowers on complex national and cross-border financings, drawing on more than two decades of experience with German and English law transactions. Ms. Hagelüken formerly served as Co-Vice Chair of the firm’s Global Finance Department. Ms. Hagelüken regularly advises on: Acquisition financing transactions Infrastructure financings Financial restructurings General corporate lending She excels at establishing long-term relationships with clients who value her pragmatic and unflappable approach. With a keen knowledge of both the products and the players in the German market, she has become a trusted advisor for clients pursuing landmark and innovative deals.

Partner

Litigation Partner, Office Managing Partner

Allen Wang is a partner in the Hong Kong office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Wang practices corporate law, with a focus on: Capital markets Mergers, acquisitions, and restructurings Public company representation Mr. Wang has worked on domestic and international capital markets transactions (including high yield bonds, IPOs, investment grade debt, convertibles, and other products), mergers, acquisitions, and restructurings in a variety of industries, including life sciences, technology, media, gaming, and financial institutions. His clients include domestic and international companies and investment banks, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan, and Deutsche Bank Securities. Prior to joining Latham, Mr. Wang worked as an associate in the general practice group at a leading law firm in New York and as an investment banking associate in the financial institutions group at Morgan Stanley in New York, where he advised on capital markets and M&A transactions.

Partner

Counsel

Litigation & Trial Counsel

Tax Partner

Andrea Schwartzman is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins and global Co-chair of the Investment Funds Practice. Ms. Schwartzman advises private fund sponsors, institutional investors and investment advisors on a broad range of issues, including the structuring of investment funds, portfolio investments, internal operations and regulatory compliance.

Dr. Andreas Lönner is a counsel in the Hamburg office and practices in the Corporate Department. Mr. Lönner specializes in mergers and acquisitions and general corporate advice. He has specific expertise in stock corporation and capital markets law as well as complex reorganizations. Prior to joining Latham & Watkins, Mr. Lönner was an assistant to Prof. Dr. Gerald Spindler at the chair of corporate law at the University of Göttingen. During his practical legal training Mr. Lönner worked at a law firm in San Francisco.

Partner

Litigation Partner

Finance Partner

Counsel

Litigation Partner

Partner

Counsel

Anthony R. Klein is Global Co-Chair of Latham’s Connectivity Industry Group, Chair of the Security Committee, and previously served as Global Co-Chair of the Data & Technology Transactions Practice. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in Silicon Valley and around the world, he leverages a sophisticated understanding of the intricacies of dynamic technologies to counsel emerging growth and established technology and service companies, negotiating their strategic alliances and technology/IP-related transactions.

Corporate Partner

Antonio Coletti advises clients on a variety of capital markets, M&A, and general corporate matters, with a particular focus on equity and debt offerings. Widely recognized as one of Italy’s leading corporate lawyers, Mr. Coletti advises a mix of private equity firms, companies, and investment banks that do business in Italy. He handles a range of notable transactional matters, including equity and debt capital markets offerings and public mergers and acquisitions. His work also includes public company representation matters. Drawing on more than two decades of capital markets experience, Mr. Coletti combines sophisticated legal and regulatory knowledge with a pragmatic and commercially driven approach. He regularly advises on some of the highest-profile capital markets transactions in the Italian market. His capital markets work includes: Primary and secondary offerings, listings (initial public offerings, rights issues, and accelerated book build offerings) Public M&A, including stake buildings and take-over bids Bonds issues (investment grade, high yields, and convertible) Liability management (tender offers and consent solicitation) Structured finance transactions, including equity derivatives Mr. Coletti also advises clients on sales and acquisitions of public companies, as well as general corporate representation, reorganization, and compliance matters. Mr. Coletti previously served as Local Chair of the Corporate Department in Mila

Environment, Land & Resources Counsel

Partner

Tax Partner

Axel Schiemann is a financial regulatory partner who advises German and global clients on a full spectrum of domestic and cross-border regulatory issues and transactions in the financial sector. He is a member of the firm’s Financial Institutions Group. Mr. Schiemann regularly advises on: Prudential supervision of banks and investment firms (including CRR/CRDIV) Securities related compliance (including MAR, MiFID/MiFID II) Mergers and acquisitions in the financial industry Issuance of regulatory capital instruments Litigation in the financial sector Regulatory enforcement and investigations Bank recovery and resolution Corporate governance and remuneration systems IT/Outsourcing Fintech and ICOs Brexit-related issues Prior to joining Latham, Mr. Schiemann served in different in-house roles in the financial industry. Mr. Schiemann frequently writes and speaks on financial regulatory issues. For example, he is co-author of a commentary on Securities Compliance (Wertpapier-Compliance in der Praxis) and a commentary on the German Supervisory Act on Payment Services (ZAG - Kommentar zum Zahlungsdiensteaufsichtsgesetz).

  Barry Clarkson has significant experience in transactional matters involving public and private companies, primarily in mergers and acquisitions, public and private equity and debt offerings, venture capital and general corporate matters. He serves as regular M&A and securities counsel for local public and private companies, including wireless, telecommunications, digital marketing and energy companies.

Corporate Partner

Counsel

Litigation & Trial Partner

Benjamin D. Stern is a partner in the Corporate Department in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Stern’s practice focuses on corporate finance, securities regulation and general corporate matters. He has experience in a broad range of finance and other corporate transactions, including secured and unsecured high-yield offerings, equity offerings, exchange offers, tender offers and leveraged buy-outs. Mr. Stern has represented underwriters, initial purchasers and issuers in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, gaming, technology, energy and media.

Environment, Land & Resources Counsel

Counsel

Finance Counsel

Betty Pang is counsel in the San Francisco office of Latham & Watkins. Her practice focuses on healthcare, regulatory and corporate matters, including mergers, acquisitions and affiliations involving health facilities, physician groups and ancillary service providers. Dr. Pang handles a broad range of regulatory matters, including facility and provider licensing, fraud and abuse, self-referral and government program reimbursement compliance. Her clients include nonprofit, county and academic teaching hospitals and health systems, physician practice companies, health plans and clinical laboratories. Dr. Pang also provides regulatory counseling on third-party coverage and reimbursement issues for pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology companies and medical suppliers.

Litigation & Trial Partner

Litigation & Trial Partner

Bradd Williamson is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Williamson is global Co-chair of the Benefits, Compensation & Employment Practice and Chair of the New York Tax Department.

Partner

Partner

Brett Rosenblatt is the former Managing Partner of the San Diego office. He previously led the San Diego office's Finance Department and was a founding Co-chair of the firm's Hospitality, Gaming & Leisure Industry Group. Mr. Rosenblatt represents public and private sector clients, including financial institutions, in connection with a broad array of domestic and international gaming, hotel, hospitality and leisure interests and energy, real estate and infrastructure transactions. Mr. Rosenblatt has been recognized in Project Finance by The Legal 500 US, named a Leading Lawyer for his work in Leisure & Hospitality and described as an "exceptional talent at organizing large groups of lawyers, bankers and principals." Chambers USA calls him "a classic syndicated loan project finance expert," and he has been named a Top Attorney in Real Estate & Construction by the San Diego Daily Transcript.

Corporate partner. Focuses his practice on private equity transactions, mergers and acquisitions, minority investments, strategic partnerships, spin-offs and joint ventures, representing private equity firms and public and private companies. Also advises on corporate governance issues, defensive strategy, securities law compliance and other general corporate matters. Clients include private investment funds managed by Goldman, Sachs & Co.; Permira Advisors LLC; and Citadel Investment Group and their portfolio companies, and other public and private companies.

Brian J. Cuneo is a partner in the Silicon Valley office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Cuneo practices general securities and corporate law, with an emphasis on the representation of public and private companies in the technology and life sciences industries, venture capital funds and investment banks.

Tax Partner

Counsel

Counsel

Litigation Partner

Counsel

Partner

Brook Roberts is the former Managing Partner of the firm’s San Diego office. He previously served as a Global Co-Chair of the Insurance Counseling & Recovery Practice. Brook advises clients on complex insurance coverage and bad faith disputes, involving a wide range of environmental, property, casualty, investment, and professional liability matters. Brook has represented a host of Fortune 500 companies in a variety of complex business litigation matters in federal and state courts, and before domestic and international arbitration panels. He has extensive experience securing coverage for policyholders under virtually every type of insurance available, including: Business interruption claims Comprehensive general liability Directors and officers (D&O) liability Errors & omissions coverage Environmental impairment liability Intellectual property and theft Builders risk Property and casualty policies Political risk Prior to joining Latham & Watkins, Brook served as law clerk to Judge Barry G. Silverman of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Burc Hesse is Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins in Germany. He advises financial investors, focusing in particular on complex cross-border leveraged buyouts. He counsels private equity investors and their portfolio companies, both on the buy-side and the sell-side, on M&A transactions, including: Cross-border and domestic transactions LBOs/MBOs/MBIs Minority investments Co-investments Share and asset deals Mr. Hesse draws on more than 20 years of experience with private equity, through all phases of economic cycles. Leading legal publications including JUVE, Chambers, and IFLR regularly rank him highly, describing him as “an absolute dealmaker” and a skilled negotiator.

Tax Partner

Carla-Sophie Imperadeiro is a partner in Latham & Watkins' Finance Department. She has a wide range of experience representing borrowers, equity sponsors, and lead banks in financing transactions, with a particular emphasis in private equity and LBO financings. Carla-Sophie Imperadeiro received her graduate business law and postgraduate international trade law degrees at the University of Paris, Pantheon-Sorbonne in 2004 and 2005, respectively. She received her postgraduate law degree from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris in 2006.

Corporate Partner

Finance Partner

Cary Hyden is a partner and previously served as Chair of the Corporate Department in Orange County for almost 10 years. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and general corporate and securities matters for companies, private equity sponsors and financial advisors. He has substantial experience representing companies in hostile takeover matters and in situations involving activist stockholders.

Partner

Partner

Cathy Yeung serves as Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Greater China Practice and formerly served as Global Vice Chair of the firm‘s Capital Markets and Public Company Representation Practices. She advises on a full range of PRC-related corporate transactions. Ms. Yeung draws on more than two decades of experience to advise leading investment banks and Chinese companies on the following types of corporate transactions: Capital markets, including initial public offerings and secondary offerings Mergers and acquisitions, including public M&A Privatizations Private equity She also advises listed companies across a full range of industries on regulatory and compliance as well as corporate governance matters. Ms. Yeung, a native mandarin speaker, was born and raised in China, and received her legal education in China and Hong Kong, so brings a strong understanding of Chinese culture and business practice to her work. She regularly leads global teams of market leading-colleagues from across the firm to efficiently and seamlessly address Chinese clients’ needs. She served as the company secretary of Bank of China from 2008-2015. Ms. Yeung speaks at seminars regarding the rules governing the securities listings on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and corporate governance.

Corporate Partner, Deputy Office Managing Partner

Partner

Charles E. Carpenter is a partner in the New York and Houston offices of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Carpenter is a member of the Corporate Department and focuses his practice on corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions, private equity and securities offerings. Mr. Carpenter has over 17 years of experience in the energy sector, with particular knowledge on master limited partnerships and energy focused private equity transactions.

Environment, Land & Resources Of Cousel

Charles-Antoine Guelluy is a partner in Latham & Watkins' Paris office. He has extensive experience representing clients in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and stock exchange regulations, and is actively engaged in all aspects of real estate law, focusing on the sale and purchase of real estate companies and portfolios.

Tax Partner

Christian Adams represents corporates, sponsors, and lenders on a broad range of complex matters across the financing spectrum. Drawing on his varied financing experience, Mr. Adams regularly advises clients on their most significant transactions across the Middle East and internationally. His work spans a multitude of industries, with a particular focus on the investment, hospitality, leisure and entertainment, energy, infrastructure, and real estate sectors. Mr. Adams’ practice includes: Leveraged and acquisition financings Real estate financings General conventional and Islamic lending Refinancings and complex restructurings Distressed debt matters Creative and commercially focused, Mr. Adams brings a proven track record of helping clients successfully navigate significant deals in the Middle East, including those involving bespoke deal structures. Mr. Adams previously served as Vice President at the global investment company Dubai Holding, where he was responsible for financing, restructuring, and strategic transactional matters involving members of the Dubai Holding group and Dubai Holding affiliates. Mr. Adams worked in the firm’s Dubai office from 2008 to 2017 and is a former member of the firm’s Associates and Pro Bono Committees.

Environmental, Land & Resources Partner

Dr. Christoph Baus, a complex commercial trial lawyer, served as Global Vice Chair of the firm’s Litigation & Trial Department and currently serves as Regional Chair of the Litigation & Trial Department in continental Europe. Mr. Baus represents clients at trial and in arbitration in a range of disputes, related to: Complex commercial Securities Professional liability Shareholders M&A Insolvency Antitrust damages and abuse of dominance Mr. Baus has unparalleled experience in courtrooms and has led some of the most complex and high-profile cases, including Germany’s largest mass securities litigation matter. He is regularly lauded by leading legal publications, including JUVE and Chambers Europe, and has been compared to Cicero and James Bond.

A partner in the San Diego office, Christopher W. Garrett has practiced law with the firm since 1981. His practice centers on environmental law, municipal law and land use law throughout California and the Western United States. His areas of expertise include federal, state and local regulation of air pollution, water quality, hazardous waste, solid waste, wetlands protection, endangered species preservation and other environmental and land use laws, including municipal law, public finance and government contracts requirements. His particular areas of concentration involve air pollution laws and regulations and compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Corporate Partner

Chris Yates, a partner in Latham & Watkins’ San Francisco and Silicon Valley offices, litigates and tries precedent-setting antitrust cases in courts across the United States. Mr. Yates regularly counsels and represents clients at the forefront of the sports, technology, travel, healthcare, and life sciences industries. Drawing on more than two decades of litigation and trial experience, he routinely achieves success for clients facing a variety of cutting-edge antitrust and competition issues, including: Consumer class actions Challenges to sports governing bodies IP-related antitrust claims Distribution and pricing policies Industry standard-setting and related claims of anticompetitive collusion or monopolization Alleged aftermarket monopolization Mr. Yates has successfully argued in federal trial courts throughout the country, including New York, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Delaware, and California, and has won appeals before the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and other appellate courts. Mr. Yates previously served as Global Vice Chair of the firm’s Antitrust & Competition Practice.

Dr. Christopher Hazuka is a partner in the Corporate Department of Latham & Watkins’ Silicon Valley office. His practice focuses on advising life sciences companies in structuring and negotiating transactions at every stage of their life cycle.

Mr. Kaufman’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and corporate governance. His practice emphasis is on high technology clients including semiconductor, software and biotechnology companies, privately held start-up companies and major investment banks.

Litigation & Trial Partner

Litigation & Trial Partner

Deputy Office Managing Partner, Corporate Partner

Corporate Partner

Partner

Counsel

Litigation & Trial Partner

Corporate Counsel

Colleen Smith is a member of the Securities Litigation & Professional Liability Practice, representing public companies and corporate officers and directors in securities class actions, shareholder derivative litigation, mergers and acquisitions litigation, SEC investigations, internal investigations and other complex, high-stakes litigation.

Cora Grannemann, a counsel in the Finance Department of Latham & Watkins' Frankfurt office, advises German and international clients on national and cross-border transactions, including leveraged buyouts, strategic acquisition, financial restructurings, and corporate lending within German and English law, helping clients to successfully address all aspects of their financing needs. She focuses on forward-looking leveraged buyouts and corporate finance transactions featuring complex and innovative structures, including bank/bond and covenant-lite. Ms. Grannemann also lectures on "Introduction to English Law" at the Goethe University in Frankfurt.

Corporate Partner

Craig Garner is a corporate partner in the San Diego office of Latham & Watkins and local Chair of the Mergers & Acquisitions Practice. His practice centers around corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and general company representation. In addition, Mr. Garner serves as primary outside corporate and securities counsel for a number of public and private companies.

Partner

Daniel M. Wall is globally recognized as one of the leading antitrust lawyers in the United States, with a practice that encompasses complex antitrust litigation, government conduct investigations, merger reviews and counseling. His specialties are merger litigation, single-firm conduct litigation (e.g., monopolization actions) and the application of the antitrust laws to high technology industries.

Litigation & Trial Partner

Partner

Litigation Partner

Corporate Partner

Corporate Partner

Finance Partner

Corporate Partner

Tax Partner

Tax Partner

Corporate Counsel

Finance Partner

Corporate Partner

Corporate Partner

Partner

Corporate Partner

Partner

Corporate Partner

Litigation Partner

Partner

Partner

Litigation Partner

Partner

Of Counsel, Retired Partner

Tax Partner

Denis Criton is a partner in the Paris office of Latham & Watkins. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions, with particular expertise in leveraged acquisitions (LBOs). Mr. Criton has considerable experience representing private equity institutions in acquisitions, disposals, and restructurings. For more than 18 years, he has been representing French and foreign investors in strategic transactions and joint ventures. Mr. Criton was the Global Chair of the Knowledge Management Committee for four years. Prior to joining Latham, Mr. Criton worked in the London and Paris offices of several leading law firms.

Corporate Counsel

Tax Partner

Dr. Dirk Kocher advises corporations, private equity firms, and strategic investors on public transactions, restructurings, and shareholder issues. Mr. Kocher advises clients on a full spectrum of transformative transactions, restructurings and high-stakes shareholder disputes related to German stock corporations. He regularly guides clients through: Public M&A, taking private transactions, and PIPEs Corporate and financial restructurings of public companies Corporate governance, activism defense, and shareholder litigation Drawing on an exceptional understanding of German stock corporation law, he regularly advises boards on complex transactions as well as compliance issues and shareholder disputes. Mr. Kocher was a lecturer at Bucerius law school and currently serves there as chairman of the board of trustees of the Foundation of the Institute for Corporate and Capital Markets Law. He formerly served as vice chairman of the board of the Finnish-German Trade Association in Hamburg and regularly publishes and speaks on corporate and capital markets’ law issues.

Finance Partner

Litigation Partner

Douglas Yatter is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice and the Financial Institutions and Energy Industry Groups.

Partner

Litigation Partner

Counsel

Environmental, Land & Resources Partner

Partner

Corporate Partner

Tax Partner

Corporate Counsel

Litigation & Trial Counsel

Finance Counsel

Finance Counsel

Finance and Corporate Partner

Counsel

Partner

Partner

Erika L. Weinberg is a partner in the New York office. Ms. Weinberg’s practice focuses primarily on corporate finance and general securities and corporate matters.

Etienne Gentil is of counsel in the Paris office of Latham & Watkins, where he previously was a partner for 15 years. Mr. Gentil acts primarily on leveraged financing, asset financing, and syndicated loans. He is the President of the Commission on French Securities Interest Reform for think-tank Paris Europlace.

Finance Partner

Partner, General Counsel

Fabrice Fages advises French and international clients and their US subsidiaries on complex commercial disputes and sensitive compliance and ESG matters. Mr. Fages helps financial institutions, multinational companies, and French corporates to prevent and mitigate risk and to navigate litigation, including: Civil, commercial, and criminal litigation Mass/class action litigation Internal and government investigations International arbitration and mediation Mr. Fages also regularly helps clients implement compliance and ESG programs. A versatile, internationally recognized lawyer, he draws on both extensive experience appearing before judges and well-honed negotiation skills to avoid litigation. Mr. Fages brings a business sensibility to help clients navigate crisis management, cross-border and French law compliance-related issues. With a broad perspective on complex disputes, he offers clients a strategic view toward dispute resolution. Mr. Fages has long been involved in the evolution of legal and regulatory public policy. He worked with the French Senate on business and financial legal matters from 1999 to 2002 and at the French National Assembly. He draws on experience advising the Conseil National des Barreaux (CNB) on governmental issues. He is a founding member of the Legal Committee of Paris Europlace and an Expert of the leading French think tank, Club des Juristes. Mr. Fages has contributed as an Expert to two committees; one dedicated to anticorruption (2022), and one dedicated to “Devoir de vigilance” (2023), both chaired by former Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve. He is currently a member of a committee on internal investigations, chaired by a former justice minister, Dominique Perben. He also teaches litigation at the Université of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and arbitration at the Université of Paris 2 Panthéon Assas.

Counsel

Fernando Mantilla-Serrano, Global Co-Chair of the International Arbitration Practice, brings deep knowledge and experience in international arbitration representing companies, states, and state-owned entities in highly complex commercial and investor-state disputes. Mr. Mantilla-Serrano acts as lead counsel in arbitrations conducted under the main institutional arbitration rules (ICC, LCIA, SCC, ICDR), as well as ad hoc rules, in venues around the globe. He has in depth experience in complex investor-state disputes, in particular under the aegis of ICSID. He serves regularly as tribunal chairman, sole arbitrator and party-appointed arbitrator, and has also served as an expert before arbitral tribunals and state courts. His practice covers numerous sectors, with particular focus on the oil & gas, power, natural resources, construction, manufacturing, and automotive industries. Mr. Mantilla-Serrano is member of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) Governing Board and of the Singapore International Arbitration Center (SIAC) Court of Arbitration, fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), and member of the International Law Association (ILA).

Fernando Colomina advises borrowers and lenders on complex financing structures in cross-border M&A and private equity transactions, particularly leveraged buyouts. Mr. Colomina helps banks and other financial institutions, sponsors, and corporate borrowers and issuers implement innovative international structures in the Spanish market. He approaches each transaction with creativity and versatility, drawing on extensive experience across the financing spectrum. Mr. Colomina unlocks the resources of Latham’s global platform to connect clients with the right tools for each financing, regardless of jurisdiction. He also frequently works with the high yield team to seamlessly execute bank/bond financings. A recognized thought leader, Mr. Colomina annually serves as an editor for Business Research’s The Acquisition & Leveraged Finance Review, as well as the author of its Spanish chapter.

Frank Grell helps clients navigate distressed situations related to restructuring or insolvency. He chairs the German Restructuring & Special Situations Practice and served as Local Department Chair of the German Finance Department. Mr. Grell has earned a strong reputation from clients and leading publications for his empathetic approach and ability to craft pragmatic and commercial solutions in high-pressure or crisis situations. Mr. Grell advises: Companies, management, and shareholders in a financial or operational crisis Creditors in all phases of financial restructurings, including debt-equity swaps, share pledge enforcements, and insolvency plan proceedings Investors on the acquisition of distressed companies and on restructuring, rescue financing, or refinancing transactions, including debt-equity swaps Insolvency administrators on M&A, restructurings, or disputes Complementing his transactional work, he also represents parties in claw-back and liability cases. Mr. Grell is a board member of TMA Germany e.V. and of Norddeutsches Insolvenzforum e.V. (Insolvency Forum of Northern Germany). He regularly speaks and writes about insolvency and restructuring matters.

Frank Bierwirth is a counsel in the Frankfurt office of Latham & Watkins. He has extensive experience advising on a variety of structured finance and debt capital markets matters including: OTC derivatives Structured notes Securitization and covered bonds Debt issuance programs Bond and Schuldschein loan transactions His regulatory practice includes financial services and securities, market infrastructure such as CCP clearing and trading systems, as well as investment funds and insurance regulatory law.

Gabriel Gross is an experienced trial lawyer focused on intellectual property and technology-focused cases in a variety of industries, ranging from biotech and software to medical devices and consumer products. Mr. Gross has first- and second-chair experience trying cases to verdict. He has represented plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state courts in California, New York, Texas, Delaware, Virginia, Washington, Ohio, Illinois, Connecticut and Wisconsin, and in arbitrations domestically and abroad. Mr. Gross has tried cases to juries involving patent infringement, copyright infringement and stock purchase disputes. He has tried cases before arbitrators and arbitral panels over licensing and other commercial contract disputes. Mr. Gross represents clients in their patent, copyright, trademark and trade dress disputes at all stages, including in court, before administrative tribunals and through appeal. Mr. Gross is also a registered patent attorney with experience in inter partes review and covered business method proceedings.

Partner

Gaëtan Gianasso is a partner in the London and Paris offices of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Gianasso specializes in mergers and acquisitions and private equity with particular expertise in leveraged acquisitions (LBO). He has considerable experience representing private equity institutions in connection with acquisitions, dispositions, and transaction financing.

Partner

Dr. Kuziemko is a member of the Technology Transactions Practice and the Life Sciences Licensing Practice. He has over 14 years of experience negotiating and drafting complex agreements involving the transfer, use and sharing of intellectual property, including agreements covering the research, development, licensing, supply, manufacturing, partnering, promotion and marketing of drug products.

Corporate Counsel

Giovanni B. Sandicchi represents Italian and international clients in a range of private equity and M&A transactions, often in a cross-border context. Drawing on his sophisticated market knowledge and broad-based transactional experience, Mr. Sandicchi advises leading private equity and infrastructure funds, as well as family-run companies and venture capital funds. He regularly navigates transactions across a multitude of industries, including aerospace, defense, and healthcare sectors. His practice includes: Mergers & acquisitions Private equity Infrastructure funds transactions Distressed M&A Joint ventures Corporate governance Strategic commercial contracts Mr. Sandicchi also regularly provides pro bono counsel to nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations seeking assistance corporate governance matters.

Partner

Graeme Smyth is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Smyth is a member of the firm's Finance Department and of the Structured Finance & Securitization and Aircraft Finance Practices.

Greg Rodgers is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Rodgers is a member of the Corporate Department and the Capital Markets, Derivatives and General Corporate Representation Practices. Mr. Rodgers is named as one of the leading capital markets lawyers in the United States by Chambers USA, and by Chambers Global.

Tax Partner

Litigation Partner

Litigation Partner

Haim Zaltzman is a partner at Latham & Watkins and specializes in technology, energy and healthcare financings, with a particular emphasis on the emerging growth space.

Counsel

Hervé Diogo Amengual represents international clients in transactional and litigation aspects of restructurings and bankruptcy matters. Mr. Diogo Amengual represents the various parties in a restructuring/bankruptcy context (debtors, lenders and other creditors, prospective purchasers, managers, and shareholders) before, during, and after bankruptcy proceedings. He is also actively involved in the management of the firm, representing the Paris office on the Ethics Committee.

Hiroki Kobayashi advises high-profile international and Japanese companies on all aspects of corporate transactions and project development and finance with a Japan nexus. Mr. Kobayashi leverages more than two decades of experience guiding clients on Japanese legal issues relating to: Inbound mergers and acquisitions Employment Antitrust Bankruptcy Government regulatory matters He helps non-Japanese clients understand Japan’s cultural best practices and navigate the country’s complex legal regime. Mr. Kobayashi builds trusted relationships with clients to support their business objectives within the region. Mr. Kobayashi also assists Japanese clients engaging in mergers and acquisitions outside Japan together with Latham colleagues in relevant jurisdictions. Mr. Kobayashi provides strategic and legal advice to Japanese sponsors and lenders in project development and finance matters, including in the oil and gas and power sectors. He frequently lectures on US/Japan corporate law matters at business seminars, providing practical solutions for Japanese expatriate candidates and managers of US subsidiaries and operations. Mr. Kobayashi is a member of the Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association in Japan and the New York State Bar Association. He maintains an active pro bono practice, including advising Ashoka, a nonprofit organization that identifies and supports the world’s leading social entrepreneurs.

Howard Sobel is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Sobel is former Co-chair of the US Private Equity Practice and a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions and Public Company Representation Practices.

Howard Lam advises clients in China and across Asia on restructuring, special situations, private credit, and banking finance transactions. In his restructuring practice, Mr. Lam draws on more than two decades of experience to guide all types of parties to a transaction, including: Creditors, particularly banks and credit funds Debtors Insolvency practitioners Bondholders He regularly helps clients resolve a full range of difficult matters, including restructuring, bankruptcy, as well as distressed and other special situations. As a Mandarin and Cantonese speaker, trained in Hong Kong, UK, and Australian law, he brings a multicultural, multijurisdictional perspective to his matters. Familiar with the internal motivations and sensitivities of parties on all sides of a matter, he can help clients choose the best jurisdictions and legal regimes for implementing restructurings. He complements his creative problem-solving and decisive recommendations with an ability to remain even-keeled and diffuse tension in high-stakes situations, and so bring parties together around a solution. Mr. Lam is an INSOL Fellow and a regular speaker at international restructuring and insolvency conferences, and has served on the APLMA China and documentation committees, TMA Hong Kong board, and the executive committee of Restructuring and Insolvency Faculty (RIF). In Mr. Lam’s financing practice, he advises private equity sponsors, banks, and private capital lenders on a full spectrum of complex financing structures, including: Leveraged buy-outs Corporate acquisition financings China onshore/offshore financing Margin loans Direct lending transactions He draws on a keen sense of what is at market and insights from the firm’s global deal flow on cutting-edge financing terms to translate best practices in global jurisdictions to deals Asia.

Ian Schuman is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins, where he formerly served as the Deputy Office Managing Partner. He is global Co-chair of the firm's Capital Markets Practice and a member of the Corporate Department and Private Equity Finance Practice. 

Ignacio Pallarés advises private equity funds and leading Spanish companies on all aspects of corporate law, with a particular emphasis on complex, cross-border M&A. Mr. Pallarés draws on a sophisticated understanding of the local market and long-standing client relationships spanning multiple industries to execute: Private equity investments in Spanish targets M&A transactions in Spain involving Spanish companies Cross-border transactions for Spanish multinational clients He approaches client relationships with an eye toward long-term growth and crafts strategic solutions that resonate across markets. Mr. Pallarés leverages his commercial pragmatism to help clients anticipate and address issues that may arise during negotiations.

Ivan Rabanillo advises clients on Spanish and international tax aspects of cutting-edge cross-border transactions. Mr. Rabanillo combines extensive transactional experience and a comprehensive understanding of multijurisdictional market practice to guide Spanish multinational groups and international investors on: M&A and joint ventures Capital markets transactions Banking and structured finance Restructuring and special situations Qualified to practice in Spain, Brazil, and New York, he approaches each transaction from a global perspective. Mr. Rabanillo devises practical and efficient solutions for clients’ time-sensitive commercial needs.

Corporate Partner

Partner

Partner

Ryan McCarthy is a partner in the Boston office of Latham & Watkins. He has a broad-based corporate practice, representing public and private companies in connection with mergers and acquisitions, complex investments, carve-outs, auction processes, joint ventures, reorganizations and other general corporate matters.

Litigation Partner

Partner

Jake Ryan is global Co-chair of the firm's Complex Commercial Litigation Practice and Chair of the Litigation & Trial Department in San Diego. He is a trial lawyer who focuses on intellectual property litigation, white collar criminal defense and government investigations, and other complex business litigation. Mr. Ryan has established a record of successfully resolving cases at trial and by dispositive motions in a wide variety of subject areas, including trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, and financial fraud.

James Burnett is a partner in the London office of Latham & Watkins and is a member of the firm’s corporate department. His practice includes representing investment banking firms, private equity firms, and companies in public and private debt and equity offerings, bridge loans, acquisition financing and liability management transactions, with a particular emphasis on issuances of high yield debt securities and leveraged transactions.

Corporate Partner

Litigation & Trial Partner

James Mann is counsel in the San Diego office of Latham & Watkins and is a member of the firm's Finance Department. Mr. Mann has experience in a broad range of transactional project finance and real estate projects, including construction financing, power plant development and financing (including renewable energy plants), casino development and financing, and real estate acquisition and financing.

James Metz is a partner in the Tax Department of Latham & Watkins' Silicon Valley office. Mr. Metz's practice focuses on executive compensation and employee benefits matters. He specializes in merger and acquisition transactions, equity incentive plans, employee stock purchase plans, health and welfare plans, and federal and state securities laws issues. Mr. Metz also drafts employment agreements and severance agreements for executives. 

Finance Partner

Corporate Partner

Environmental, Land & Resources Partner

Environmental, Land & Resources Partner

Jamie Wine is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins and global Chair of the firm's Litigation & Trial Department. Recognized as a leading securities lawyer by several top legal publications, Ms. Wine has significant trial and arbitration experience, with a particular focus on complex business litigation, securities and class action litigation, and SEC and other regulatory investigations.

Finance Of Counsel

Dr. Jana Dammann de Chapto advises international clients on merger control and foreign investment control.  Dr. Dammann de Chapto, as a key member of a client’s deal team, navigates the increasingly complex competition, merger control, and foreign investment control landscape in the EU and globally. She represents clients from a full spectrum of industries before the European Commission, national regulatory agencies, as well as before the German and European Courts.  Her commercial work draws on her earlier scholarly work on merger control at the University of Hamburg, her PhD on comparative antitrust law, and her work at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law. She regularly writes and speaks on foreign investment topics.

Jane Summers is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. She is a member of the firm's Finance Department and Banking Practice, where she focuses primarily on the representation of major financial institutions in leveraged finance transactions, including acquisition financings, cross-border financings, asset-based facilities, and other senior secured lending transactions, as well as in connection with strategic purchases of distressed debt. Ms. Summers also advises loan market participants on strategic initiatives designed to address structural issues in the syndicated lending and loan trading markets, speaks frequently on market trends and serves as an expert witness and consultant involving questions critical to market practices. She is a member of the firm’s Ethics Committee, Finance Committee and co-head of Latham's Women Enriching Business Initiative in New York.

Jason M. Ohta is counsel and a member of the White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice Group in the Litigation & Trial Department of Latham & Watkins' San Diego office, where he focuses on white-collar criminal defense and complex healthcare litigation. Mr. Ohta has extensive trial experience and has been involved in a variety of complex and high profile matters.

Corporate Partner

Partner

Partner

Corporate Partner

Counsel

Partner

Partner, Tax Controversy

Jean-Luc Juhan is a partner in the Corporate Department of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Juhan is particularly active in the fields of complex commercial transactions (joint ventures, strategic affiliations, licensing, sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution arrangements) and technology / IP related transactions (procurement and marketing, IT systems integration, business process and technology outsourcing, telecommunications, hosting, data privacy, e-commerce, and sponsoring). Mr. Juhan has developed a substantial practice advising clients in a broad range of sectors including media, sport and entertainment, luxury, retail, financial, telecommunications, aerospace and defense, energy, life sciences, and manufacturing. He teaches contract law and international trade law at the University of Paris I La Sorbonne, the University of Aix-Marseille, and the University of Cairo.

Environmental, Land & Resources Partner

Tax Partner

Litigation & Trial Partner

Partner

Jeff Lawlis, Global Vice Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Capital Markets Practice, advises companies, sponsors, and investment banks on cross-border corporate finance transactions involving complex structuring issues. Mr. Lawlis serves as a go-to advisor to many clients on their full range of financing needs. He brings particular experience in leveraged finance and high yield bridge and bond transactions, as well as other debt and equity capital markets offerings, including private placements, and liability management transactions. Mr. Lawlis regularly advises on the financing aspects of M&A transactions, while also providing advice on general corporate and securities law matters. Drawing on more than two decades of on-the-ground experience in Europe, Mr. Lawlis delivers sophisticated and business-driven counsel with a focus on the Italian, Spanish, and Greek markets.

Jeffrey Tochner is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Tochner is a member of the firm's Corporate Department, where he specializes in intellectual property and technology matters. He is also the Chair of the New York office Technology Transactions Practice as well as a member of the Trademark Prosecution Practice.

Jeff Homrig is a trial lawyer in the Silicon Valley office and a member of the firm’s global Intellectual Property Practice. He is currently Chair of the Silicon Valley Litigation & Trial Department.

Finance Partner

Finance Partner

Corporate Partner

Jennifer Koh is a partner in the San Diego office where she focuses on patent litigation and related counseling, representing clients in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries.

Litigation Partner

Finance Partner

Corporate Partner

Jesse Sheff is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins and is a member of the Finance Department.

Ji Liu, Regional Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Corporate Department in Asia, advises clients on all aspects of corporate and securities law, with an emphasis on debt and equity capital markets transactions. Mr. Liu leverages his problem-solving mentality and extensive market experience to help world-leading companies, investment banks, and trustees navigate: High-yield and investment grade debt offerings Initial public offerings (IPOs) Issuances of equity, debt, and equity-linked securities Mergers and acquisitions Venture capital financing He serves as a trusted advisor to longtime clients and connects them with the resources they need across Latham’s robust global platform to achieve their commercial objectives. A recognized leader at the firm, Mr. Liu previously served on the firm’s Strategic Client Committee.

Jim Morrone primarily represents emerging growth companies and their funding sources, including private and public companies across various industries, venture capital and private equity firms and investment banks. Prior to joining Latham & Watkins, Jim was a Principal and Senior Counsel at Weston Presidio, a venture capital and private equity firm focused primarily on retail, consumer and industrial investments.

Joachim Grittmann is counsel in the Frankfurt office and practices in the firm’s Litigation & Trial Department. He has broad experience in administrative and regulatory law, including: Public procurement law State aid law Compliance matters, e.g., data protection and export control His practice involves all aspects of public law matters for a variety of public and non-public clients. Mr. Grittmann is also a Master of Public Administration and an associate professor for public law at the University of Heidelberg.

Tax Partner

Partner

Partner

Environmental, Land & Resources Partner

Corporate Partner

John Colahan is a partner in Latham & Watkins’ London office. Prior to joining Latham & Watkins, Mr Colahan was the International Antitrust Counsel, based in London, for The Coca-Cola Company where his responsibilities included advising all operating groups on strategic planning and implementation of a wide variety of international joint ventures and acquisitions as well as the conduct of international antitrust litigation and investigations. Mr Colahan has also served as a legal adviser on European law to the European secretariat of the UK Cabinet Office and has represented the UK in numerous cases. He represents clients before the European Commission, national authorities in Europe and internationally, as well as conducting litigation in the European courts and numerous national courts. He has advised on a wide variety of international antitrust matters, including structuring and implementation of international mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, cartel enforcement, single firm conduct and compliance counselling.

Environment, Land & Resources Department Partner

Finance Partner

Partner

Litigation Partner

Partner

Corporate Partner

Corporate Partner

Jonathan Rod is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins, where he is a member of the Finance Department and Chair of the Project Development & Finance Practice. He formerly served as global Co-chair of the Energy - Power Industry Group.

 Jonathan Wry is counsel in the New York office of Latham & Watkins, where he is a member of the Banking Practice in the Finance Department. Mr. Wry's practice includes experience in acquisition finance, syndicated loans, first lien/second lien financings, bridge financing, asset-based lending, letter of credit financings, sports finance, project finance, international joint ventures, securitizations and restructurings. His clients have included commercial banks, private investment/equity firms, energy and power companies, real estate investors, sports teams, insurance companies, and national and international retail, healthcare and hospitality chains.

Partner

Partner

Corporate Partner

Jordi Domínguez advises Spanish and multinational clients on the full spectrum of tax issues that arise in sophisticated cross-border transactions. Mr. Domínguez leverages a comprehensive understanding of global tax laws and decades of transactional experience within the local and global market to guide private equity sponsors, financial institutions, and multinational corporations on: M&A and joint ventures Restructurings Financing structures Capital markets offerings He connects clients to resources across Latham’s platform and provides pragmatic, business-oriented advice that allows clients to make informed decisions in multijurisdictional deals. A recognized thought leader, Mr. Domínguez regularly lectures on international tax law at Centro de Estudios Garrigues and ESADE.

Partner, Office Managing Partner

Corporate Partner

Partner

Counsel

Josh Dubofsky is a partner in the Silicon Valley office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the Corporate Department. He joined Latham in 2001 and has practiced in the Silicon Valley and New York offices.

Litigation & Trial Partner

Joshua A. Tinkelman is partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Tinkelman is a member of the Corporate Department and the Finance Department and is Co-Chair of the Private Equity Finance Practice Group.  His practice centers around bank financing and capital market transactions, focusing primarily on the representation of borrowers and financial sponsors in debt related transactions, including leveraged buyouts.

Environmental, Land & Resources Partner

Corporate Partner

Litigation & Trial Of Counsel

Karen Silverman is a partner in the San Francisco office of Latham & Watkins and is a member of the Global Antitrust & Competition Practice. She is currently Co-chair of the firm's Information Technology: Systems & Solutions Industry Group and the former Office Managing Partner of the San Francisco office.

Counsel

Katherine Lauer is a partner in the San Diego office of Latham & Watkins, and is a global Co-chair of the firm's Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice. Ms. Lauer focuses her practice on healthcare litigation, with emphasis on healthcare fraud defense. She has defended some of the country's largest and most high-profile civil and criminal government healthcare fraud investigations and qui tam cases, representing such clients as HCA, Tenet Healthcare, Catholic Healthcare West and University Hospitals Health System of Cleveland.

Kathleen Walsh is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Ms. Walsh is Vice Chair of the firm's global Corporate Department and former global Co-chair of the firm’s Investment Funds Practice.

Partner

Litigation Partner

Keith Simon is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Simon is a member of the firm's Finance Department and Restructuring, Insolvency & Workouts Practice. Mr. Simon currently serves on the firm's Bankruptcy Advisory Committee. Mr. Simon has extensive experience in a variety of insolvency matters on behalf of secured lenders, debtors, and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy proceedings and out-of-court workouts.

Corporate Partner

Kelly Richardson is former Co-chair of the firm's global Chemical Regulation & Contaminated Properties Practice. He handles a variety of environmental compliance, transactional and litigation.

Counsel

Litigation Partner

Counsel

Litigation Partner

Litigation & Trial Partner

Litigation Partner

Partner

Counsel

Partner

Finance Partner

Litigation & Trial Partner

Counsel

Tax Partner

Tax Partner

Lawrence Safran is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Safran is a member of the firm's Finance Department and the Aircraft Finance, Banking, Project Finance and Structured Finance & Securitization practices. This area includes a wide variety of commercial law issues. Special emphasis is placed on those issues arising under Article 9 (secured transactions) and Article 8 (investment securities) of the Uniform Commercial Code although the practice also includes Article 2 (sales of goods), Article 3 (negotiable instruments), Article 5 (letters of credit), Article 6 (bulk sales) and Article 7 (documents of title).

Lawrence Buterman is a partner in the New York and Washington, D.C. offices of Latham & Watkins, and a member of the firm’s Antitrust & Competition Practice. Mr. Buterman is a nationally recognized antitrust trial litigator, with significant lead trial counsel experience.

Litigation Partner

Partner

Leif Schrader advises private equity funds and other financial investors on domestic and cross-border M&A transactions and joint ventures. Mr. Schrader counsels clients primarily on private equity transactions, including: M&A transactions Co-investments Management participations Joint ventures Minority investments Capital market transactions (IPOs) Mr. Schrader draws on extensive experience handling transactions in a full spectrum of industries, including aerospace, technology, chemicals, and industrials. He is recognized as a notable dealmaker in IFLR1000 and JUVE. Given his sophisticated sense of what is at market, he develops pragmatic solutions to execute clients’ deals. Complementing his considerable transactional experience, he has served in-house as general counsel for an aerospace company in the Middle East.

Litigation Partner

Corporate Partner

Linda M. Inscoe, a litigation partner in the San Francisco and Silicon Valley offices of Latham & Watkins, is Co-chair of the firm’s Employment Law Practice. She is a member of the Employment, Benefits & Compensation Practice, and has jury, bench, administrative agency and binding arbitration trial experience.

Lionel Dechmann is a partner in the Finance Department in the Paris office of Latham & Watkins. He has extensive experience in financing and is particularly involved in acquisition financing, real estate financing, corporate financing, refinancing, and debt restructuring. He advises financial institutions as well as investment funds and large industrial groups.

Lisa Watts is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins, where she is global Chair of the Training and Career Enhancement Committee. Her practice concentrates on corporate and partnership taxation.

Partner

Tax Partner

Louis Trotta is counsel in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Trotta is a member of the Corporate Department and the Financial Institutions Industry Group.

Luca Crocco is a partner in the Brussels office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the firm’s global Antitrust & Competition Practice. His practice focuses on EU and Italian competition law. Prior to joining Latham, he practiced competition law and corporate law for four years at other leading international law firms in Milan. Mr. Crocco represents international companies, in particular companies in the manufacturing, consumer goods, chemicals, and electronics sectors, before the European Commission and the Italian competition authority in cartel and abuse of dominance proceedings. In addition, he regularly represents clients in merger control proceedings before the European Commission and the Italian authority, and coordinates multijurisdictional merger filings for global transactions. Mr. Crocco also has a strong expertise in EU State aid law and has represented clients, in particular, companies in the energy and aerospace industry in State aid proceedings before the European Commission. Mr. Crocco regularly writes on EU and Italian competition law. In particular, he is co-author of the chapter “State aid law claims in merger control” in the volume The Reform of EC Competition Law – New Challenges, edited by Lianos/Kokkoris and published by Wolters Kluwer, 2010. Mr. Crocco is a founder of antitrustitalia, a networking group for Brussels-based Italian antitrust professionals, including enforcement officers, lawyers, economists, corporate counsel, and scholars. Visit www.antitrustitalia.it for more information.

Environmental, Land & Resources Partner

Counsel

Luke Bergstrom is global Co-chair of Latham's Mergers & Acquisitions Practice and a partner in the Corporate Department of the firm's Silicon Valley and San Francisco offices. Mr. Bergstrom practices primarily in the mergers and acquisitions area, where he regularly advises both private equity and corporate clients.

Finance Partner

Partner

Partner

Partner

Corporate Partner

Marc Campopiano is a partner in the Environment, Land & Resources Department. He has extensive experience obtaining and defending approvals for major energy, infrastructure and land use projects. Mr. Campopiano has worked on complex and controversial renewable and traditional power projects, transmission lines, and large residential and commercial development projects. He regularly assists clients on significant environmental regulatory and enforcement matters.

Counsel

Partner

Marcello Bragliani is a partner in Milan and Regional Chair of the Finance Department in Europe. He advises Italian and international clients on a range of complex banking and corporate finance transactions. Drawing on his broad-based financing experience and sophisticated product knowledge, Mr. Bragliani represents a variety of private equity sponsors, banks, private debt lenders, and public and private companies. He brings particular experience in cross-border financings involving bespoke structures. Mr. Bragliani’s practice encompasses: Acquisition finance Corporate finance Debt capital markets Direct lending Restructuring A solutions-focused and commercially driven advisor, Mr. Bragliani builds long-term relationships with clients to help them navigate their full array of financing transactions.

Marcus Lee represents clients doing business in Asia in public and private mergers and acquisitions, as well as issuers and underwriters in a range of capital markets matters. Mr. Lee represents private equity firms and their portfolio companies, as well as emerging companies on: Mergers and acquisitions Capital markets transactions, including IPOs Venture capital financings General corporate matters and compliance issues As a versatile and commercially minded lawyer, he advises clients at all levels of the capital structure. Mr. Lee draws on particular experience handling transactions in Southeast Asia jurisdictions and Asia outbound transactions.

Linda M. Inscoe, a litigation partner in the San Francisco and Silicon Valley offices of Latham & Watkins, is Co-chair of the firm’s Employment Law Practice. She is a member of the Employment, Benefits & Compensation Practice, and has jury, bench, administrative agency and binding arbitration trial experience.

Environment, Land & Resources Partner

Finance Partner

Finance Partner

Corporate Partner

Partner

Environmental, Land & Resources and Litigation Partner

Mathias Fischer is counsel in the Frankfurt office and a member of the global Pro Bono Committee. Mr. Fischer practices in the Litigation & Trial Department. He has broad experience in advising and representing major domestic and international financial institutions and corporations in German and international litigation and arbitral proceedings. Mr. Fischer is specialized on securities litigation, particularly on lawsuits under the German Capital Markets Model Case Law (KapMuG). Additionally, he regularly represents businesses with regard to professional liability and in corporate matters. Mr. Fischer is further specialized in appraisal proceedings. Mr. Fischer is a co-founder and board member of Pro Bono Deutschland e.V., an association for the promotion of pro bono legal advice for non-profit and non-governmental organizations and projects in Germany.

Mathilde Saltiel advises clients on all aspects of EU and French competition law. Ms. Saltiel leverages extensive experience to represent international and French companies across a broad range of industries in: Merger control proceedings before the European Commission (EC) and the French Competition Authority (FCA) Coordination of merger filings for global transactions Cartel and abuse of dominant position investigations by both EU and French competitions authorities Antitrust litigation Private damages actions A recognized thought leader, Ms. Saltiel frequently speaks at industry conferences on EU and French competition.

Corporate Counsel

Finance Partner

Corporate Partner

Litigation Partner

Deputy General Counsel

Corporate Associate

Litigation Partner

Matthias Rubner is a partner in the Paris office of Latham & Watkins. He primarily advises on employment law. Mr. Rubner provides French and international clients with labor law advice related to corporate reorganizations and downsizing, business outsourcing, mergers and acquisitions, and relationships with unions and employee representatives. He frequently engages in negotiations with unions, work councils, and the labor administration and related litigation. Mr. Rubner has strong expertise in the area of data protection law, employee privacy, codes of business ethics, and whistleblower procedures. He regularly advises US clients on how to conduct investigations in France and how to reconcile export control legislation with EU and on French data protection and employee privacy rules. Mr. Rubner is fluent in French, English, and German. He is a frequently featured speaker at seminars in France, the UK, Germany, and the US.

Max Grant serves as trial counsel in patent infringement cases and provides strategic business counseling on intellectual property issues. He led Latham & Watkins’ Intellectual Property Litigation Practice from 2009-2014, a period during which the group more than doubled in size and won the Chambers USA Award for Excellence. The group’s strategic development and unique trial capabilities were featured in an article in The Recorder, an ALM publication. Mr. Grant has tried over 20 patent cases and is recognized as an experienced and innovative first chair trial lawyer.

Finance Partner

Michael Sullivan has represented both publicly and privately held companies in a broad range of complex transactions including public offerings and private placements of equity and debt securities, tender offers, venture financings, joint ventures, mergers, stock purchases and asset purchases. Mr. Sullivan has also represented investment banks in public financing transactions and private equity funds in various mergers and acquisitions.

Michael M. Ettannani is counsel in the Paris office of Latham & Watkins. His capital markets practice includes advising clients on: High yield and other debt capital markets transactions IPOs Mergers and acquisitions with a capital markets financing element Compliance with US securities laws Prior to joining Latham in 2012, Mr. Ettannani practiced in the capital markets group at the New York office of another international law firm. Mr. Ettannani represents corporate clients and investment banks, as well as private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, with respect to international capital markets matters. He has particular experience in initial public offerings and high yield debt securities offerings.

Litigation Partner

Partner

Partner

Litigation Partner

Counsel

Finance Partner

Tax Partner

Partner

Corporate Partner

Partner

Michel Houdayer is a partner in the Finance Department in the Paris office. His practice covers a variety of finance transactions, with a particular emphasis on acquisition finance and private equity. Mr. Houdayer regularly advises leading French and foreign financial institutions, as well as investment funds and corporate borrowers. He primarily advises clients on leveraged finance (senior and mezzanine), banking, and private equity. He is also member of the firm's Opinion Committee.

Finance Partner

Michele Johnson, a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and the former Managing Partner of the Orange County office, is consistently recognized as a leading California litigator. She represents financial institutions, Fortune 500 companies, boards of directors and individuals in securities, M&A and other complex commercial litigation. 

Partner

Corporate Partner

Miles Ruthberg is Chair of the New York Litigation & Trial Department. Mr. Ruthberg has been a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, global Chair of the firm’s Litigation & Trial Department, and Chair of the firm’s Securities Litigation & Professional Liability Practice. He has successfully represented many major companies in their most important litigation, including securities law, class actions and complex commercial disputes with a particular emphasis on accounting issues. 

Min Yee Ng has extensive experience representing both issuers and underwriters in a wide range of corporate finance matters, including initial public offerings and private placements of debt, equity, and equity-linked securities.

Tax Partner

Mitchell A. Seider is a partner in the New York and Houston offices of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Seider is global Co-chair of the firm’s Restructuring, Insolvency & Workouts Practice and a member of the Latin America Practice. Mr. Seider focuses his practice on business reorganizations and financial restructurings.

Partner

Myria Saarinen, former Global Co-Chair of the Technology Industry Group, represents domestic and international clients in all types of civil and commercial complex litigation matters. She also leads the data protection practice in Paris. Ms. Saarinen draws on two decades’ experience as a litigator and her comprehensive understanding of her clients’ business and commercial needs to efficiently resolve a broad range of complex, cross-border disputes across industries. She advises on: French litigation disputes, including corporate litigation Alternative dispute resolution, in mediation or arbitration Cross-border issues, such as conflicts of laws and US discovery requests GDPR compliance programs, particularly for adtech companies Regulatory GDPR inquiries Multijurisdictional cybersecurity event response GDPR claims brought by individuals and class actions She crafts pragmatic, commercially oriented solutions to clients’ business challenges, approaching each matter with the strength of the firm’s global platform. A recognized firm leader, Ms. Saarinen serves on the Ethics and Privacy Committees of the firm. She previously served as the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (AML) for the Paris office and on the Pro Bono and IT Committees.

Partner

Nadia Sager serves as global Co-chair of the firm’s Investment Funds Practice and Chair of the San Diego office’s Corporate Department. Ms. Sager represents top private fund sponsors and investors in forming, investing in and operating leading private funds.

Naiara Rodríguez-Escudero leads the Benefits, Compensation & Employment Practice in Madrid and also serves as Regional Chair of Latham & Watkins' Tax Department in Europe. She advises global private equity funds and major employers in Spain on a variety of complex employment matters. Ms. Rodríguez-Escudero draws on deep experience and a sophisticated understanding of Spanish and European employment law to counsel and represent major employers in their most sensitive and business-critical matters, including: Compensation plans Employment litigation Industrial disputes Negotiating with trade unions Relocation Senior executive contract negotiations Social security Stock and cash-based incentive programs Downsizing and redundancy plans Mergers and acquisitions Outsourcing Restructurings Whistleblower and internal investigations Ms. Rodríguez-Escudero regularly speaks at employment law seminars and publishes articles in the field.

Partner

Counsel

Partner

Corporate Partner

 Niall E. Lynch is a partner in the San Francisco office of Latham & Watkins, and is the local Co-chair of the firm's Litigation & Trial Department. He is a recognized antitrust litigator with in-depth expertise in cartel matters, and has represented multinationals and their managers in criminal and civil price-fixing investigations in the United States, Europe, Japan, Canada, Brazil, Korea and the United Kingdom. In 2017, Chambers USA noted Niall Lynch bolsters the criminal litigation services of the group with his "brilliant" cartel practice. He also acts on civil matters and is described as "extremely creative and dedicated" by market source.

Counsel

Tax Partner

Partner

Counsel

Counsel

Partner

Nomaan Raja serves as Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins’ Dubai office and the former Local Chair of the Corporate Department. As a market-leading lawyer in the UAE, he maintains a diverse practice helping clients execute corporate transactions throughout the Middle East and Africa. Prior to joining Latham, Mr. Raja practiced with a leading law firm in New York. Mr. Raja advises local and international issuers, government entities, and financial institutions on the full suite of corporate transactions, with industry expertise in oil and gas, telecommunications, energy, and infrastructure. Drawing on his unique expertise, his broad international experience, and sophisticated multi-industry knowledge, he regularly advises clients on: Conventional and Islamic debt capital markets IPOs and equity offerings High-yield bonds Debt restructurings Inbound and outbound investments and corporate finance matters Having been involved in many of the most high-profile and leading debt and equity transactions from the region, including Saudi Aramco’s landmark IPO — the largest in history — Nomaan leverages his institutional knowledge of the market to carefully navigate clients through their most complex transactions.

Oliver Felsenstein, Global Chair of the Private Equity & Investment Funds Practice and a former member of the firm’s Executive Committee, helps private equity firms navigate every stage of the investment life cycle, from acquisition through exit. Widely recognized among the world’s leading private equity lawyers, Mr. Felsenstein advises private equity firms on many of their largest and most complex transactions involving target companies in Germany and internationally. His several decades of experience span well more than 100 completed transactions exceeding €100 billion in value across a diverse range of industries, including technology, industrials, and healthcare. A strong relationship builder and keen strategist, Mr. Felsenstein serves as a trusted advisor to many of the world’s most prominent private equity clients. He brings a commercial perspective to clients’ most significant business challenges and drives consensus in negotiations. Mr. Felsenstein regularly leads large, international Latham teams and acts as the primary liaison for clients throughout all phases of a transaction. Mr. Felsenstein is a member of the curatorship of the Foundation Deutsche Sporthilfe, an organization supporting the German Olympic team.

Olivia Rauch-Ravisé is a partner in the firm's Tax Department and the Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins’ Paris office. She is a former Co-Chair of the firm’s Women Enriching Business (WEB) Committee, whose mission is to promote women through trailblazing initiatives focused on women’s professional development, mentoring, and networking. She has strong experience in domestic and cross-border transactional tax law, notably in private equity and mergers and acquisitions. Ms. Rauch-Ravisé primarily handles the taxation of capital markets transactions (notably high yield), financial instruments, and structured financings. She has developed particular experience in tax issues relating to aircraft, rolling stock, and other asset financings. Ms. Rauch-Ravisé is particularly active in the financial institutions, oil and gas, and hospitality and gaming sectors. She is a member of the International Fiscal Association and of the Institut des Avocats Conseils Fiscaux, and she is Chair of the Tax Committee of the European American Chamber of Commerce.

Partner

Omar Nazif is a partner in the San Diego office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the firm’s Finance Department. Prior to joining the San Diego office, Mr. Nazif was an associate in the firm’s Dubai, London and San Francisco offices.

 Ora T. Fisher, one of two Vice Chairs at Latham & Watkins and a member of its Executive Committee, helps to shape the firm’s strategic direction and manage its global platform. In her role, Ms. Fisher focuses on strategic planning, client relations, lateral partner recruitment and integration, partner performance and communications. She has held multiple senior leadership roles on firm wide committees during her tenure at Latham, which began in 1991.

Counsel

  Pandora Strasler is counsel in the New York office of Latham & Watkins.Ms. Strasler is a member of the Finance Department and Banking Practice. Her practice focuses primarily on the representation of commercial and investment banks and borrowers in the structuring of complex secured financing transactions including senior secured lending and restructuring transactions, acquisition and project financings and structured finance with a special emphasis on issues arising under Article 9 (secured transactions) and Article 8 (investment securities) of the Uniform Commercial Code. She is a member of the New York and Ontario bars and a solicitor on the Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales.

Tax Partner

Partner

Corporate Partner

Finance Partner

Paul Singarella, Chair of the Orange County office Environment, Land & Resources Department, is a nationally recognized water, and oil and gas lawyer. He has received numerous mentions as a Top 100 lawyer in the State of California by the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journals, and is repeatedly mentioned in “Best Lawyers in America.” He is an MIT-educated engineer and former National Science Foundation scholar.

Finance Partner

Counsel

Finance Partner

Litigation Partner

Peter A. Wald is a partner in the San Francisco office of Latham & Watkins, and a member of the Securities Litigation & Professional Liability Practice. He served as the global Chair of Latham’s Litigation & Trial Department from 2004-2011. In 2015, he was named a “Securities MVP” by Law360 for leading Allergan in its successful fight to block a hostile takeover.

Counsel

Corporate Partner

Corporate Partner, Office Managing Partner

Pierre-Louis Cléro is a partner of Latham & Watkins and the Local Chair of the Paris Corporate Department. Mr. Cléro’s practice focuses on complex international mergers and acquisitions, representing corporate buyers and sellers in a wide variety of strategic transactions. His corporate law experience encompasses joint ventures, stock exchange-related transactions and general corporate and commercial law advice.Prior to joining the firm in January 2012, Mr. Cléro practiced in the Paris offices of two magic circle firms.

Posit Laohaphan is the Managing Partner of Latham's Asia offices and the head of the firm’s Structured Equity and Finance Practice in Asia. Mr. Laohaphan advises clients across Asia on a range of investment and financing matters in the public and private markets covering equity-linked capital markets products, private credit, structured equity and finance, and OTC derivatives. He helps clients on: Structured capital markets products, such as equity-linked securities OTC equity derivatives Structured lending products, such as margin loans Direct lending and private capital transactions Structured finance Workouts and restructuring of financing transactions General corporate and capital markets transactions Mr. Laohaphan draws on over two decades of experience advising on complex structured cross-border transactions. He began his career in New York in 2004 before moving to Hong Kong in 2010 to build Latham’s structured equity and financing business in APAC. Mr. Laohaphan advises clients across different product areas, geographical markets, and client types (both buy-side and sell-side). Given his broad and sophisticated practice he serves as a strategic advisor to clients.

Counsel

Rafael Molina represents Spanish and international clients in their most sophisticated transactions at the intersection of corporate, finance, and real estate law. Leveraging more than two decades of experience, Mr. Molina guides international investors, developers, financial institutions, and promoters on negotiating a wide range of real estate transactions and corporate matters, involving: Real estate M&A across asset classes, including hotels, data centers, retail and leisure centers, office buildings, logistics and industrial, and residential Structured finance and securitizations Single names, loan-to-own, and workouts and restructurings Servicers Performing loan (PL), re-performing loan (RPL), and non-performing loan (NPL) portfolios He approaches negotiations with confidence and a sophisticated understanding of his clients’ interests, ready to devise complex structures that facilitate deal execution. Mr. Molina also regularly advises global private equity houses and investment funds on real estate as an asset class and related large-scale financing work. Mr. Molina serves on the board of the University of Navarra.

Partner

Rajiv Gupta heads Latham’s India Practice and advises Indian companies and global clients doing business in India on a full range of corporate and finance transactions. He draws on more than two decades of experience advising on capital markets transactions. Rajiv brings an unusual combination of skills to advise both issuers and underwriters on a full range of capital markets transactions, including: US IPOs and SEC-registered transactions Indian IPOs High-yield bonds Convertible securities He has developed a preeminent India practice advising on hundreds of complex, high-profile, and precedent-setting capital markets transactions. Rajiv also leverages Latham’s global platform to help clients navigate a full range of complex or cross-border corporate transactions, including: Mergers and acquisitions Private equity Restructuring Leveraged finance Rajiv served as an appointed member of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Advisory Committee. A native Hindi speaker, Rajiv has been educated in India, the US, and the UK, and has practiced in New York, Hong Kong, and Singapore, so brings a global perspective to clients’ transactions. He regularly speaks on capital markets and corporate transactions, at key industry conferences, including the Indian Banks’ Association’s conference. Rajiv’s pro bono work includes advising on the innovative Women’s Livelihood Bond series, sponsored by the Impact Investment Exchange.

Litigation & Trial Partner

Rick Frenkel is a partner in the Litigation & Trial Department of Latham & Watkins and has experience in every aspect of patent litigation, from initial investigations through trial and appeals. Mr. Frenkel was recognized as one of "75 Leading IP Litigators in California" by the Daily Journal in 2013 and 2014, and was selected as a Northern California “Super Lawyer” in 2016.

Litigation Partner

Rifka Singer is counsel in the Tax Department of the New York office of Latham & Watkins, where her practice focuses on executive compensation and employee benefits matters for public and private companies in a variety of industries. Ms. Singer’s experience includes the negotiation and drafting of executive employment, consulting, retention, severance and change in control agreements, the design and implementation of equity and non-equity incentive compensation plans, and the structuring of non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements.

Robert Frances is Chair of the San Diego office’s Finance Department. He has extensive experience in a broad range of transactional real estate and finance projects, including property acquisitions and dispositions, secured lending, construction financing, mergers and acquisitions, hotel, casino and power plant development and financing, and other project finance transactions.

Robert Howard chairs the San Diego office’s Environment, Land & Resources Department, composed of 23 lawyers who work on litigation, environmental and energy projects throughout the United States. He represents clients in the energy-oil and gas industry, energy-power industry, aerospace, defense and cleantech industries.

Robert A. Koenig is a leading corporate securities lawyer. He serves as Chair of the Corporate Department for the Silicon Valley office and recently served as global Co-chair of the firm's Public Company Representation Practice.

Environment, Land & Resources Partner

Litigation & Trial Partner

Partner

Finance Partner

Tax Partner

Partner

Corporate Partner

Partner

Litigation Partner

Dr. Rüdiger Malaun, a highly regarded German capital markets lawyer and former Global Co-Chair of the firm’s Capital Markets Practice, advises clients on strategic financing transactions, with a particular focus on high-yield bond offerings and other debt instruments. He draws on more than 20 years of experience, handling a remarkable volume of the largest and most sophisticated offerings in Europe, among them more than 60 high-yield bond transactions. Dr. Malaun has earned widespread recognition for his work. JUVE notes he is the “clear leader on high-yield bonds” who “plays in a league of his own” and Chambers interviewees describe him as “the biggest name for high-yield work in Germany” and “highly skilled, very effective and technically brilliant.” Dr. Malaun advises corporates, sponsors, and investment banks on: Complex high-yield bond transactions (both under US and German law), including related liability management transactions Equity and equity-linked financings Large corporate bonds Commitment papers for bridge-to-bond financing transactions P2P financing transactions ‘Cross-over’ bonds (e.g. in the real estate sector in the DACH Region) High yield bond advise in restructuring context

Corporate Partner

Tax Partner

Counsel

Partner

Sarah Ray is a partner in the San Francisco office of Latham & Watkins, and is a member of the firm’s Global Antitrust & Competition Practice. She is Co-chair of the firm’s Women Enriching Business (WEB) Committee, whose mission is to promote women through trailblazing initiatives focused on women’s professional development, mentoring and networking.

Partner

Counsel

Partner

Finance Partner

Corporate Partner

Partner

Scott Wolfe advises startup and emerging businesses and public companies, particularly in the life sciences and high-technology industries. He regularly represents companies and investment banking firms in public offerings, private placements, venture capital financings, real estate investment trusts, debt offerings, corporate partnering arrangements, and mergers and acquisitions.

Partner

Partner

Corporate Partner

Corporate Partner

Serrin Turner is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the firm’s Information Law, Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice, White Collar Defense & Government Investigations Practice, and Complex Commercial Litigation Practice.

Partner

partner

Simon Hawkins, an experienced and trusted advisor to financial institutions and fintech companies, advises on a range of regulatory matters and transactions. He leads the financial regulatory practice in Asia and co-chairs the firm’s Digital Assets & Web3 Practice. Mr. Hawkins advises a full range of financial industry and fintech clients — from traditional commercial and investment banks, private equity firms, broker/dealers, and insurers to innovative fintech companies, including payments companies, crypto exchanges and custodians, token issuers, and Metaverse and decentralized finance (DeFi) projects. He provides confident and seasoned regulatory advice and transactional support to clients doing inbound and outbound business in Hong Kong. As an early mover in the fintech industry in Asia, he provides insight and skilled judgment on the dynamic fintech industry and rapidly evolving crypto regulatory landscape. Resident in Hong Kong since 2009, Mr. Hawkins has developed strong working relationships with regulators at the Securities and Futures Commission and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. He serves as an active member of ASIFMA and the Fintech Association of Hong Kong. Mr. Hawkins regularly steers clients safely through situations of high risk and uncertainty, coordinating a global team of Latham colleagues, and local counsel. Mr. Hawkins has worked in London, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, and served as a secondee at HSBC in Hong Kong, where he assisted with the launch of HSBC’s Prime Finance business in Asia.

Partner

Stefano Sciolla is the Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins' Milan office. He is a member of the firm's Aerospace, Defense & Government Services Industry Group core team. He primarily handles corporate law matters, and he has considerable experience advising clients on: Mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and private equity deals Divestitures Strategic commercial contracts Corporate governance and public company representation Capital markets transactions He regularly advises Italian and international clients in cross-border corporate transactions. He also has considerable experience in the aerospace and defense business, as well as in the energy sector.

Stelios Saffos, Global Vice Chair of Latham’s Capital Markets and Public Company Representation Practices and Global Chair of the Hybrid Capital Practice, is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Saffos is a member of the Corporate Department and the Capital Markets Practice.  

Corporate Partner

Stephen McWilliams advises sponsors and lenders on the most complex and innovative project development and finance transactions in Asia. He heads the firm’s Project Development & Finance Practice for Asia. Mr. McWilliams counsels clients on innovative solutions to complex development and financing issues in developing markets across Asia, especially for first-of-their-kind, multi-lender projects. He particularly focuses on Energy & Infrastructure projects in the areas of: Petrochemicals Power Mining Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Energy Transition Mr. McWilliams brings decades of experience in Asia, helping lenders and sponsors establish markets with large scale precedent-setting deals. He leverages the firm’s global platform to assemble teams with market-leading experience across multiple practices.

Stephen Wink is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Wink is a member of the firm's Corporate Department and of the Capital Markets, Financial Regulatory, Investment Funds and Mergers & Acquisitions Practices. His practice focuses on advising a wide range of market players including investment banks, hedge funds, private equity firms, exchanges, alternative trading platforms, transfer agents and other financial institutions on matters involving the regulation of broker-dealers and investment advisors, market regulation, and compliance and enforcement matters.

Corporate Associate

Corporate Partner

Steven Levine is a partner in the San Diego office and a member of the firm's Finance Department. He has broad experience throughout the department's substantive areas of expertise, including real estate development, purchase and sale, financing, workout and leasing transactions. In recent years, Mr. Levine's real estate practice has focused in particular on the development and sale of properties within planned multi-use communities, the development, construction and financing of laboratory projects, office projects and large infrastructure projects, including hotels, casinos, sporting facilities, power projects and water projects on office, industrial and laboratory leasing.

Corporate Partner

Steven Bauer has earned a reputation for winning our clients’ most challenging and notable battles. He has tried 42 cases to verdict, covering the full range of civil and criminal issues confronting corporations and executives. He brings 30 years of experience to his sole focus: achieving the best possible result for his client.

Partner

Corporate and Litigation Partner

Corporate Partner

Retired Partner

Susanne Decker advises international private equity firms and their portfolio companies on multifaceted, cross-border M&A transactions. Ms. Decker draws on more than two decades of experience at the forefront of high-profile mergers and acquisitions in Germany and Europe to advise clients on both the buy- and sell-sides. She regularly navigates nuanced deal structures in the M&A space, which are optimized from a tax perspective. Ms. Decker is particularly adept at counseling on management incentive programmes in connection with private equity transactions by combining strong negotiating skills and an ability to distill complex structures. She also provides ongoing corporate law advice to companies, including portfolio companies of private equity firms. Additionally, she advises on complicated restructurings of groups of companies.

Suzana Sava-Montanari is a partner in the Paris and London offices of Latham and Watkins. Ms. Sava-Montanari is a member of the firm’s Financial Institutions Industry Group and Structured Finance and Derivatives Practices. Ms. Sava-Montanari regularly advises investors on a wide variety of structured credit, fund-linked or tax driven structures, including securitizations, capital relief trades, cash and synthetic CLOs, public and private debt, hybrid capital market issues, and OTC derivatives. She has also advised banks, sovereigns, and corporates in relation to structuring and implementing their general or finance-linked hedging strategies (FX, interest rate and commodity) or using equity derivatives in strategic transactions. Ms. Sava-Montanari’s regulatory practice includes advising EU and non-EU financial institutions, asset managers, and corporates with their regulatory compliance requirements under EMIR, including in connection with clearing, margining, and reporting, as well as in their dialogue with the European rule- making bodies. As part of her pro-bono work, Ms. Sava- Montanari assisted through the Financial Services Volunteer Corps in Washington, D.C., the Albanian Financial Services Authority in preparing its new Investment Funds Law. She was also one of the leaders of Latham & Watkins’ Women Enriching Business network.

Counsel

Mr. Sven B. Völcker is a partner in Latham & Watkins’ Brussels office and member of the Global Antitrust & Competition Practice. His practice covers the full range of EU and German competition law, including merger control, cartel and other behavioral cases, and EU State aid. With more than 25 years' experience in competition law, Mr. Völcker guides clients through complex antitrust procedures. He has obtained merger clearances on behalf of his clients in a number of major cross-border transactions and has advised on some of the largest multi-jurisdictional cartel and abuse of dominance cases of recent years. With a track record of more than 25 cases before the EU courts, he is also an experienced litigator and able to effectively defend his clients’ business interest beyond the authority level, if needed. Mr. Völcker has particularly deep experience in a range of industry sectors, including aviation, high technology, software, financial services, and sports. Mr. Völcker frequently writes and speaks on competition law issues, and teaches EU and German competition law at Göttingen University and Brussels School of Competition. He is a non-governmental advisor to the European Commission in the International Competition Network (ICN).

 Tad Freese represents a broad range of high technology companies, investment banks, and other public and private companies in their corporate transactions. He is the Managing Partner of Latham's Silicon Valley office, and was previously a Vice Chair of Latham's Global Corporate Department. 

Ted Sonnenschein is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. He is a member of the Corporate Department and the Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Practices.

Litigation & Trial Partner

Terris Tang advises clients on capital markets transactions and investments across Asia and globally, particularly with a China nexus. Mr. Tang draws on nearly two decades of experience and a sophisticated understanding of Hong Kong securities laws and regulations to guide corporations, private equity firms, and financial institutions on: Capital markets, including initial public offerings Mergers and acquisitions Take-private transactions Corporate restructurings General compliance matters Having worked in Beijing, Hong Kong, and London, he brings a global perspective to each corporate finance transaction. He represents companies on their transformational cross-border transactions — from IPOs to strategic inbound and outbound investments — in a broad range of sectors, including life sciences, technology, and logistics and mobility. A recognized leader at the firm, Mr. Tang serves on the Associates Committee and Opinions Committee. He previously served on the Recruiting Committee and the Legal Professionals & Paralegals Committee. Mr. Tang maintains an active pro bono practice, including advising nonprofits on corporate governance matters and obtaining charity status.

Mr. Kearney is a litigation partner in the Silicon Valley office of Latham & Watkins. As a member of the firm's global Intellectual Property Practice, he has more than 25 years of experience as a patent litigator and trial lawyer. Mr. Kearney represents a broad range of companies, from major international corporations to venture-backed startups. He has provided counsel to both defendants and plaintiffs in bench and jury trials and mediations across the United States and internationally. Mr. Kearney has particular expertise in both the life sciences and information technology industries

Thies Deike is a counsel in the firm’s Corporate Department. His practice focuses on information technology, outsourcing, telecommunications, e-commerce and digital media. Mr. Deike's expertise includes: IT, outsourcing and other technology-related projects Commercial transactions, including complex technology-related and general commercial contracts Consumer protection law Distribution systems Intellectual property and licensing Joint ventures and transitional service arrangements in the context of M&A, private equity and other transactions He assists clients with drafting and negotiating related contracts and advises them on commercial, IT and IP matters in the context of M&A, PE and other transactions.

Thomas Vogel is a partner in the Paris and Frankfurt offices of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Vogel leads the Structured Finance and Derivatives Practices and the Fintech Industry Group in Paris. He is also a member of the Financial Regulatory Practice and the Global Digital Assets & Web3 Practice. Mr. Vogel regularly acts for global financial services firms, investment managers, hedge and investment funds, sovereign funds, and UHNW individuals. He advises on structured finance transactions, alternative investment structures across asset classes including structured strategic equity solutions, structured fixed-income transactions (delivered in synthetic format through derivatives instruments or in funded format through debt securities), strategic contingent hedging transactions, regulatory capital and synthetic risk transfer transactions, NPL portfolio transfers, synthetic credit, fund, energy, catastrophe and longevity derivatives, structured repo, and stock-lending transactions. Mr. Vogel also advises emerging companies, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), financial institutions, and investment managers on complex regulatory challenges in the development of bespoke financial crypto-asset and cryptocurrency technologies or DeFi market solutions including token sales, trading, refinancing, clearing, and settlement solutions on distributed ledger technology. He also advises clients on domestic and cross-border cutting-edge Fintech initiatives. He has also advised numerous corporates on innovative NFT and semi-NFT projects. Mr. Vogel regularly advises clients on financial regulatory issues (including in the crypto space) and pre-contentious financial disputes in the context of mediation, arbitration and litigation procedures, as well as on internal derivatives compliance programs and derivatives clearing documentation. Mr. Vogel has acquired years of transactional experience in New York, London, Hong Kong, and Tokyo both as a private practitioner (with a Magic Circle firm) and senior in-house counsel (with a leading US investment bank in New York). In recent years, he has represented clients in multi-billion dollar structured transactions in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Mr. Vogel is a member of the Frankfurt Bar Association.

Thomas Margenet-Baudry is a partner in the firm's Corporate Department and the Deputy Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins' Paris office. His practice includes: Capital markets Mergers and acquisitions Public company representation Mr. Margenet-Baudry advises clients on capital markets transactions, in particular high yield debt and equity securities. He has represented issuers and underwriters on a broad range of French, international, and US capital raising transactions, including initial public offerings, high yield financings, rights issues and investment grade debt offerings. He also has broad experience with French public M&A and tender offer regulation, and regularly advises clients on French and EU corporate governance and securities regulation matters. Mr. Margenet-Baudry is also a member of the New York bar.

Thomas Forschbach is a partner in Latham & Watkins' London and Paris offices. He has advised international clients on mergers and acquisitions and private equity for over 25 years and is one of Europe’s most experienced and renowned lawyers in his field.

Litigation & Trial Partner

Partner

Knowledge Management Counsel

Litigation Partner

 Tim O’Mara is a partner in the Litigation & Trial Department of Latham & Watkins and a member of the firm’s Antitrust & Competition Practice. 

Timothy Hia advises clients on their most complex financing transactions across Asia, particularly in Singapore, India, Indonesia, and Thailand. Mr. Hia draws on two decades’ experience as a trusted advisor and pragmatic problem-solver to guide private equity sponsors, major corporate borrowers, and private capital lenders across the entire credit cycle on: Leveraged and acquisition financings Infrastructure finance transactions Corporate securities and capital markets offerings He closely collaborates with clients and colleagues to unlock the resources of Latham’s robust global platform, devising creative solutions that help clients achieve their commercial objectives. A recognized leader at the firm, Mr. Hia is former Local Chair of the Finance Department in Asia and has served on the Diversity Leadership Committee, Associates Committee, and Pro Bono Committee. Mr. Hia prioritizes giving back to the community. He currently serves as the Chairman of Youth Guidance Outreach Services, a social services organization benefitting youth at risk in Singapore, and as Vice-Chair of The Helping Hand, a halfway house assisting people with substance use disorder. He maintains an active pro bono practice, including advising Standard Microgrid, whose mission is to provide clean, modern, and affordable energy services to poor rural communities in Africa.

Dr. Tobias Klass advises private equity funds, large and medium-sized companies and their shareholders, as well as real estate investment funds on the tax aspects of complex, often cross-border transactions. Mr. Klass, as a key member of a client’s deal team, navigates the increasingly complex German and international tax law issues in domestic and cross-border transactions. He focuses on the tax-optimization of private equity and M&A transactions as well as restructurings. He also advises on tax structures for inbound real estate investments. Mr. Klass is qualified as a certified tax advisor and specialist tax lawyer. He is a member of the International Fiscal Association.

Dr. Tobias Leder is a partner in the Executive Compensation, Employment & Benefits Practice in the Munich office. He focuses his practice on restructurings, reorganizations, as well as on relationships with works councils and trade unions. In addition, he regularly represents companies in litigation before labor and civil courts in Germany. Prior to joining Latham & Watkins, he worked at Bucerius Law School in Hamburg (Lehrstuhl für Arbeits- und Sozialrecht) and at the University of Bonn (Institut für Arbeitsrecht und Recht der Sozialen Sicherheit) for several years. Mr. Leder is a certified employment lawyer (Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht) and a member of the German Bar Association (DAV). In addition to his legal practice, he is a regular author of articles on German, European, and international labor and employment law.

Partner

Dr. Torsten Volkholz advises German and global sponsors, borrowers, and lenders on domestic and cross-border finance, real estate, and restructuring matters. He maintains long-standing relationships with clients on all sides of real estate transactions, advising on: Real estate finance Acquisition finance Restructuring finance Asset-based and general corporate lending Mr. Volkholz also advises creditors and investors of distressed companies on corporate and real estate portfolio restructurings. Drawing on his legal training in England, the US, and Germany, and his previous work in a commercial bank and as an assistant lecturer at the University of Kiel and at Bucerius Law School, he provides clients with a comprehensive perspective on their matters. Mr. Volkholz also advises clients on a range of matters related to the law pertaining to German foundations.

Veronica Relea is a partner in the Finance Department of the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Her practice focuses on representing commercial and investment banks, sponsors, developers and private equity firms in connection with the development, construction, operation and financing of energy, oil and gas and infrastructure projects (including LNG projects, fuel storage facilities, renewable energy assets and mining assets). She also has extensive experience in leveraged finance transactions, including acquisition financings, asset-based facilities, private equity transactions, mezzanine facilities and cross-border financings. Ms. Relea is also a member of the firm’s Latin America, Banking and Special Situations Practices.

Finance Partner

Partner

Villiers Terblanche, Co-Chair of the firm’s Saudi Arabia Practice, specializes in complex infrastructure transactions, and for more than 25 years has been involved in the structuring, negotiation, and financing of a wide variety of high-profile energy, infrastructure, transportation and digital projects, joint ventures, acquisitions, and strategic investments in more than 60 countries in the Middle East, the Americas, Europe, and Asia. He routinely represents project developers, lenders, investors, and host governments on multi-sourced financings. He has advised on dozens of privatizations, has lead regulatory reform projects in anticipation of privatization or public-private partnerships, and has deep experience of special economic zone projects. Mr. Terblanche was based in New York before relocating to the Middle East.

Virginia Tent is counsel in the New York office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the firm's White Collar Defense & Investigations and Global Antitrust & Competition Practices. She concentrates her practice on government defense and investigations, antitrust and trade regulation matters and complex commercial litigation.

Partner

Partner

Public Service Counsel, Director of Global Pro Bono

Corporate Partner

William Reckler is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins and Co-chair of the New York Litigation & Trial Department. Mr. Reckler is a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations, Securities Litigation & Professional Liability and Corporate Governance Practice Groups, focusing his practice on government defense and investigations, securities litigation, complex commercial litigation, and civil and criminal False Claims Act matters.

William Cernius is a partner in the Corporate Department. His general corporate transactional practice and extensive experience focuses on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and general corporate and complex securities matters across a wide range of industries. He has been a resident lawyer in each of the San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County and London offices.

Litigation Partner

Corporate Partner

Litigation and Corporate Partner

Environment, Land & Resources Partner

Witold Balaban is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Balaban is global Co-chair of the firm's Capital Markets Practice and the firm's Financial Institutions Industry Group, and is a member of the Corporate Department and Derivatives Practice. He focuses in particular on equity derivatives and equity-linked products, including convertible and exchangeable bond offerings (both optional and mandatory) and related equity derivatives products (such as call spread overlays and issuer or affiliate borrow facilities), fixed and variable share forward sales and related equity offerings, issuer share repurchase transactions, hedging and monetization transactions (including equity-based finance transactions) and structured products distributed publicly and privately.

Xavier Farde is a partner in the Finance Department and is Office Managing Partner of Latham and Watkins' Paris office.Mr. Farde's practice focuses primarily on leveraged finance (senior and mezzanine), banking, and syndicated loans. He also advises on real estate finance.

Xavier Renard is a partner in the Tax Department in the Paris office. Mr. Renard is active in the field of corporate taxation and provides general tax advice to French and multinational groups of companies, investment funds, and financial institutions. He also specializes in the tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, financings of groups of companies, tax consolidation regimes, taxation of financial products, and asset financing transactions. Mr. Renard is a member of the International Fiscal Association and the Institut des Avocats Conseils Fiscaux. He is also recognized as a key player in LBO taxation.

  Yvette Valdez is counsel in the New York office of Latham & Watkins, and is a member of the firm's Corporate Department and the Derivatives Practice. 

Finance Partner