Latham & Watkins has ‘a very client-focused practice which is not just focused on executing transactions but also on giving a good overall client experience’. The firm has invested heavily over the years and now has one of the broadest practices in the market, including a strong manager-side CLO team. Chair of global structured finance and securitisation Sanjev Warna-kula-suriya is active in CLOs, as well as CMBS and other structures. Jeremiah Wagner is praised for his ‘outstanding legal knowledge, creativity, commercial acumen and client support’ on the full range of securitisations and asset-backed US-registered public offerings. He works closely with Patrick Leftley, who is a key adviser to banks, asset managers and corporates on ABS deals. Thomas Cochran frequently handles innovative structures and recently advised the operator of a leading shopping and financial services app in the Middle East on a first-of-its-kind receivables securitisation. Stephen Curtis specialises in structured debt and securitisation financings.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘A very client-focused practice which is not just focused on executing transactions but also giving a good overall client experience.’

  • 'Patrick Leftley, Jeremiah Wagner and team provide a unique combination of outstanding legal knowledge, creativity, commercial acumen and client support. They have supported my business from founding through startup to scaleup and their contribution has been fundamental to our success to date.'

Key clients

  • Ares Management
  • Barclays
  • Blackstone
  • Carlyle
  • Citigroup
  • Deutsche Bank
  • JP Morgan
  • KKR Credit Advisors
  • Lloyds Bank
  • Tabby

Work highlights

  • Advised KKR Credit Advisors on its exclusive multi-year agreement for up to €40bn of eligible current and future buy-now-pay-later loans originated by PayPal in Europe. This was a landmark transaction in the industry.
  • Advised Ares Management on its acquisition of a US$3.54bn lender finance portfolio from Pacific Western Bank using an innovative UK regulatory-driven financing structure involving a repurchase facility for securitisation and repack notes issued by an Ares SPV.
  • Advised Tabby, Inc., a leading shopping and financial services app in the Middle East, as originator and servicer in connection with a buy-now-pay-later first-of-its-kind receivables securitisation which originated in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Sanjev Warna-kula-suriya

Other key lawyers

Jeremiah Wagner, Thomas Cochran, Stephen Curtis, Patrick Leftley