North America - United States • Tax

Latham & Watkins LLP

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Latham & Watkins LLP’s transactional tax group services a client roster that includes blue-chip corporations, private equity firms, financial institutions and investment banks, with the firm regularly operating in the financial services, energy, retail, life sciences, and natural resources sectors, among others. Katharine Moir, based in the Bay Area, leads on transactional tax, often advising private equity firms and companies on the tax aspects of major transactions, including take-private acquisitions. New York-based Jiyeon Lee-Lim, global chair of the firm’s overall tax department, has recently assisted several SPACs in connection with IPOs and business combinations. David Raab, also in New York, has handled multibillion-dollar deals for leading names such as Energy Capital Partners and The Carlyle Group. Northern California’s Kirt Switzer focuses on federal taxation of corporations and partnerships, while Pardis Zomorodi in Los Angeles represents companies, REITS, private equity firms, and investment banks in relation to M&A, spin-offs, and joint ventures. Andrea Ramezan-Jackson in Washington DC advises domestic and international corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies as well as private equity and venture capital funds.  Joe Kronsnoble in Chicago is well known for advising private equity firms as well as for his bankruptcy expertise. Matthew Dewitz in New York and Houston’s Bryant Lee also play key roles in the team. Samuel Weiner retired in December 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Extremely sophisticated transactional tax group. Handles complex M&A and related financing tax implications. Very pragmatic and solution orientated. Understands venture capital priorities.'

Key clients

  • Sonoma Biotherapeutics
  • Sobi
  • dbt Labs, Inc.
  • Orbital Therapeutics
  • Evernote Corporation
  • OmniAb, Inc.
  • Skydance Media
  • Healthpeak Properties, Inc.
  • Amgen, Inc.
  • Vingroup Joint Stock Company Limited and VinFast Auto Pte.
  • Ferrovial SA
  • PJT Partners
  • Golub Capital LLC
  • Virgin Orbit
  • Leonard Green & Partners L.P.
  • Authentic Brands Group
  • National CineMedia Inc.
  • Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
  • Starry Group Holdings
  • Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.
  • Silver Lake
  • Blackstone Infrastructure Partners
  • Mediawan
  • Madison Dearborn Partners
  • Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  • Titan Acquisition Holdings, The Carlyle Group and Stellex Capital Partners
  • GTCR
  • Carlyle and PrimeFlight Aviation Services
  • Mercato Partners Acquisition Corporation
  • Endeavor Operating Company and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
  • Syneos
  • Partners Group (USA) Inc.
  • Platinum Equity and Awaze Limited
  • Amulet Capital Partners LP

Work highlights

  • Advised Amgen Inc on the tax aspects of its offering of US$24 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes, consisting of eight tranches of senior notes.
  • Advised Silver Lake on its US$12.5 billion take-private acquisition of Qualtrics.
  • Advised Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a GI-focused healthcare company, on its US$1 billion acquisition of VectivBio Holding AG.

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.

Kirt Switzer

Hall of fameLatham & Watkins LLP

Kirt Switzer is the Office Managing Partner of Latham's San Francisco office and the Local Department Chair for the firm's San Francisco and Silicon Valley tax practices.  

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Katharine Moir, Jiyeon Lee-Lim

Other key lawyers

Kirt Switzer, Pardis Zomorodi, David Raab, Andrea Ramezan-Jackson, Matthew Dewitz, Bryant Lee, Joe Kronsnoble