Got worries about BigLaw? La-tham to rest at this global sensation that hands its associates the reins.
“I don’t have a bad thing to say… and I promise I’m not AI!” laughed one associate, “I just really wanted to be someplace where they put their money where their mouth is.” Luckily for this junior, California native Latham & Watkins has no issue with going all-in on its associates. In fact, there’s no greater guarantee than Latham for anyone in pursuit of top-of-the-market work spanning a whole host of practices. High praise, but we’re not exaggerating; with a global revenue of over seven billion dollars – one of the highest of any law firm in the world – suffice to say that Latham is a sure bet for those looking to try everything under the sun. And speaking of the weather, with 29 offices across the globe, you can also rest assured that whatever climate suits you best in whatever corner of the world you choose, Latham will be there. Wherever it rains or shines, Latham will reside!
“I just really wanted to be someplace where they put their money where their mouth is.”
Gosh, it sounds really dependable, doesn’t it? The firm’s clients agree, according to our sister guide Chambers USA. Latham cleans up in its home state of California, earning gold medals in antitrust, banking and finance, debt and equity capital markets, life sciences, intellectual property, securities litigation and white-collar crime and government investigations litigation, and technology – amongst many others. Nationwide, the firm gets its flowers for antitrust, banking and finance, and capital markets (again!), alongside appellate law, environment, government contracts, international trade… We could go on (and it does go on!), but it may be best to let the associates speak to the rest of the firm’s prowess from here on out: “Everyone here is brilliant, but super grounded. That plays a big part in Latham’s market position.”
It was evident from checking in with Latham’s associates that, aside from the breadth of work, it was the people that resonated with them the most. “Meeting the attorneys at Latham, you could just tell that they were human, and they cared,” one admitted. Well, it was that, and “I just remember seeing the name Latham around in law school!” Most of the associates on our list were New York or Washington, DC based, but the majority of the rest were based all over California in cities like San Diego, Century City and Los Angeles.
Strategy & Future
Looking at the bigger picture, knowledgeable interviewees shared that business plans and strategy are discussed in regular “state of the firm meetings.” This provides young associates “some insight into where the firm is going.” Speaking of associate involvement, Latham has recently launched a first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence academy designed with both the firm and its clients in mind, offering focused training modules, practical workshops and expert-led sessions.
In terms of practice areas, private capital has been big for the firm, “especially in the last couple of years where interest rates have been super high, and it’s been hard to get loans from banks.” We heard that intellectual property litigation is has been moving into trade secrets as well, though “that may shift in the coming year as administration changes.” Restructuring is also a point of focus in New York, as evidenced by the firm’s recent addition of partners Ray Schrock, Candace Arthur, Alexander Welch, Andrew Parlen, Ed Siskel, Marc Berger and Paul Rosen.
The Work
The ‘unassigned’ system for first years was a hot topic amongst associates at Latham: “You can try everything and hop around all the way up until the end of your first year.” At the beginning of the second year, juniors narrow down a department, and eventually a specific practice at the end of the year. This was either a hit or miss for our sources, as was the balance between centralized and relationship-based staffing. “There are staffing coordinators, but it’s kind of a free for all,” an insider admitted, “but once you do that for a while, you build relationships and get work funneled to you through those.” One potential downside that this junior noted was that “type A personalities can rack up way more hours – people who are timid can lag behind,” and another contemplated, “I like the way it works but it was a little tough to find your footing when we first started. That said, as long as you’re personable and reliable, it’s not an issue.”
At Latham, the corporate department covers a plethora of areas, which is good if you “like to dabble in lots of different things.” The department houses numerous subgroups, so we heard of associates doing anything from data tech transactions or M&A to fund formation and private equity investment funds. Consequently, the client base covers a wide spectrum, though private equity firms and banks tend to run the gamut. These clients range in size too, as this interviewee explained, “Latham loves to adopt mid-market clients because it gives us the ability to help them grow. That’s really exciting for us, building long-term relationships.” The practice is clearly hugely varied, but Latham’s bright-eyed rookies didn’t mind this one bit, as one helpful source relayed, “Every day, I’m dealing with, like, eight to fifteen different matters, so my day-to-day is totally different every time I open my laptop!” Another nodded, “I’ve really enjoyed the variety. That’s something Latham does a good job of.”
"...my day-to-day is totally different every time I open my laptop!”
With so much to choose from, you might be wondering exactly what your regular duties will look like as a corporate junior. Simply put by this insider: “We diligence anything!” No, seriously – M&A transactions, entities when finance clients need loans, contracts and so on. Fund formation also provides the opportunity to do truth in advertising work, which… is exactly what it sounds like. “When a client is trying to raise a new investment fund, they’re doing all this marketing,” an associate elaborated, “so we ensure that what they’re saying actually aligns with their policies and actions.”
Juniors across the department couldn’t emphasize enough that “you are a full team member” from day one, but “you’re not being thrown into the fire. They’re training you from the ground up and want to ensure you’re ready before you do more substantive stuff,” an insider shared. Another agreed, adding that, “they give you as much as you want, and if they see you’re getting overwhelmed, they’ll pull you purely out of concern – not because you’re a junior.”
Corporate clients: Manchester United, Healthpeak Properties, Endeavor Group Holdings. Advised Skydance Media on its $28 billion merger with Paramount to form “New Paramount,” a next-generation media and technology company.
Those who aren’t so keen on corporate offerings can join the litigation and trial department. We were told that antitrust, white-collar and securities litigation were popular, as well as complex commercial litigation which is the “larger bucket for everything that isn’t more specialized” like contract disputes and breach of fiduciary duty. There’s also a heavy intellectual property focus within the department; our sources mentioned patent infringement, PTAB proceedings and “all sorts of copyright cases!” Alongside this, there’s also a connectivity, privacy and information group, of which one interviewee commented, “It’s one of the reasons I chose Latham! I wanted to do tech law and wanted a firm with a robust tech law practice that spanned a lot of different areas. Latham was one of the few firms that did tech law from a variety of angles.”
Like their corporate counterparts, junior litigators echoed that “you’re very much given substantive work early on, which is great for career development!” While rookies start out doing doc review, writing memos, and updating discovery trackers, there are opportunities to “grow very quickly.” For example, this insider beamed, “In my first four or five months, I was second-chairing an International Trade Commission litigation!” Sources also shared that they had become the point of contact for clients, led client meetings, and drafted sections of motions. Of this substantive responsibility, a particularly pleased associate was glad to relay that “Latham is very meritorious. As long as you’re good at what you do and you’re willing to put the work in, you’ll get substantive work early on.”
Litigation clients: Apple, Meta Platforms, Accellion. Represented Biomed Realty’s subsidiary, BMR, in its lawsuit against a competitor real estate development company and others who conspired to scuttle a BMR contract and business opportunity with Amazon to build a last mile distribution facility in San Diego.
Career Development
Insiders were generally on the same page about career development at Latham: “They’re super devoted to it – more so than I ever expected.” Training – described fondly as being “endless” – includes (but is not limited to): business development seminars; webinars, mock trials, deposition training and various sessions on building a brand, networking, conducting client meetings and refining your LinkedIn. There’s also Latham & Watkins University (LWU) which is introduced in your first two months at the firm. “It gives you the basics of everything,” an associate explained, “introducing you to practice groups, as well as the basics of legal research and writing at a BigLaw firm.” There are also other Latham Academies for associates in their first, fourth and sixth years to further build on skills like project management and team leadership in preparation to progress to counsel or partner.
Right away, newbies are also assigned a mentor – generally a mid-level or senior associate – and a buddy in the year above. “The buddy is there for dumb questions!” an interviewee laughed, adding, “The mentor is there to answer big picture stuff.” It’s this big picture outlook that juniors appreciated, telling us that, “they want you to be here for a long time. They don’t want you to be a shooting star and burn out quickly.” Speaking of longevity, we heard that the progression at the firm is a “pretty transparent” process in part thanks to the associates’ committee; “they’re heavily involved in advancement decisions, which just proves that our thoughts matter even as junior associates.”
Pro Bono
"They really want people to go out, find their cause, and do it.”
“Theoretically, a limitless amount of pro bono can count towards your billable hours,” an associate explained of the firm’s pro bono policy. It’s no wonder then that all our interviewees agreed that pro bono is heavily encouraged at Latham, so much so that everyone is expected to hit at least 20 hours of a year (though the goal is 60!). The matters are usually communicated through the weekly pro bono newsletter and range from monthly discrete advice clinics to domestic violence, veterans’ rights, immigration, trusts and estates – “usually for transactional attorneys” – and civil rights cases. Through its “broad base of contacts” across the cities it operates in, Latham “really covers the spectrum.” This source continued, “It’s whatever you want! They really want people to go out, find their cause, and do it.”
Pro bono hours
- For all US attorneys: 193,601
- Average per US attorney: 79
Hours & Compensation
Billable hours: 1,900 target
Thoughts on the achievability of the 1,900-hour target were varied, but ultimately, the consensus was that unpredictable, market-dependent workflow was the culprit. That said, the firm’s allowance for 50 billable hours of activities like recruiting interviews, committee service and knowledge management – such as client alerts, internal admin projects, summarizing previous deals – as well as the unlimited 1:1 billable hour credit for pro bono work eases the burden a little, which our sources were admittedly grateful for. As for the bonus, it’s “technically lockstep but you can get above market” if you’re an associate in good standing who exceeds the 1,900-hour target.
Working hours were a mixed bag for insiders too, but for the most part, we heard that “you’re never really off!” Latham does have some flexibility around working hours though, so there was no set log-on or log-off time for interviewees. Recently, the firm has recommended four in-office days a week for its New York contingent only. This has been met with some grumbles, but it reportedly won’t be enforced too heavily, so juniors were ultimately okay with getting on board.
Culture
"...incredibly impressive and brilliant individuals who take their work seriously, but don’t take themselves too seriously.”
Some words of wisdom from this source: “Law is a team sport – a contact sport, but a team sport,” so, the most important thing is for associates to “all have each other’s backs.” This is no issue for juniors at Latham, who “take a very strong stance about protecting each other.” An insider smiled, “The people are chill for a BigLaw firm. They are incredibly impressive and brilliant individuals who take their work seriously, but don’t take themselves too seriously.” With social events ranging wildly from baseball games and concerts during the summer to weekly happy hours and pie-eating contests in DC around Thanksgiving, there’s no shortage of opportunities to get together, though there’s “no pressure to hang out with everyone all the time outside of work.” Ultimately, “you’re not a gear to be ground,” another source nodded, “you’re part of a team and a family.”
Get Hired
The first stage: recruitment on and off campus
Latham’s broad approach to recruitment reflects its giant footprint on the legal scene. “Our open application platform allows any student, from any law school, to apply to our recruiting programs,” notes Michèle Penzer, a banking partner in New York and the Global Chair of the Recruiting Committee. “We seek the best and brightest legal talent, first and foremost. While we look at academic credentials for new associates, that’s not the entire barometer. We also look for leadership achievements, and characteristics such as grit and teamwork that enhance Latham’s culture.”
The firm has an application period, Latham Early Action Days (LEAD), that encourages students to apply to their summer program within a 10 day period in April. A whole host of Recruiting Committee members and other attorneys participate in interviews, including managing partners, practice group chairs, and associates. All applicants are required to take a virtual assessment which will assess candidates on different skills and behaviors that are necessary to excel at Latham. Following the assessment, students will receive written feedback on their strengths for their personal reference.
This might all sound a bit intimidating, but associate sources assured us: “Collaboration and collegiality are a key part of Latham’s culture. Interviews are meant to be conversational, less about ticking through a resume and more about people as individuals,” said Boston counsel and member of the Recruiting Committee, Gloria Ring.
Top tips: “Be yourself. We want to hear about experiences that demonstrate who you are, and that shows us how you’ll contribute to our consensus-based, entrepreneurial culture. We value authenticity, ambition, excellence, teamwork, creativity, and innovation. The stories you tell will reveal your values and competencies in a very natural way.” - New York partner and Global Chair of Recruiting Committee, Michèle Penzer.
Callbacks
Those invited to callbacks will meet with several lawyers over the course of several hours. Bay Area partner and Global Vice-Chair of the Recruiting Committee, Aaron Chiu, tells us: “Whenever possible, we try to pair candidates with Latham lawyers who share their interests, or who can best answer a candidate’s particular questions. To help us with matching, we welcome candidates to share those questions with us during the recruiting process; we understand that candidates are often evaluating a number of firms, and we want to ensure that callbacks are engaging, relevant, and illuminating.”
Interviewers and questions vary depending on the candidate and location, but candidates are urged to share their professional passions and experiences that demonstrate how they may contribute to our firm. Chiu notes too that candidates should prepare themselves for a long day. Houston associate and member of the Recruiting Committee, Zainab Hashmi, adds: “While the process can seem intimidating, especially with the large amount of talking, questions, and introductions over the course of the day, we also hope it’s a fun experience, and that candidates view the lawyers they meet during interviews as their potential supervisors, mentors, colleagues, and friends.”
Top tips: “Before your interview, set aside some time to think through what you want to share. We want to hear about you, and learn about your authentic self. Think about how your personal and professional experiences brought you to this moment in time, and how those experiences demonstrate you are the right fit for Latham.” - New York associate and member of the Recruiting Committee, Lauren Sun.
Summer program
Candidates who are fortunate to secure a spot on Latham’s summer program will take part in the firm’s unassigned program, where they can explore the firm’s market-leading practice groups. The system is entrepreneurial and informal — summer associates are free to pursue projects that they’re interested in, aligned to the firm’s business needs, including pro bono work. Penzer tells us: “Our firm has a deep commitment to training and developing lawyers at every stage of their careers, including summer associates. Our Summer Academy brings together summer associates from across the globe for several days of networking, training, professional development, and socializing .” Houston associate and member of the Recruiting Committee, Kevin Donovan, advises summers to “strike a good balance between your substantive work and building relationships with colleagues. The relationships you build and the skills you develop over the summer will be invaluable as you advance in your legal career.”
Top tips: “The summer associate program provides a unique opportunity to not only become familiar with Latham but also to envision your future as a high-level practicing lawyer. Through the program, you will have the chance to delve into various practice areas, participate in training sessions, connect with lawyers across the firm, and seek answers to your questions in real-time. While law school equips you with the skills to tackle the challenges and intellectual demands of the legal field, the summer associate experience rounds out your preparation for your future career.” - D.C. counsel and member of the Recruiting Committee, Jess Lennon.
And finally…
“When we say that a career at Latham is an investment in your development and your future, we mean it. We want candidates who take charge of their careers by asking thoughtful questions, by being authentic, and by demonstrating an interest in practicing law at Latham. We’re very proud of our culture, and we are eager to share it with law students.” -New York partner and member of the Recruiting Committee, Reza Mojtabaee-Zamani.
Latham & Watkins LLP
Main areas of work
Firm profile
We invest in your future, providing substantial resources for you to draw on as you grow from an intellectually curious self-starter into an exceptional lawyer. Your comprehensive training will include personal mentoring, career coaching, and hands-on learning, complemented by rigorous substantive education and our signature academies.
You’ll join teams that prioritize excellence over ego, where your initiative and input are encouraged at all levels. We invite you to take on responsibility early and to join in open discussion.
Latham leads the market in every major financial center around the world, bringing together the absolute best in class across all disciplines. Excellence permeates everything we do, and we look for individuals who approach their careers with drive and ambition. If you aspire to be the best, this is where you belong.
Recruitment
Latham recruits students from more than 150 law schools through online applications for the firm’s Summer Program, and other signature programs for law students.
For more information about online applications for US offices, visit www.lwcareers.com.
Summer program components:
As a summer associate, you will actively contribute through our Unassigned Program, which empowers you to explore our market-leading practice areas while aligning with the firm’s strategic goals and engaging in pro bono work. We encourage you to pursue your interests and gain valuable experience by collaborating with leading lawyers across disciplines.
Assigned mentors will be available to answer questions and guide you throughout the summer. You will engage in substantive matters and receive real-time feedback, just like a firm associate.
At Summer Academy — a highlight of our summer program — you will join summer associates from across the firm and immerse yourself in Latham’s culture through training seminars and social events.
Networking and relationship-building with Latham professionals are essential parts of your summer experience — and your career. You will have opportunities to attend practice group presentations, participate in firm events, and enjoy casual lunches and social gatherings with Latham lawyers.
We offer opportunities for law students at ABA-accredited schools to learn from some of the best in the profession, refine their skills, and grow their talents.
Social media
LinkedIn: latham-&-watkins
Twitter: @lathamwatkins
Facebook: lathamwatkins
Instagram: @lathamwatkins
This Firm's Rankings in
USA Guide, 2024
Ranked Departments
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California
- Antitrust (Band 1)
- Banking & Finance (Band 1)
- Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Band 2)
- Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Band 1)
- Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Band 2)
- Environment (Band 2)
- Healthcare (Band 2)
- Insurance: Policyholder (Band 3)
- Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation (Band 2)
- Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets (Band 1)
- Life Sciences (Band 1)
- Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite (Band 2)
- Litigation: Securities (Band 1)
- Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Band 1)
- Media & Entertainment: Litigation (Band 3)
- Media & Entertainment: Transactional (Band 1)
- Private Equity: Buyouts (Band 3)
- Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (Band 1)
- Technology (Band 1)
- Venture Capital (Band 2)
-
California: Los Angeles & Surrounds
- Corporate/M&A: The Elite (Band 1)
- Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (Band 1)
-
California: Northern
- Tax (Band 2)
-
California: San Diego
- Litigation: General Commercial (Band 2)
-
California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surro
- Corporate/M&A: The Elite (Band 2)
- Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (Band 1)
-
California: Southern
- Real Estate (Band 2)
- Tax (Band 1)
-
District of Columbia
- Antitrust (Band 2)
- Corporate/M&A & Private Equity (Band 1)
- Environment (Band 2)
- Environment: Mainly Transactional (Band 1)
- Healthcare (Band 1)
- Healthcare: Pharmaceutical/Medical Products Regulatory (Band 2)
- Intellectual Property: Litigation (Band 1)
- Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets (Band 3)
- Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite (Band 2)
- Litigation: Securities (Band 1)
- Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Band 2)
- Media & Entertainment: Regulatory (Band 2)
- Tax (Band 2)
- Technology & Outsourcing (Band 2)
- Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite (Band 1)
-
Illinois
- Banking & Finance (Band 1)
- Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Band 2)
- Corporate/M&A & Private Equity (Band 1)
- Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (Band 3)
- Environment (Band 2)
- Intellectual Property (Band 2)
- Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets (Band 1)
- Litigation: General Commercial (Band 1)
- Litigation: Securities (Band 1)
- Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Band 1)
- Real Estate (Band 1)
- Tax (Band 2)
-
Massachusetts
- Capital Markets (Band 1)
- Corporate/M&A (Band 1)
- Healthcare (Band 4)
- Intellectual Property (Band 4)
- Life Sciences (Band 1)
- Litigation: General Commercial (Band 2)
- Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Band 2)
- Private Equity: Buyouts (Band 3)
- Private Equity: Venture Capital Investment (Band 1)
- Technology (Band 1)
-
New York
- Antitrust (Band 2)
- Banking & Finance (Band 1)
- Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite (Band 2)
- Corporate/M&A: The Elite (Band 3)
- Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (Band 2)
- Environment (Band 3)
- Environment: Mainly Transactional (Band 2)
- Insurance: Transactional & Regulatory (Band 2)
- Intellectual Property: Patent (Band 4)
- Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets (Band 4)
- Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite (Band 2)
- Litigation: Securities (Band 2)
- Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations: The Elite (Band 2)
- Media & Entertainment: Corporate (Band 2)
- Private Equity: Buyouts (Band 2)
- Real Estate: Mainly Corporate & Finance (Band 3)
- Tax (Band 2)
-
Texas
- Banking & Finance (Band 1)
- Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Band 1)
- Corporate/M&A: The Elite (Band 1)
- Environment: Mainly Transactional (Band 1)
- Private Equity: Buyouts (Band 3)
- Tax (Band 2)
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Texas: Austin & Surrounds
- Corporate/M&A (Band 2)
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USA - Nationwide
- Antitrust (Band 1)
- Antitrust: Cartel (Band 1)
- Appellate Law (Band 1)
- Banking & Finance (Band 1)
- Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite (Band 2)
- Capital Markets: Convertible Debt (Band 1)
- Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel (Band 1)
- Capital Markets: Equity: Manager Counsel (Band 1)
- Capital Markets: High-Yield Debt (Band 1)
- Capital Markets: Investment Grade Debt: Issuer Counsel (Band 2)
- Capital Markets: Investment Grade Debt: Manager Counsel (Band 3)
- Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS (Band 1)
- Capital Markets: Securitization: CLOs (Band 2)
- Capital Markets: Structured Products (Band 2)
- Climate Change (Band 1)
- Corporate Crime & Investigations: The Elite (Band 1)
- Corporate/M&A: The Elite (Band 1)
- Derivatives (Band 1)
- Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (Band 1)
- Energy Transition (Band 2)
- Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation) (Band 2)
- Energy: Electricity (Transactional) (Band 1)
- Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory & Litigation) (Band 2)
- Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional) (Band 1)
- Environment (Band 1)
- Environment: Mainly Transactional (Band 1)
- False Claims Act (Band 2)
- FCPA (Band 3)
- Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Compliance) (Band 5)
- Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) (Band 3)
- Government Contracts: Highly Regarded (Band 1)
- Healthcare: The Elite (Band 3)
- Intellectual Property (Band 1)
- Intellectual Property: Appellate (Band 2)
- Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets (Band 2)
- International Trade: CFIUS Experts (Band 3)
- International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions: The Elite (Band 2)
- International Trade: Intellectual Property (Section 337) (Band 1)
- Investment Funds: Regulatory & Compliance (Band 3)
- Leisure & Hospitality (Band 1)
- Life Sciences (Band 1)
- Life Sciences: Regulatory/Compliance (Band 2)
- Offshore Energy (Band 1)
- Privacy & Data Security: Litigation (Band 2)
- Privacy & Data Security: The Elite (Band 2)
- Private Credit (Band 1)
- Private Equity: Buyouts: High-end Capability (Band 2)
- Private Equity: Fund Formation (Band 2)
- Product Liability: Tobacco (Band 1)
- Projects: LNG (Band 1)
- Projects: Oil & Gas (Band 1)
- Projects: Power (Band 1)
- Projects: Power & Renewables: Transactional (Band 1)
- Projects: Renewables & Alternative Energy (Band 1)
- Real Estate (Band 3)
- REITs (Band 1)
- Retail: Corporate & Transactional (Band 1)
- Securities: Litigation (Band 1)
- Securities: Regulation: Enforcement (Band 2)
- Sports Law (Band 2)
- Startups & Emerging Companies (Band 2)
- Tax: Controversy (Band 1)
- Tax: Corporate & Finance (Band 2)
- Technology (Band 1)
More from Latham & Watkins:
- Careers at Latham
- Learn about programs at the firm
- Explore Latham's Interview Prep Site
- Read the firm's 2023 pro bono review
- Read the firm's 2024 environmental sustainability report
- Stay up to date with the firm's latest news
- Read about the firm's latest achievements
- Find out more about the firm's job simulations
- Find out more about the firm's application process
WATCH: My Latham Summer