Latham & Watkins

Latham & Watkins LLP is an American multinational white-shoe law firm. Founded in 1934 in Los Angeles, California, it is known for its litigation, corporate, and regulatory law practices.

History

20th Century

The firm was founded in January 1934 in Los Angeles, California, by Dana Latham and Paul Watkins. Latham's practice focused on state and federal tax law, and he eventually served as Commissioner of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under President Dwight Eisenhower. Watkins's practice focused primarily on labor. At first, the firm grew slowly, with only 19 attorneys employed as of 1960.[3]

In February 1978, the firm expanded into Washington, D.C., by adding Carla Anderson Hills as a named partner. Hills had left her role as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Ford administration the prior year, and she oversaw the firm's expansion into administrative law

Supreme Court litigation

A. J. T. v. Osseo Area Schools, on behalf of the family of a student with a disability. The Supreme Court unanimously sided with the family, holding that the "ADA and Rehabilitation Act claims based on educational services should be subject to the same standards that apply in other disability discrimination contexts."[52]

Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. v. Goldsmith, on behalf of the Andy Warhol Foundation. The litigation resulted from Warhol's unauthorized use of Lynn Goldsmith's photograph of Prince in his own artwork. In a divided opinion, the Supreme Court sided with Goldsmith, concluding that Warhol could not rely on fair use because his work and the photograph "share substantially the same purpose, and the use is of a commercial nature."[53]

Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond, on behalf of Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. Drummond sued to prevent a religious school from operating as a public charter school. The Oklahoma Supreme Court sided with Drummond, holding that a religious charter school would violate the Establishment Clause. With Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused, the Supreme Court's ruling was 4-4, thereby allowing Oklahoma's ruling to stand.[54] [55]

Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce, on behalf of Relentless, Inc. The Supreme Court's landmark decision overruled the principle of Chevron deference established in Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.[56]

Urias-Orellana v. Bondi, on behalf of Douglas Humberto Urias-Orellana, his wife Sayra Iliana Gamez-Mejia, and their minor child. Urias-Orellana sought asylum on the grounds that he was being targeted by a hitman in El Salvador. The Supreme Court rejected his appeal in a 9-0 ruling.[57][58]

Vega v. Tekoh, on behalf of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy Carlos Vega. In March 2014, Vega arrested Terence Tekoh, a hospital employee, on suspicion that he had sexually assaulted a patient. Tekoh then sued Vega under, asserting he violated his rights under Miranda v. Arizona by not warning him of his right to remain silent.[59] The Supreme Court sided with Vega, holding that an officer's failure to read Miranda warnings to a suspect in custody does not provide basis for a claim of civil liability.[60]

num offices	29, largest office in Manhattan
num attorneys	3,500+ ‡R1R‡
practice areas	General corporate, mergers & acquisitions, banking and finance, litigation, antitrust
key people	Richard Trobman, Chair and Managing Partner
date founded	February 8, 1934
founder	Dana Latham, Paul Watkins
company type	Limited liability partnership
revenue	▲ $7.0 billion (2024)‡R2R‡
profit per equity partner	▲ $7.1 million (2024)‡R2R‡
website	lw.com

History

20th Century

21st Century

Rankings

Notable attorneys and alumni

Judiciary

Government

Other

Supreme Court litigation

See also

External links

References