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Our Survey Says

 VAULT'S VERDICT:

Latham looms large in many ways, with more than 3,000 lawyers and a stellar reputation for quality work. The hiring process is competitive, with emphasis placed on law school attended, grades, journal work, clerkships, work experience, diversity, personality, and professionalism. People are collegial and supportive, and they enjoy social time together while respecting others who want family time. Conscious efforts are made to orient and welcome laterals. Partners treat associates well and as equals, while the firm emphasizes communication and transparency. Associates enjoy great opportunities for professional development through the first-year academy, ongoing CLEs, multiple mentors, and real-world experience. Lean teams mean that associates often do work above and below their experience level, and there is support for doing more substantive work. Associates have a reasonable 1,900-hour billable requirement that is not overwhelming and allows them to still have personal lives. Salaries are top of the market and lockstep, and bonuses match or exceed the industry standards. Firm tech is solid, and tech staff and support efficiently resolve issues. Associates appreciate the many wellness initiatives that Latham offers, though workloads can make it difficult to take full advantage of them. The firm strongly supports pro bono work and doesn’t cap the number of pro bono hours that can be applied toward the billable hour target. Diversity is advanced through affinity groups, programming, and recruiting efforts, with time spent on these credited toward bonus-eligible hours. Opportunities abound to make partner, become counsel, or transition to external work in-house or with the government.

Latham & Watkins

1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Phone: (212) 906-1200

Firm Stats

Chair and Managing Partner: Richard M. Trobman
Recruiting Chairs: Michèle O. Penzer (Global Chair), Kendall Johnson (Vice Chair—U.S.), Emily Cridland (Vice Chair—EAME)
Total No. Attorneys (2023):
3K - 3.5K
No. of Partners Named 2023:
68
Billable-Hour Requirement:
1,900

Base Salary

1st year: $215,000
2nd year: $225,000
3rd year: $250,000
4th year: $295,000
5th year: $345,000
6th year: $370,000
7th year: $400,000
8th year: $415,000
9th year: $425,000
Summer Associate: $4,135/week

Employment Contact

James Boyle
Director of Associate Recruiting
(212) 906-4581
james.boyle@lw.com

No. of U.S. Offices: 12

No. of International Offices: 18

Major Office Locations

Austin, TX
Boston, MA
Century City, CA
Chicago, IL
Houston, TX
Los Angeles, CA
New York, NY
Orange County, CA
San Diego, CA
San Francisco, CA
Silicon Valley, CA
Washington, DC I
Beijing
Brussels
Dubai
Düsseldorf
Frankfurt
Hamburg
Hong Kong
London
Madrid
Milan
Munich
Paris
Riyadh
Seoul
Shanghai
Singapore
Tel Aviv
Tokyo

Major Departments

Corporate
Finance
Litigation & Trial
Tax
*See firm website for complete list of practice areas and industries.