Latham & Watkins LLP
Latham & Watkins has approximately 3,724 attorneys across 32 offices. Founded in Los Angeles, CA in 1934.
$225,000+
Announced by the firm (Oct 2026)
398
Reporting year not confirmed; Offer rate not reported
Not reported: partnership track.
3L / Entry-LevelOpen
Fall 2027 start
London, US
Opens
Open nowDeadline
Rolling
1L Summer 2027 · Class of 2029Opening Soon
Houston, Austin
Opens
Nov 1, 2026Deadline
Jan 29, 2027
2L Summer 2028 · Class of 2029Opening Soon
New York, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Chicago, Boston, Houston, Austin, Orange County, San Diego
Opens
Nov 1, 2026Deadline
Jan 29, 2027
No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.
About Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins brings together transactional, litigation, and regulatory practices across major business and financial centers. Its firm materials describe a broad platform designed to combine disciplines around a client's legal and commercial needs. That structure supports work ranging from financing and corporate transactions to disputes and industry-specific regulation.
Its recruiting events offer a concrete view of that breadth. Latham Live programs explore intellectual property litigation, Supreme Court advocacy, transactional practice, law and artificial intelligence, and the work of its Texas and California offices. Other sessions address global citizenship, firm management, and the relationship between legal and business training.
Latham also identifies pro bono service and community engagement as parts of its global citizenship work. For students, the firm's practice and office programming provides a useful way to move beyond a general description of a global firm: the subjects show distinct legal disciplines, regional practices, and professional interests that can
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be explored through its recruiting calendar.
Rankings
Latest published editions. Each links to its source.
Size and Standing
- $8.3B gross revenueAm Law 100, $8.3B gross revenue: #2 (opens in a new tab)
- Lawyers in 14 countriesGlobal 200, Lawyers in 14 countries: #2 (opens in a new tab)
- 3,724 attorneysNLJ 500, 3,724 attorneys: #5 (opens in a new tab)
- PrestigeVault Law 100, Prestige: #4 (opens in a new tab)
Associate Life
- Score 80.9The A-List, Score 80.9: #19 (opens in a new tab)
- Score 4.11 of 5Midlevel Associates Survey, Score 4.11 of 5: #42 (opens in a new tab)
- Best city resultMidlevel Survey, San Diego, Best city result: #3 (opens in a new tab)
- Vault Best to Work For: #35 (opens in a new tab)
- VaultMost Selective Law Firms, Vault: #10 (opens in a new tab)
- VaultTechnology & Innovation, Vault: #14 (opens in a new tab)
- VaultBusiness Outlook, Vault: #16 (opens in a new tab)
Vault Practice Rankings
- Clean Tech/Renewable Energy Law: #1 (opens in a new tab)
- Securities/Capital Markets: #1 (opens in a new tab)
- Antitrust: #2 (opens in a new tab)
- Environmental Law: #2 (opens in a new tab)
- Media, Entertainment, & Sports: #2 (opens in a new tab)
- Private Equity: #2 (opens in a new tab)
- Project Finance: #2 (opens in a new tab)
- Banking & Financial Services: #3 (opens in a new tab)
Show All 26
- Bankruptcy/Restructuring: #3 (opens in a new tab)
- Energy, Oil, & Gas Law: #3 (opens in a new tab)
- Life Sciences: #3 (opens in a new tab)
- Products Liability: #3 (opens in a new tab)
- General Corporate Practice: #4 (opens in a new tab)
- Mergers & Acquisitions: #4 (opens in a new tab)
- Privacy & Data Security: #4 (opens in a new tab)
- General Commercial Litigation: #5 (opens in a new tab)
- Real Estate Law: #5 (opens in a new tab)
- Securities Litigation: #5 (opens in a new tab)
- Tax Law: #5 (opens in a new tab)
- White Collar Defense & Internal Investigations: #6 (opens in a new tab)
- Emerging Companies & Venture Capital: #7 (opens in a new tab)
- Intellectual Property: #7 (opens in a new tab)
- Appellate Litigation: #8 (opens in a new tab)
- International Practice: #8 (opens in a new tab)
- Health Care: #10 (opens in a new tab)
- Labor & Employment Law: #11 (opens in a new tab)
Practice strength by market
Every band below appears on this firm’s Chambers USA 2026 profile, checked September 26, 2026. Where Chambers splits a table into The Elite and Highly Regarded, every Elite firm ranks above every Highly Regarded firm.
Scroll sideways to see recognition.
| Practice | Market | Recognition |
|---|---|---|
Antitrust | California | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Antitrust | District of Columbia | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Antitrust | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Antitrust | New York | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Antitrust: Cartel | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Appellate Law | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Artificial Intelligence | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Asset Management M&A | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Banking & Finance | California | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Banking & Finance | Illinois | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Banking & Finance | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Banking & Finance | New York | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Banking & Finance | Texas | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Bankruptcy/RestructuringThe Elite | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Bankruptcy/RestructuringThe Elite | New York | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Capital Markets | Massachusetts | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Capital Markets: Convertible Debt | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Capital Markets: Debt & Equity | California | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Capital Markets: Debt & Equity | Illinois | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Capital Markets: Debt & Equity | Texas | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Capital Markets: Equity: Manager Counsel | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Capital Markets: High-Yield Debt | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Capital Markets: Investment Grade Debt: Issuer Counsel | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Climate Change | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Corporate Crime & InvestigationsThe Elite | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Corporate Governance | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Corporate/M&AThe Elite | California: Los Angeles & Surrounds | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Corporate/M&AThe Elite | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Corporate/M&AThe Elite | Texas | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Corporate/M&A | Texas: Austin & Surrounds | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Corporate/M&A & Private Equity | District of Columbia | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Corporate/M&A & Private Equity | Illinois | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Derivatives | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | California: Los Angeles & Surrounds | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrounds | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | New York | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Energy Transition | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation) | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Energy: Electricity (Transactional) | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional) | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Environment | Illinois | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Environment | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Environment: Mainly Transactional | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Environment: Mainly Transactional | New York | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Environment: Mainly Transactional | Texas | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Healthcare | District of Columbia | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Intellectual Property: Litigation | District of Columbia | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Intellectual Property: Trade Secrets | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets | California | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets | District of Columbia | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
International Trade: Intellectual Property (Section 337) | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Leisure & Hospitality | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Life Sciences | Massachusetts | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Life Sciences | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Life Sciences: Corporate/Commercial | California | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: General CommercialThe Elite | District of Columbia | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: General Commercial | Illinois | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: General CommercialThe Elite | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: General CommercialThe Elite | New York | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: Securities | California | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: Securities | District of Columbia | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: Securities | Illinois | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: Securities | New York | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations | California | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations | Illinois | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government InvestigationsThe Elite | New York | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Media & Entertainment: Transactional | California | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
National Security | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Offshore Energy | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Privacy & Data Security: Litigation | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Private Credit | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Private Equity: Venture Capital Investment | Massachusetts | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Product Liability: Tobacco | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Projects: LNG | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Projects: Oil & Gas | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Projects: Power | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Projects: Power & Renewables: Transactional | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Projects: Renewables & Alternative Energy | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Real Estate | Illinois | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use | California | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
REITs | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Retail: Corporate & Transactional | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Securities: Litigation | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Tax | California: Southern | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Tax | Texas | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Tax: Controversy | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Tax: Corporate & Finance | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Technology | California | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Technology | Massachusetts | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Technology | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite | District of Columbia | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Venture Capital | California | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Water Law | California | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Bankruptcy/Restructuring | California | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Bankruptcy/Restructuring | Illinois | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Capital Markets: Investment Grade Debt: Manager Counsel | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Capital Markets: Securitization: CLOs | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Capital Markets: Structured Products | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Corporate/M&AThe Elite | California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrounds | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Corporate/M&A | Massachusetts | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Corporate/M&AThe Elite | New York | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Corporate/M&A: Takeover Defense | New York | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation | California | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Environment | California | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Environment | District of Columbia | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Environment | New York | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Environment: Mainly Transactional | District of Columbia | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
False Claims Act | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Government Relations: Congressional Investigations | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
HealthcareThe Elite | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Healthcare: Pharmaceutical/Medical Products Regulatory | District of Columbia | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Insurance: Transactional & Regulatory | New York | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Intellectual Property | Illinois | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Intellectual Property | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Intellectual Property: Appellate | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Intellectual Property: Trademark & Copyright | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets | Illinois | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
International Trade: CFIUS Experts | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
International Trade: Export Controls & Economic SanctionsThe Elite | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Life Sciences: Regulatory/Compliance | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: General CommercialThe Elite | California | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: General Commercial | California: San Diego | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: General Commercial | Massachusetts | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations | District of Columbia | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations | Massachusetts | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Media & Entertainment | District of Columbia | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Media & Entertainment: Corporate | New York | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Media & Entertainment: Litigation | California | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Media & Entertainment: Regulatory | District of Columbia | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Privacy & Data SecurityThe Elite | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Private Equity: Buyouts | Massachusetts | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Private Equity: Buyouts | New York | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Private Equity: Buyouts | Texas | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Private Equity: Buyouts: High-end Capability | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Private Equity: Fund Formation | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Real Estate | California: Southern | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Real Estate | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Real Estate: Mainly Corporate & Finance | New York | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Sports Law | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Startups & Emerging Companies | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Tax | California: Northern | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Tax | District of Columbia | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Tax | Illinois | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Tax | New York | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Technology & Outsourcing | District of Columbia | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Technology: Corporate & Commercial | Texas | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Illinois | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory & Litigation) | Nationwide | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
FCPA | Nationwide | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) | Nationwide | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Insurance | Massachusetts | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Insurance: Policyholder | California | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Insurance: Transactional & Regulatory | Nationwide | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Intellectual Property | Massachusetts | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Intellectual Property: Patent | New York | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation | California | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Intellectual Property: Patent Trial and Appeal Board | Nationwide | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets | New York | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Investment Funds: Regulatory & Compliance | Nationwide | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Private Equity: Buyouts | California | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Private Equity: Secondaries | Nationwide | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Securities: Regulation: Advisory | Nationwide | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Securities: Regulation: Enforcement | Nationwide | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Healthcare | California | Chambers Band4 Reported year: 2026 |
Healthcare | Massachusetts | Chambers Band4 Reported year: 2026 |
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | District of Columbia | Chambers Band5 Reported year: 2026 |
Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Compliance) | Nationwide | Chambers Band5 Reported year: 2026 |
Government ContractsHighly Regarded | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
International ArbitrationHighly Regarded | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
172 reported ranking rows
Facts verified by BigLaw Bear, narrative by the firm. Figures carry a source link where we hold one; prose is Latham & Watkins’s own.
Firm highlights
Summer program
Program features
- Summer pay
- $225,000+Announced by the firm (Oct 2026)
- Total summer associates
- 39825 1Ls, 373 2Ls. Class of 2026
- Early interviewing
- YesApplications for the 2028 2L summer program, and the joint 2027 1L and 2028 2L program in Texas, open November 1 and close January 29 through the firm's own online application. The Recruiting Committee evaluates every application.
- 1L applications
- Not mentioned by the firmSource
- First years hired into a practice
- NoSource
- Recruiting contact
- Michèle O. Penzer, Vice Chair—U.S. Whitney Weber, Vice Chair—EMEA Hendrik SmitRecruiting Chairs
Practice areas
Summer associates work through Latham's Unassigned Program, which the firm says "empowers you to explore our market-leading practices and award-winning industry groups that drive the global economy, as well as participate in pro bono work." Assigned mentors guide summers, and the firm encourages them to "pursue your interests" across disciplines rather than joining one group for the summer.
Inclusion
Latham's affinity groups for lawyers and staff are open to all of its people and, the firm says, "boast more than 3,700 members collectively." The firm also runs Leadership Academies and counts community building among the pillars of its Belong As You Are program.
Pro bono
- Summers can take pro bono
- Yes
- Counts as billable
- YesUncapped; every pro bono hour counts toward billablesSource
- Average hours per attorney
- 64 hoursAm Law pro bono rank #35Source
How pro bono work is assigned
Latham gives billable, bonus-eligible credit with no cap on hours for approved pro bono projects. Associates can take client-facing and first-chair roles on pro bono matters and receive substantive annual reviews for that work.
More about Latham & Watkins
Summer Academy brings summer associates from every office together for training seminars and social events. Applicants can complete a Latham job simulation on Forage before applying, and the firm lists a recruiting manager for each US office rather than one firmwide contact.
Upcoming Events from Latham & Watkins LLP
Open an event to review the details and add it to your recruiting plan.
Schools Latham & Watkins Hires From
16 schools name Latham & Watkins on its own employer or placement pages. These lists are not exhaustive.
- Brooklyn LawNamed on school page
- Cardozo LawNamed on school page
- Cornell LawNamed on school page
- Emory LawNamed on school page
- Georgetown LawNamed on school page
- Hofstra LawNamed on school page
- Illinois LawNamed on school page
- IU McKinneyNamed on school page
- Texas LawNamed on school page
- Touro LawNamed on school page
- UCI LawNamed on school page
- UCSF LawNamed on school page
- USD LawNamed on school page
- Vanderbilt LawNamed on school page
- W&L LawNamed on school page
- W&M LawNamed on school page