Latham & Watkins

Latham & Watkins

Type	Limited liability partnership
Industry	Legal services
Founded	1934
Headquarters	None. First office in Los Angeles, California
Key people	William Voge, Chairman and Managing Partner
Products	Full legal services
Revenue	US$ 2.823 billion (2017)
Number of employees	Approximately 2,200 Attorneys
Website	www.lw.com

Latham & Watkins LLP, founded in 1934, is the world’s highest-grossing law firm, with US$2.823 billion in annual revenue, and is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious and profitable law firms in the world.

Latham currently employs approximately 2,200 attorneys in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm was founded in Los Angeles and has extensive Californian roots, with Latham's largest office now in New York City, with nearly 400 lawyers. The firm claims it is the only fully integrated multinational law firm with no one headquarters. In 2007, Latham & Watkins became the first American law firm to attain more than $2 billion in yearly revenue, and in 2015, the firm surpassed the likes of DLA Piper, Baker & McKenzie and Skadden to become the highest-grossing law firm in the world for the first time. The firm has historically been one of the highest-paying law firms in the world.

Dana Latham and Paul Watkins founded Latham & Watkins in January 1934 in Los Angeles, California. Latham's practice focused on US state and federal tax law and he eventually served as Commissioner of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under President Dwight Eisenhower. Watkins' practise focused primarily on labor. Although Latham & Watkins began with a focus on labor and tax law, the firm has grown into an international, full-service law practice with highly regarded practices in transactional, disputes and regulatory areas.

When Latham & Watkins was founded, the firm consisted of three attorneys. The firm grew slowly, and, in 1960, there were 19 attorneys. The firm grew significantly in the 1960s, increasing the attorney headcount to 46 in 1970.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Latham & Watkins utilized a system of internal committees to run the firm and allowed associates to participate in the majority of these committees. The Associates Committee was founded in 1971 and governs the career development of the firm's associates. The Associates Committee includes both associates and partners. Through this committee, Latham & Watkins includes associates in the promotion process. Associates are also involved in the Diversity Committee, Recruiting Committee, Pro Bono Committee and TACE (Training and Career Enhancement) Committee.