Unlock Your Potential
LATHAM & WATKINS IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER LAW FIRM What can we do for you? As you embark on your legal career, you will be looking to differentiate between many of the world s top law firms to understand which is the best fit for you. In this brochure, we describe the essence of our firm culture and what our trainees experience as they begin their careers at Latham & Watkins. We hope this will help you determine whether this is the place to help unlock your potential. Latham & Watkins differs so much from other law firms because of our people. We are a global law firm, with truly integrated capabilities, in the major financial centers across Asia, the United States, Europe and the Middle East, in large part due to our teams of intelligent, entrepreneurial and collaborative people. In our Hong Kong office, you will find people from a wide array of different backgrounds united by a common goal: to work together to provide top-quality advice and first-rate service to all our clients in each of our practices. As a trainee with us, you will have the opportunity to work with leading lawyers on highprofile projects in a variety of practices, including: capital markets; mergers and acquisitions; private equity; banking; project finance; litigation; international arbitration; financial regulatory; and derivatives. Working at Latham & Watkins growing Hong Kong office offers you an unrivaled experience with a global feel and international culture. We are looking for bright, energetic people who are ready to make an important contribution almost immediately people who will relish playing a key role in international matters and working alongside fellow lawyers from more than 30 offices worldwide. We value our trainees as our potential future partners. With us, you will rapidly gain significant responsibility and enjoy meaningful partner and client interaction. You will have opportunities to be involved in some of the region s most complex and interesting transactions and disputes, in an environment which supports those who stand out from the crowd. We aim to help you develop your full potential in a friendly, fun and teamworkoriented environment. If this lively yet demanding environment is for you, we look forward to hearing from you. Josef S. Athanas Hong Kong Office Managing Partner
WE ARE ONE FIRM, WORLDWIDE WITHOUT A HEAD OFFICE Latham & Watkins is one of the world s largest law firms, with internationally-recognised practices in more than 30 offices across Asia, the US, Europe and the Middle East. Our lawyers frequently collaborate across jurisdictions to provide clients with the best international experience and insight. Very few firms can match our worldwide resources or global platform. We have no head office and no dominant practice. Instead, we have a single, integrated partnership, which provides a collaborative, innovative approach to client service. Our firm is run by committees, which rely on consensus-based decisions. In the Hong Kong office, you will join our top-tier, full-service commercial law firm. Lawyers from each of the firm s practices are recommended in publications such as Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 and International Financial Law Review. We represent investment banks, financial institutions, private equity houses, corporates, governments and other organisations, handling some of the largest and most complex cross-border deals and cases in Asia. We recruit only the highest caliber candidates. We consider both academics and personality because we pride ourselves on our collegial atmosphere and our collaborative style. Latham is made up of people from a variety of backgrounds with a diversity of opinions we value originality and creative thinking, and we emphasise client service, entrepreneurship, innovation and teamwork. Our associates are involved in firm management, participating in several committees, including our Associates, Recruiting, Diversity Leadership and Pro Bono Committees. We look for candidates who are leaders that will positively contribute to the firm as a whole. We also expect our lawyers to take charge of client matters by showing initiative early on in their careers. We expect our trainees to be able to handle meaningful responsibility on client matters from the outset. HONG KONG OFFICE MAJOR PRACTICE AREAS Antitrust & Competition Banking Capital Markets Corporate Governance Derivatives Financial Regulatory Greater China Practice International Arbitration Korea Practice Litigation & Trial Mergers & Acquisitions Oil & Gas Transactions Private Equity Project Development & Finance Public Company Representation Real Estate Restructuring, Insolvency & Workouts Securities Litigation & Professional Liability White Collar Defense & Investigations
MATTER HIGHLIGHTS Latham s Hong Kong office works on some of the biggest transactions and disputes globally, regularly advising many of the world s leading companies and financial institutions. Equity Market Deal of the Year Latham advised on the Qihoo 360 Technology going private transaction, which was named Equity Market Deal of the Year by Asian Legal Business 2016. Asian Legal Business 2016 Finance Deal of the Year 2016 Latham advised the arranger and underwriter of China National Chemical Corp s US$7.37 billion acquisition of Italian tire maker Pirelli. The Asian Lawyer Asia Legal Awards 2016 Private Equity / Venture Capital M&A Deal of the Year Latham advised KKR and Warburg Pincus in a US$500 million investment in Go-Jek, in the largest ever injection for an Indonesian tech startup. The deal was the largest ever injection for an Indonesian tech startup and one that represents an impressive level of global investor confidence in Asia s emerging venture capital markets. The Asian Lawyer Emerging Markets Awards 2016 Thailand Firm of the Year Latham was awarded Thailand Firm of the Year for its ability to get complex big-ticket deals in and out of Thailand. Latham s Thailand practice leverages the expertise of nearly 100 corporate and finance lawyers in the region and globally. The Asian Lawyer Asia Legal Awards 2016 Philippines Firm of the Year Latham was chosen as Philippines Firm of the Year for the firm s work with Vista Land & Lifescape and Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. Latham s lawyers are particularly familiar with language, local know-how and relationships in the Philippines. The Asian Lawyer Asia Legal Awards 2016 Grand Prize Finance Deal of the Year Latham advised Melco Crown Entertainment Limited in connection with the debt restructuring for its subsidiary Studio City, a US$3.2 billion Hollywoodinspired integrated entertainment resort newly opened in Macau on 27 October 2015. The Asian Lawyer Asia Legal Awards 2016 ACCOLADES Latham & Watkins is honored to have received numerous awards and accolades, which cut across all our practices and industries. Since launching in Asia more than two decades ago, Latham has developed into a leader in the region. The firm has received considerable international recognition for handling landmark matters and for its culture of teamwork, collaboration, innovation and commitment to diversity, inclusion and public service. 6 Innovation in Legal Expertise: Accessing New Markets and Capital. Financial Times Innovative Lawyer Awards 2016 Ranked in Top 10 Vault 2017 Client Service A-Team BTI Consulting Group 2017 Most Innovative Law Firm of the Year Euromoney Legal Media Group s Women in Business Law Awards 2016 Emerging Markets Law Firm of Year 2016 The Asian Lawyer 2016 Asia Innovation List 2017 Asian Legal Business 2017 Named to A-List 15 years in a row; one of only two firms named to the elite ranking since its inception The American Lawyer A-List 2017 Best Law Firms for Women Working Mothers Magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers 2017
WE CARE Diversity Latham & Watkins lawyers, paralegals and professional staff worldwide reflect a rich mixture of men and women of different races, ethnic backgrounds, cultures, sexual orientations and primary languages. This diversity makes us who we are. Our commitment to equal opportunity enables Latham to draw from a remarkable wealth of talent to recruit and retain the best to create one of the world s leading law firms. Pro Bono Work Latham & Watkins is one of the largest providers of free legal services in the world. Pro bono work is an important part of what we do. In 2016, Latham provided more than 206,000 hours of pro bono legal services globally, valued at approximately US$135 million. Since 2000, we have provided more than 3,000,000 pro bono hours legal services valued at more than US$1.3 billion. The culture of pro bono is deeply entrenched in who we are as a firm, and who we engage across the public interest spectrum. We treat pro bono work in the same way as any other commercial work: work on pro bono matters earns full billable hour credit, with no cap. We review and supervise the work to the same standard, and we value pro bono work in our associate evaluation and bonus system. We encourage our associates to participate in more than 60 hours of pro bono work each year, and invite them to introduce their own pro bono clients. In partnership with the Pro Bono Institute, we published A Survey of Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in 84 Jurisdictions covering jurisdictions across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa as well as North and South America. The survey is widely used by in-house legal departments, law firms, sole practitioners and nonprofits as an introductory guide to pro bono practices around the world.
WE INSPIRE The Associates Committee Our Associates Committee is unique. The Committee brings together lawyers from all levels of seniority with equal numbers of associates and partners from across the firm. Serving on the Associates Committee means making partnership recommendations and ensuring the partnership maintains its focus on teamwork, collegiality and quality. Latham Academies The Latham Academies multi-day training and development programmes for first-, third- and fifth-year associates, new counsel and partners, which are typically held in a major US city are the jewels of the firm s training and development programme. The Academies bring together lawyers within a particular class from across the firm, solidifying our one-firm firm culture by enabling lawyers to collectively learn and connect with their peers around the firm. First Year Academy First Year Academy provides (i) formal training on the firm s culture, structure and vast resources and (ii) critical skills training for new lawyers. Courses range from the history, management and finances of the firm to essential practice skills, such as supervision and delegation, client service, timekeeping, and financial statements basics. Third Year Academy Third Year Academy offers a mix of presentations and workshops with an emphasis on supervision and project management. By the end of the Academy, associates will have gained a clear understanding of how to make a successful transition from junior to mid-level associate. Fifth Year Academy Fifth Year Academy is focused on the transition from mid-level to senior associate. Topics include progression to partnership and counsel, business development, and team leadership.
WHY LATHAM? Latham offers a challenging and collegial platform to jumpstart one s career and provides unique opportunities and support throughout, allowing one to shape one s professional and personal development and realise one s full potential. Bonnie Tse Associate The people at Latham are a joy to work with gregarious and engaging. Our people are the foundation of Latham s incredible culture. Desmond Gan Associate Hard work, commitment and quality are expected, but there is also fun along the way. Latham goes the extra mile to provide a supportive and fun environment for the transition from study to work. Catherine Hui Associate As a global law firm, we encourage crossborder collaboration to deliver high quality services to our clients. Our secondment opportunities expose trainees to this unrivalled network, and allows them the opportunity to experience working in some of the most exciting cities in the world. Bing Xi Sia Newly Qualified Associate
Your Career at Latham PREPARATION Students in their penultimate year of an LLB or JD from recognized universities in Hong Kong, the UK, Australia and other jurisdictions should apply for: Summer Vacation Scheme (three weeks) Training Contract Please apply via our online application website: https://www.apply4law.com/lathamwatkins/ Application Deadlines: Summer Vacation Scheme 2018: Applications open October 1, 2017 Applications close March 1, 2018 Training Contract 2020 Applications open October 1, 2017 Applications close August 1, 2018 EDUCATION Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) Apply to law school of your choice TRAINING CONTRACT Four seats in the following Departments: Corporate Derivatives Finance Litigation Regulatory Possible third or fourth seat secondment to one of our international offices ASSOCIATE Newly qualified Junior associate Mid-level associate Senior associate 1-3 YEARS 4-6 YEARS 7-8 YEARS PARTNER AND COUNSEL Consideration for partnership / counsel in your 7th year
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