Department profile

Derivatives

Global Guide 2026 : USA

Latham & Watkins LLP

Rankings

Ranked Individuals

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Derivatives - USA

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Latham & Watkins LLP offers a well-regarded transactional team with a notable focus on OTC derivatives and equity-linked products. The firm is also able to offer guidance on regulatory and enforcement issues, including the Volcker Rule. The attorneys in the derivatives practice are able to draw on the firm's significant international presence when acting for clients in transactions, both on the buy- and sell-side.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

Latham & Watkins LLP represented Goldman Sachs International and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as dealers in an accelerated share repurchase for Aptiv PLC, the notional amount of which was $3 billion.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Latham has an exceptional understanding of the business and commercial considerations around equity derivatives. The team is able to break down highly complex matters into their basic substance.
Derivatives respondentGlobal
Everyone we deal with on the Latham team is knowledgeable, diligent, responsive and creative in solving problems.
Derivatives respondentGlobal
There is a seamless workstream between Latham's various offices globally. If you call one office in one jurisdiction, they communicate internally with their other offices.
Derivatives respondentGlobal
Latham has well-rounded and great knowledge of the market. The team is very commercial in its outlook and able to opine on legal and business matters.
Derivatives respondentGlobal
Latham is our number one choice for complex and sophisticated transactions.
Derivatives respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Band 1
Band 1
Douglas K. Yatter
With in-depth knowledge of the CFTC, Douglas Yatter is well respected for his enforcement practice, which sees him assist with investigations into market practices, including market spoofing.
He's a well spoken and astute lawyer.
Derivatives respondentGlobal
Douglas is knowledgeable about CFTC cases and its inner workings so his guidance is practical and takes into consideration political dynamics. He is very savvy about that.
Derivatives respondentGlobal
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Band 1
Band 1
Witold Balaban
Witold Balaban is known for his expert counsel on complex equity derivatives, including transactions requiring bespoke structuring.
Witold is flexible and commercial in his approach.
Derivatives respondentGlobal
Witold is a super smart guy, aggressive and commercial. He has seen so many transactions and he can get them to a good place.
Derivatives respondentGlobal
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Band 1
Band 1
Yvette Valdez
Yvette Valdez has an impressive and diverse derivatives practice. She is particularly sought after by clients for her expertise navigating the regulations surrounding cryptocurrency.
Yvette is great, with a particular expertise in emerging tech, crypto and decentralized assets. She's really established herself as an authority on that front.
Derivatives respondentGlobal
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Band 3
Band 3
Rafal Gawlowski
Rafal Gawlowski has a broad derivatives practice, which regularly sees him advise issuer-side clients in transactions.
Rafal is highly commercial and understands how to apply black letter law to complex business and financial risk decisions.
Derivatives respondentGlobal
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Band 4
Band 4
Catherine Lee
Catherine Lee has experience advising financial institutions, including syndicates of banks, on equity-linked transactions.
Catherine is incredibly diligent, creative and cuts through complex topics with ease - overall, she is a phenomenal partner to our business.
Derivatives respondentGlobal
Catherine is a great lawyer across the spectrum and pleasant to work with.
Derivatives respondentGlobal
Catherine is one of our go-tos. She is someone who can take a lot of work on.
Derivatives respondentGlobal
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Band 4
Band 4
Eric Rice
Eric Rice has a developing reputation in the derivatives market, with notable deal experience in equity-based transactions.
He was instrumental in getting the transaction across the line.
Derivatives respondentGlobal
Eric is great and knows his stuff inside and out.
Derivatives respondentGlobal
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Band 4
Band 4
Reza Mojtabaee-Zamani
Reza Mojtabaee-Zamani maintains a busy equity derivatives practice and he also demonstrates strength in equity-related transactions, such as margin loans.
Reza was my favorite partner to work with. He is a super smart guy, responsive, nimble and good at communicating issues.
Derivatives respondentGlobal
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USA, expertise based abroad in France
USA, expertise based abroad in France
Thomas Vogel
Thomas Vogel is experienced in large-scale derivatives transactions. He acts for multinationals and financial institutions. He is qualified to practice in France and the USA.
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