Department profile
Latham & Watkins LLP

Litigation: General Commercial

USA Guide 2026 : California: San Diego

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Latham & Watkins LLP

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Litigation: General Commercial - California: San Diego

Band 2

What the Team is Known For
Latham & Watkins maintains a formidable reputation for undertaking precedent-setting bet-the-company securities matters, offering notable strengths in regulatory compliance and shareholder litigation. The firm also provides a comprehensive commercial litigation offering to multinational companies, acting on complex and high-value cases in state and federal courts nationwide. Its particular areas of expertise include representing media and entertainment, technology and pharmaceutical companies.
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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Latham Watkins represented Neurelis in commercial litigation against Aquestive alleging unfair competition, defamation and trade libel, seeking damages and injunctive relief.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The team is practical, provides solid advice and understand the process and the business objectives.

    Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

  • Latham & Watkins has a strong reputation which underscores how serious a defendant is when it engages the firm.

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  • The firm's partners are great generals who can lay out strong strategic plans, while its associates are first-rate, extremely intelligent and hardworking.

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  • They are zealous advocates who take winning very seriously.

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Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Jake Ryan
    Jake Ryan

    Jake Ryan

    Jake Ryan is widely recognized in the market as an experienced litigator with a keen focus on intellectual property disputes.

    • Jake has done an excellent job. He's very smart, strategic and a very capable lawyer in depositions.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • He is a savvy, experienced and practical litigator.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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  • Michele D Johnson
    Michele D Johnson

    Michele D Johnson

    Michele Johnson offers substantial experience representing clients in class actions and commercial disputes in the Delaware Court of Chancery and in various Californian courts. She is the global chair of Latham & Watkins' litigation and trial practice group.

    • Michele is a thoughtful and creative thinker. She provides efficient and client-driven solutions.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • Michele is far and away the leader in this practice area; her clients rely on her.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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  • Colleen C Smith
    Colleen C Smith

    Colleen C Smith

    Colleen Smith appears for both individuals and corporations in securities class actions, as part of a broad civil litigation practice.

    • Colleen Smith delivers good oral arguments and is able to translate them in a way the client can understand.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • Colleen has been fantastic. I appreciate that I don't have to worry about anything slipping through the cracks.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • Colleen has a lot of experience, which really comes through. She knows how this goes and has the ability to explain the arc of litigation and what to expect, which instills confidence.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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  • Melanie Blunschi
    Melanie Blunschi

    Melanie Blunschi

    Melanie Blunschi serves as vice chair of Latham & Watkins' retail and consumer products industry group. She is highly experienced in defending numerous complex, high-profile litigation matters for clients in the technology sector, among others.

    • Melanie Blunschi is an inspiring leader who really has her finger on the pulse of what is happening in the legal landscape. She is experienced and I trust her judgment and her decisions.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • Melanie is there for everything, all aspects of the case, and she keeps the trains on time. She makes sure she has the right resources.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • Melanie got to the heart of the issue and didn't get caught up in extraneous issues.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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  • Joshua Hamilton
    Joshua Hamilton

    Joshua Hamilton

    Joshua Hamilton fields significant expertise in securities litigation and investigations. He acts for a broad array of public companies, financial institutions and senior officers and directors.

    • Joshua Hamilton is a great lawyer with a high business IQ.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • Joshua is great and works through issues. He's smart, practical and available.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • Josh Hamilton is the best litigator I've worked with. He has an instant grasp of the facts and arguments.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • Joshua is very good at complicated legal matters, and very intricate in how he addresses them. He's also very good at brief writing and leading his team to make sophisticated arguments.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • Josh has a calm demeanor, and he is also strategic, coming up with various helpful alternatives to avoid litigation.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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  • Nicole C. Valco
    Nicole C. Valco

    Nicole C. Valco

    Nicole Valco focuses her practice on complex business disputes. She has experience in advising clients in the technology, energy and healthcare industries.

    • She is remarkably efficient and knowledgeable.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • Nicole is always calm, collected and has a plan. She does a great job of making her clients feel taken care of.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • Nicole is remarkably efficient and knowledgeable.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • Nicole is great. She's a really strong attorney and also a nice person.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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  • Michael Reiss
    Michael Reiss

    Michael Reiss

    Michael Reiss has a growing reputation for his broad-based commercial disputes practice, which sees him represent a wide array of clients in business litigation as well as sports and bankruptcy-related cases.

    • Mike is one of the finest lawyers I have met. He has an incredible intellect and great instincts for strategy and tactics.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • Michael's strongest skill set is his ability to not overcomplicate complex issues and to present strategies in a clear and concise manner.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • Michael's most effective skill is his clear and decisive communication.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • He comes with good ideas that are well researched and thought through.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

    • Michael is an excellent attorney who provides a very good client service.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Ranked Individuals at Latham & Watkins LLP (7)

California

California: San Diego

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