Department profile
Latham & Watkins LLP

Litigation: Securities

USA Guide 2026 : California

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Latham & Watkins LLP

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Litigation: Securities - California

Band 1

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: Securities respondentUSA

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

    Litigation: Securities respondentUSA

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

    Litigation: Securities respondentUSA

  • They are zealous advocates who take winning very seriously.

    Litigation: Securities respondentUSA

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: Securities respondentUSA

    • He is a savvy, experienced and practical litigator.

      Litigation: Securities 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: Securities respondentUSA

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

      Litigation: Securities 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: Securities respondentUSA

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

      Litigation: Securities 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: Securities 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: Securities 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: Securities respondentUSA

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

      Litigation: Securities 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: Securities respondentUSA

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

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA

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

      Litigation: Securities 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: Securities respondentUSA

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

      Litigation: Securities 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: Securities respondentUSA

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

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA

    • Nicole is remarkably efficient and knowledgeable.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA

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

      Litigation: Securities 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: Securities 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: Securities respondentUSA

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

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA

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

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA

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

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

California

California: San Diego

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