Department profile
Latham & Watkins LLP

Private Equity: Buyouts

USA Guide 2026 : Texas


Latham & Watkins LLP

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Private Equity: Buyouts - Texas

Band 2

Band 2


What the Team is Known For
Latham & Watkins LLP represents international and domestic energy companies in an array of corporate matters such as M&A, on which the firm is able to provide a full suite of complementary advice. Its talented team has extensive experience handling complex cross-jurisdictional transactions. The team has the capacity to handle multibillion-dollar matters. The firm is also noted for its work in the private equity space.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Latham & Watkins advised Chesapeake Energy Corporation on its $24 billion merger with Southwestern Energy Company.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Latham & Watkins consistently delivers an exceptional service with a high level of responsiveness and attention to detail. Their team is proactive, reliable and easy to work with.

    Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA
  • Latham thrive in complexity.

    Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA
  • They have good bench strength, a wide area of expertise and a highly-skilled M&A group.

    Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA
  • Latham & Watkins is very in-tune with the current market. They are super responsive and excel at balancing speed with risk management.

    Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Ryan Maierson
    Band 1Ryan Maierson

    Ryan Maierson

    Ryan Maierson is a key partner in the team who handles sophisticated, high-value M&A and financing deals. He has further expertise in capital markets and IPOs, SPAC transactions and corporate governance.

  • Band 1Sam Zabaneh
    Band 1Sam Zabaneh

    Sam Zabaneh

    Sam Zabaneh guides emerging private and public companies and their investors throughout all stages of development.
    • Sam is very practical, balanced and has really good business judgement. He has good strategic insights on the business, not just the legal components.

      Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA
  • Band 2Bruce C Herzog
    Band 2Bruce C Herzog

    Bruce C Herzog

    Bruce Herzog is a highly respected practitioner best known for his work with private equity firms. His sector expertise covers telecommunications and energy, among others.
    • He has a key understanding of deal process and is highly commercial.

      Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA
    • Bruce is very remarkable in his commercial ability to take matters and distil them into succinct points.

      Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA
  • Band 2Jenifer Smith
    Band 2Jenifer Smith

    Jenifer Smith

    Jenifer Smith regularly advises on venture capital and emerging growth matters. She works with a range of clients in the technology sector.
  • Band 2Scott C Craig
    Band 2Scott C Craig

    Scott C Craig

    Scott Craig is adept at representing private equity and venture capital funds, as well as high-growth businesses in the technology and life sciences sectors.
    • Scott stands out for his ability to deliver the highest level of service. He ensures that guidance is not only legally sound but also strategically aligned with the company’s goals.

      Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA
  • Band 3James Garrett
    Band 3James Garrett

    James Garrett

    Houston-based James Garrett is respected by peers and clients alike for his sophisticated private equity practice. His areas of expertise include energy, infrastructure and technology.
    • James is unbelievably responsive.

      Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA
    • He is responsive, highly sophisticated, and practical and commercial.

      Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA
    • James is extremely helpful and responsive. He is very thorough and business-minded.

      Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA
    • He has a key understanding of deal process and is highly commercial.

      Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA
  • Band 6Justin T. Stolte
    Band 6Justin T. Stolte

    Justin T. Stolte

    Justin Stolte impresses with the depth of his expertise in energy and infrastructure M&A.

    • Justin is extremely responsive.

      Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA
  • Band 6Nick Dhesi
    Band 6Nick Dhesi

    Nick Dhesi

    Nick Dhesi is the managing partner of the Houston office. He is active in complex M&A and structured investments.

    • He is a tremendously bright corporate lawyer. He's very easy to work with and never afraid to give actionable, practical advice on complicated questions.

      Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA
    • Nick is very thoughtful about issues and always able to distil them down to a way that is easy to digest for client.

      Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA
    • Nick is technically proficient and a gold-standard negotiator. He is able to command a room without raising his voice and navigates thorny issues with thoughtfulness and pragmatism.

      Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA
  • Up and ComingLauren Anderson
    Up and ComingLauren Anderson

    Lauren Anderson

    Lauren Anderson is global vice-chair of Latham & Watkins' energy and infrastructure industry group. She advises private equity clients on a range of transactions.

    • Lauren is a really tremendous lawyer.

      Private Equity: Buyouts respondentUSA

Ranked Individuals at Latham & Watkins LLP (9)

Texas

Texas: Austin & Surrounds

Latham & Watkins LLP has rankings in the following guides

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