When Marc Jaffe started practicing in Latham & Watkins’ New York office in 1993, the Manhattan branch had fewer than 100 lawyers. Jaffe, now managing partner of that office, remembers the firm’s litigators were mostly chasing auto dealership litigation. Its corporate department, meanwhile, was known for its junk bond work.
Now the office, with about 830 lawyers, is among the five largest firms in New York by attorney head count. Its litigation department frequently handles crypto litigation, while its corporate lawyers are ranked among the top in M&A, capital markets, private credit and bank lending. The firm adds more lateral partners in New York than in any other city, according to Law.com Compass data.