| Life Science Stars |
REGULATORYJohn R Manthei, Washington, DC
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTYRichard P Bress, Washington DC
Mark A Flagel, Los Angeles
Maximilian A Grant, Washington DC
FINANCE & TRANSACTIONALMichael W Hall, Silicon Valley
Judith A Hasko, Silicon Valley
Charles F Hoyng, Silicon Valley
Alan C Mendelson, Silicon Valley
Charles K Ruck, Costa Mesa California
Faye H Russell, San Diego
John E Wehrli, San Diego
NON-IP LITIGATION AND ENFORCEMENTKatherine A Lauer, San Diego
Daniel Meron, Washington, DC
David J Schindler, Los Angeles |
Maximilian Grant, co-chair of Latham & Watkins' intellectual property group, likens the firm's life sciences team to the 1972 Miami Dolphins no-name defense. Overshadowed by a star-studded offense, the NFL's best defense that year was an integral component to the team's perfect season. And with a number of Life Science Stars buttressed by a well-balanced industry group, the metaphor seems apt.
Grant plays a vital role in the firm's burgeoning IP practice. The firm believes it is well ahead of its own five-year plan regarding the development of its IP life sciences practice. With an impressive litigation team that includes Grant and new partner Dan Brown, who joined the firm from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati a year ago, Latham is making tremendous strides in becoming one of the key players on the IP side of the industry.
The corporate and transactional team at Latham & Watkins is absolutely superb, with Alan Mendelson's practice being one of the industry's finest. Celebrated in the space, he is supported by a number of active partners including Charles Hoyng, John E Wehrli, and Michael Hall, amongst others. But to the point: when it comes to corporate issues, Latham has a deep and talented bench with a tremendous amount of industry experience.
Beyond the distinguished corporate team, Latham's life sciences practice group has strength in a number of areas, offering a seamless catalogue of legal expertise. For example, a pharmaceutical client offers glowing praise for the firm's FDA practice, led by John Manthei. "When it came to actually dealing with the FDA specifically, the firms we were using were not up to the standard needed," he explained. "We looked around a little bit, and we settled on John. He was superb and they did a great job for us."
Another client offers singular praise for Manthei. "I think he is the best. He is one of the unique individuals who has great command of the law and can work with all sizes of companies," the client explains, adding that Manthei "has both the substance and the relationships [with the FDA] and can use them both."
Latham has quietly built a stellar multi-disciplinary practice group by adding important pieces and attracting top-flight talent. Moreover, the firm also excels outside of the practice area, where people like Richard Bress, who handles appellate and Supreme Court litigation, fill an important role. Bress is also well known for his IP litigation work on a national level, having litigated in Supreme Court cases with tremendous implications on the life sciences industry.
"They are really an outstanding shop," says one client. "They go above and beyond to work with us. On cost they are flexible, and the work product is second to none."
| Practice group breakdown of Life Science Stars |
 |