Latham & Watkins
Firm overview:
Latham & Watkins is one of the firms “we regularly see on the other side of high value trade secrets cases on the most valuable matters around the country”, says a peer. Considered to be at the top end of the market, the firm has an integrated, trial-ready team that operates across the US and beyond.
Latham assists a stellar list of clients in the technology and life sciences industries with developing programmes for protecting trade secrets and managing risks, counselling on how to avoid being named as a defendant in trade secrets claims and enforcing and defending claims when they arise. The firm represented Phillips 66 in its high-profile trade secrets dispute with Propel Fuels.
Team overview:
Patricia Young, global vice chair of the firm’s IP practice, represents companies in high-stakes, complex, multi-jurisdictional cases involving patents and trade secrets. Young’s representative work includes acting as co-lead trial counsel for XP Power in the defence of trade secrets misappropriation claims in California relating to radio frequency (RF) technology.
New York partner Anthony Sammi is “someone who we see on the cases and who we rate highly”, says an industry counterpart. Global co-chair of the Technology Industry Group and former global vice chair of the IP Litigation practice, Sammi is a first-chair litigator who draws on his background in electrical engineering and physics to handle complex technology disputes.
Trade secrets talent at the firm includes litigation partner Matthew Walch (Chicago), who is “deserving of recognition” for his impact and legal insights on trade secrets, according to an industry peer. Walch has more than 25 years’ experience litigating trade secrets, advertising, trademark, and copyright matters to successful resolution in federal and state courts as well as arbitration, and has represented leading brands in critical disputes.
Silicon Valley associate Arman Zahoory is singled out by an industry counterpart as an “excellent practitioner” who is “steeped” in the area of trade secrets law. Zahoory represents clients in matters involving trade secrets and other IP claims, breach of contract disputes, and securities and consumer class actions.
A peer describes the departures of Doug Lumish and Jeff Homrig to Weil in August 2025 as “a big blow” to Latham. Renowned litigator and trade secrets expert Lumish, and former vice chair of Latham’s IP Litigation practice Homrig, joined Weil along with Gabe Gross, who also specialises in tech and life sciences disputes.
However, there is sentiment among peers that Latham has “a deep bench” despite the moves.
Following the departures, there was an addition to the team in August 2025 when the firm welcomed first-chair trial lawyer Adam Greenfield back to its IP litigation practice. Greenfield, who focuses on patent and trade secret litigation, joins from White & Case and has secured significant victories in technology and IP cases.
Key matters:
- Comet Technologies USA v XP Power
Latham represents XP Power, which was sued by Comet Technologies for allegedly misappropriating trade secrets. In 2022, a jury awarded $40 million in damages, and $17 million in attorneys’ fees.
In September 2025, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit heard oral arguments in the appeal.
Clients:
Phillips 66, XP Power
