Latham & Watkins Hires M&A and Finance Partners
What happened
The law firm Latham & Watkins has hired Emily Johnson and Mark Stagliano as partners in its New York office. The additions are intended to enhance the firm's finance and public M&A practices. Both partners join from their previous firms with experience in sophisticated corporate transactions.
Why it matters
- Both Emily Johnson and Mark Stagliano were previously partners at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, a direct competitor of Latham & Watkins for top-tier M&A and finance legal work. - Emily Johnson has advised on nearly $85 billion in deals and was named the #1 Financing Lawyer in North America in 2024 by MergerLinks. Her practice focuses on the complex financing aspects of corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, and spin-offs. - Mark Stagliano has played a key role in numerous high-profile transactions, including United Technologies' $147 billion merger with Raytheon and T-Mobile's $146 billion combination with Sprint. He was named a Mergers and Acquisitions "Rising Star" by Law360 in 2025. - Latham & Watkins holds a dominant position in the market, ranking as the #1 global M&A legal adviser in 2025 by both deal count and a deal value of approximately $786.7 billion. - The hire comes during a period of active lateral partner movement in the New York legal market, with corporate, banking, and finance being key practice areas driving recruitment among top-tier law firms. - In 2025, partner hiring in the legal industry reached a five-year high, with corporate practice-related hires seeing the second-highest volume, indicating a strategic focus on strengthening deal-making teams.
Key numbers
- Emily Johnson has advised on nearly $85 billion in deals and was named the #1 Financing Lawyer in North America in 2024 by MergerLinks.
- Mark Stagliano has played a key role in numerous high-profile transactions, including United Technologies' $147 billion merger with Raytheon and T-Mobile's $146 billion combination with Sprint.
- He was named a Mergers and Acquisitions "Rising Star" by Law360 in 2025.
- Latham & Watkins holds a dominant position in the market, ranking as the #1 global M&A legal adviser in 2025 by both deal count and a deal value of approximately $786.7 billion.
Quick answers
What happened in Latham & Watkins Hires M&A and Finance Partners?
The law firm Latham & Watkins has hired Emily Johnson and Mark Stagliano as partners in its New York office. The additions are intended to enhance the firm's finance and public M&A practices. Both partners join from their previous firms with experience in sophisticated corporate transactions.
Why does Latham & Watkins Hires M&A and Finance Partners matter?
Both Emily Johnson and Mark Stagliano were previously partners at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, a direct competitor of Latham & Watkins for top-tier M&A and finance legal work. Emily Johnson has advised on nearly $85 billion in deals and was named the #1 Financing Lawyer in North America in 2024 by MergerLinks. Her practice focuses on the complex financing aspects of corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, and spin-offs. Mark Stagliano has played a key role in numerous high-profile transactions, including United Technologies' $147 billion merger with Raytheon and T-Mobile's $146 billion combination with Sprint. He was named a Mergers and Acquisitions "Rising Star" by Law360 in 2025. Latham & Watkins holds a dominant position in the market, ranking as the #1 global M&A legal adviser in 2025 by both deal count and a deal value of approximately $786.7 billion. The hire comes during a period of active lateral partner movement in the New York legal market, with corporate, banking, and finance being key practice areas driving recruitment among top-tier law firms. In 2025, partner hiring in the legal industry reached a five-year high, with corporate practice-related hires seeing the second-highest volume, indicating a strategic focus on strengthening deal-making teams.
