Key Takeaways
- • Latham & Watkins recruited Walter (Casey) Berger as a partner in its Houston office, expanding the firm's Securities and M&A Litigation Practice in a key financial center.
- • Berger's arrival strengthens Latham's litigation capabilities in capital markets, adding specialized expertise in securities and M&A disputes alongside the firm's existing M&A and private equity advisory strength in Houston.
- • Latham's Houston office has established itself as a top-tier capital markets hub since 2010, with partners ranking among the leading dealmakers in Texas across M&A, capital markets, private equity, and project finance.
- • The firm has demonstrated commitment to Houston market expansion through recent lateral hires, including former private equity general counsel Max Klupchak, reflecting a strategy to deepen coverage across deal advisory and contentious matters.
Summary
Latham & Watkins LLP has announced the addition of Walter (Casey) Berger as a partner in its Houston office's Securities and M&A Litigation Practice, marking a continued expansion of the firm's capabilities in the Texas capital markets. According to the firm's announcement, Berger joins a Houston team that has developed into a premier center for complex transactional and litigation work since establishing its presence in 2010.
The Houston office has positioned itself as a dominant force in Texas capital markets, with firm partners recognized as top-tier dealmakers in the region. Latham's Houston presence encompasses world-class capabilities across M&A, capital markets offerings, private equity, investment funds, project development and finance, banking, direct lending, and public company representation. The office combines deep local market knowledge with seamless access to Latham's global platform, enabling the firm to serve blue-chip companies, private equity sponsors, developers, and financial institutions throughout transaction lifecycles.
Berger's arrival complements recent lateral hires that have strengthened the office's M&A and private equity footprint, including Max Klupchak, a former general counsel of The Sterling Group, who joined as a partner. This pattern of strategic hiring reflects Latham's dual focus on expanding both advisory capabilities and litigation strength in Houston's growing financial services market.
Beyond traditional energy and infrastructure sectors, Latham's Houston team serves clients across emerging growth areas including technology, aerospace, aviation, and renewables. The firm's presence in low-carbon fuels, carbon capture projects, and energy technology reflects the firm's positioning to serve Houston as it diversifies beyond its traditional role as a global oil and gas capital. The firm's scale allows partners to identify market trends and anticipate client needs, with deal flow and market share metrics informing strategic business development across sectors.
The Houston office has positioned itself as a dominant force in Texas capital markets, with firm partners recognized as top-tier dealmakers in the region. Latham's Houston presence encompasses world-class capabilities across M&A, capital markets offerings, private equity, investment funds, project development and finance, banking, direct lending, and public company representation. The office combines deep local market knowledge with seamless access to Latham's global platform, enabling the firm to serve blue-chip companies, private equity sponsors, developers, and financial institutions throughout transaction lifecycles.
Berger's arrival complements recent lateral hires that have strengthened the office's M&A and private equity footprint, including Max Klupchak, a former general counsel of The Sterling Group, who joined as a partner. This pattern of strategic hiring reflects Latham's dual focus on expanding both advisory capabilities and litigation strength in Houston's growing financial services market.
Beyond traditional energy and infrastructure sectors, Latham's Houston team serves clients across emerging growth areas including technology, aerospace, aviation, and renewables. The firm's presence in low-carbon fuels, carbon capture projects, and energy technology reflects the firm's positioning to serve Houston as it diversifies beyond its traditional role as a global oil and gas capital. The firm's scale allows partners to identify market trends and anticipate client needs, with deal flow and market share metrics informing strategic business development across sectors.
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