Latham & Watkins has strengthened its private funds capabilities with a high-profile lateral hire in New York, snapping up a leading secondaries specialist from rival law firm Goodwin Procter.
Robert Emerson, who was partner and co-head of secondaries at Goodwin, will join Latham’s New York office as a partner in the Investment Funds Practice. Emerson brings roughly two decades of experience advising private equity sponsors, investors, and management teams on secondaries transactions, GP liquidity solutions, and related strategic matters.
At Latham, Emerson is expected to bolster the firm’s work in the private equity secondaries market and enhance its ability to deliver sophisticated liquidity and fund solutions amid rising demand from sponsors and limited partners. Latham leaders praised his track record in navigating complex deals and coordinating multidisciplinary legal work across fund formation, tax, regulatory, and M&A teams.
Emerson’s move marks one of several notable partner shifts in the competitive New York funds and secondaries legal market, underscoring broader talent flows among major U.S. and international law firms.
KEY QUOTES
“Rob is one of the top lawyers in the market advising on private equity secondaries transactions, and we are thrilled to welcome him to Latham and our New York office.”
Marc Jaffe, Office Managing Partner, Latham & Watkins
“Executing sophisticated secondaries transactions is a major focus of private equity sponsor clients … His broad understanding of the private funds market will further strengthen our elite practice.”
Alex Kelly, Global Co-Chair, Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Practice, Latham & Watkins
