2009 Annual Review - Latham & Watkins

Supporting Our PracticesThought LeadershipLatham & Watkins’ commitment to helping clients find innovative and creative solutionsto their legal challenges takes many forms. The firm continued to demonstratemarket leadership in 2009 by remaining at the forefront of issues — from emergingindustries and government policy to business and legal reform.At the Center of theEnvironmental DebateLatham & Watkins is a leader insustainability and renewable energyissues around the world. In the renewableenergy sector, for example, the firm cofoundedthe Middle East RenewableEnergy Forum (MEREF), the region’sleading association focused on advancingthe renewable energy sector’s interestsin the Middle East and North Africa.Latham is at the center of MEREF’sefforts to advance clean energy policyin the Middle East and North Africa,actively working with the region’sleading developers, financiers, advisorsand investors.In the US, Latham attorneys sit onimportant national government advisorygroups, such as the Climate Change WorkGroup, and the Advanced Coal TechnologyWork Group. The firm also regularlyadvises clients regarding greenhouse gasissues arising under the Kyoto Protocol,emerging US state and regional climateprograms, shareholder disclosure issuesrelated to climate risks, and related climatechange and carbon credit litigation.On behalf of the California ClimateCoalition, the firm is engaged in theimplementation of California’s landmarkeconomy-wide climate change programthat Governor Arnold Schwarzeneggersigned into law in the fall of 2006. Atthe national level, Latham representsthe National Climate Coalition in thedevelopment of the US EnvironmentalProtection Agency’s greenhouse gasregulatory programs under the federalClean Air Act. Both coalitions are focusedon how best to structure carbon markets soas to accelerate the development of lowcarbon,clean technologies and to minimizeregulatory costs. Latham is also assistingclients with the latest incentives designedto promote renewable energy and cleantechnology in the American Recovery andReinvestment Act of 2009.San Diego and other markets, for example,have had success implementing regional“cluster” approaches that involvebusiness, civic and academic players toincubate growth industries. When suchas effort was launched for cleantechin southern California in 2007, Lathamplayed an instrumental role in organizingthe CleanTECH San Diego coalition,57 Latham & Watkins • 2009 Annual Review