Latham & Watkins Brings Back Lightdale as NY Securities Partner

Veteran litigator rejoins firm's New York office after stint at Cooley

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:36pm

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A minimalist studio still life featuring a stack of legal documents, a pen, and a pair of reading glasses, conveying the abstract concepts of corporate strategy and complex litigation.The return of a veteran litigator signals Latham & Watkins' continued focus on high-stakes securities and M&A disputes.Latham Today

Sarah Lightdale has rejoined Latham & Watkins as a partner in the firm's securities and M&A litigation practice in New York. Lightdale, who previously worked at Latham, focuses on a range of complex commercial disputes, including M&A litigation, securities class actions, and regulatory investigations.

Why it matters

Latham & Watkins is a prominent global law firm, and Lightdale's return as a partner in its New York office signals the firm's continued investment in its securities and M&A litigation capabilities. Her experience representing a variety of clients, from public companies to private equity firms, in high-stakes disputes is valuable as businesses navigate an uncertain economic environment.

The details

Lightdale rejoins Latham & Watkins after a stint at Cooley. At Latham, she will focus on M&A litigation, securities class actions and derivative cases, complex commercial disputes, and internal and regulatory investigations. She represents individual directors and officers, public and private companies, investment banks, and private equity and venture capital firms.

  • Lightdale rejoined Latham & Watkins on April 7, 2026.

The players

Sarah Lightdale

A veteran litigator who has rejoined Latham & Watkins as a partner in the firm's securities and M&A litigation practice in New York.

Latham & Watkins

A prominent global law firm that has brought back Sarah Lightdale as a partner in its New York office.

Cooley

The law firm where Sarah Lightdale previously worked before rejoining Latham & Watkins.

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The takeaway

Lightdale's return to Latham & Watkins underscores the firm's commitment to its securities and M&A litigation practice, as it looks to leverage her extensive experience in complex commercial disputes to serve a diverse client base, including public companies, private equity firms, and investment banks.