Latham continues London tech push with Paul Hastings disputes partner hire

Latham & Watkins has continued its technology-focused push in London with the hire of tech disputes partner Jason Raeburn from Paul Hastings.

Raeburn joins Latham’s litigation team, specialising in technology, life sciences and AI disputes. He spent four years at Paul Hastings, where he headed the firm’s London IP and tech litigation practice, after joining from Baker McKenzie in 2022.

Alongside his private practice, Raeburn also serves as a judge in his role as a deputy master of the High Court. He became the youngest person ever appointed to the role when he was named at 32, just eight years after qualifying as a solicitor.

Tech push

The hire adds a senior disputes lawyer to a London technology practice that Latham has been building heavily this year.

On the transactional side, the firm hired a three-partner tech M&A team from Morrison Foerster led by former London managing partner Andrew Boyd.

It has also added tech sector-focused Samantha McGonigle from private equity firm Hg, where she was general counsel, and Travers Smith partner Richard Offord.

Raeburn’s arrival broadens that push into disputes at a time when AI, data and copyright issues are generating more complex work for technology companies.

Latham London managing partner Ed Barnett said technology was “central to our global strategy” and described the UK and Europe as critical markets for major technology businesses.

He added that Raeburn’s practice “will create significant opportunities for collaboration across our corporate, regulatory, antitrust, and disputes teams, deepening our integrated offering for technology clients in London and globally.”

Raeburn said some of the biggest legal battles of the next decade would be fought “at the intersection of technology, AI, and regulation”.