Bill Nelson has joined Latham & Watkins in Houston after seven and a half years at A&O Shearman, including more than two years as the managing partner in the firm’s Houston office.
In a news release announcing the move, Latham called Nelson one of the preeminent capital markets partners in Texas whose addition strengthens the firm’s growth strategy in the Lone Star State and beyond. He spent two decades at Haynes Boone in Houston before joining what was then Shearman & Sterling in 2018.
“Bill is an experienced capital markets partner and proven leader in the Texas market, and we are delighted to welcome him to the firm,” said Nick Dhesi, managing partner of Latham’s Houston office. “Bill has an outstanding reputation, and his drive and entrepreneurial spirit further advance our expansion in Texas.”
Nelson joins Latham’s capital markets and public company representation practices. He provides counsel to public and private issuers, investment banks, private capital providers and private equity sponsors in complex transactions and corporate governance matters.
“Latham’s first-rate capital markets practice and unmatched public company platform stands out for its unsurpassed depth and breadth, and for the strength of the complementary practices that naturally intersect with the work I do for clients,” Nelson said in the release.
“Equally important to me is the firm’s commitment to exceptional client service and a deeply collaborative culture that mirrors my own approach,” Nelson said. “I’m excited to join the team to help clients achieve their most important strategic goals.”
Nelson advises on public offerings, private placements, monetization transactions and cross-border securities offerings, as well as corporate governance matters, shareholder activism defense and M&A transactions.
“Bill is an exciting addition to our market leading practice, and he brings terrific experience that will strengthen our ambitious growth strategy in Texas and beyond,” said Stelios Saffos, who heads the Latham practice that Nelson is joining. “He is widely respected in the Texas capital markets and public company advisory space, where his connections and judgment are highly sought after. His arrival further elevates our position as the premier firm for clients with sophisticated financing needs, supported by our fully integrated, scaled platform across the entire capital structure. Bill’s versatile practice and proven track record in both public and private markets align seamlessly with our platform, which provides corporates and capital providers a holistic view of all financing options, enabling them to make more informed capital decisions.”
In April, Nelson led a team that advised Serra Verde shareholders in that company’s $2.8 billion merger with USA Rare Earth, and in early March, the CDT Roundup reported on Nelson leading a SPAC through an initial public offering.
EDUCATION
University of Texas (BS, 1992)
University of Texas (JD, 1997)