Why a Junior Wachtell Partner Jumped to Latham: New York Brief

Latham Partner Embodies Free Agent Era

Photographer: Mike Nagle/Bloomberg Law

Junior Wachtell partners don’t often leave, particularly after steering a huge deal. But Zach Podolsky was ready to prove his worth at a much bigger rival in Latham & Watkins.

Podolsky, 43, had just led Texas oil and gas explorer Diamondback Energy’s $26 billion acquisition of rival Endeavor Energy Resources. The deal fed ambition and frustration with a Wachtell system that historically has senior partners handling the bulk of client-facing work on massive transactions.

“I wanted a place where I could really accelerate my career, a place that empowers younger partners and encourages ...