Ata Farhadi is a Principal at Lateral Link and Co-Chair of the firm’s London Desk, as well as a member of its U.S. Partner Practice Group. He advises law firm partners, practice groups, and firm leadership on strategic lateral hiring and career transitions, bringing extensive experience and a nuanced understanding of the legal market to partner-level recruiting. His practice spans clients ranging from leading Am Law firms to specialized boutiques.
Ata’s work extends well beyond making introductions. He serves as a trusted advisor throughout every stage of the lateral process, providing substantive market insight that helps partners evaluate opportunities and understand the strategic drivers behind hiring decisions. He regularly works with established partners navigating complex and technical considerations related to the expansion, portability, and long-term positioning of their practices, as well as with practice group leaders and office managing partners evaluating platform moves. He also advises junior partners seeking platforms that better support the growth of their practices. Drawing on a detailed understanding of both broader market dynamics and the nuances of individual practices, Ata is able to offer tailored, practical guidance to partners at all stages, bringing a thoughtful, candid, and highly strategic approach to each engagement.
His experience spans the full spectrum of partner placements, including representing group leaders, office managing partners, and partners at top Am Law firms in connection with high-stakes lateral transitions, as well as advising junior partners on business plan development. He has also been involved in strategic combinations and mergers involving Am Law 200 firms, giving him additional perspective on law firm growth, integration, and platform development.
Ata works across a broad range of practice areas, including private credit, M&A, and private equity; complex commercial litigation, securities litigation, white collar and investigations, and trial work; labor and employment and real estate; as well as tax, antitrust, intellectual property, and regulatory matters such as national security, privacy, cybersecurity, fintech, international trade, and public policy. He also has experience with trusts and estates matters. Earlier in his career, he worked on in-house placements across sectors including entertainment, technology, and family offices.
His practice spans major U.S. and international markets, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, London, Chicago, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Utah, Hong Kong, and Singapore, giving him a well-developed perspective on regional dynamics and cross-market opportunities.
Ata earned his B.A. (Hons.) from Pembroke College, University of Oxford, and holds an LL.M. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.
