The New York office of Latham & Watkins has recruited a six-lawyer Latin America practice from West Coast rival O’Melveny & Myers.

The group is led by corporate partner Jose W. Fernandez, who will become co-chair of Latham’s Latin America practice. Fernandez also had chaired that practice at O’Melveny and had previously served as managing partner of that firm in New York as well as a member of its policy committee.