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EXHIBIT 5.1
[LATHAM & WATKINS LETTERHEAD]
September 25, 2000
Infonet Services Corporation
2100 East Grand Avenue
El Segundo, California 90245-1022
Attn: Board of Directors
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8
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Gentlemen:
This opinion is rendered in connection with the filing by Infonet Services
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), of a registration statement
on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the
offer and sale of up to 6,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, par
value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"), pursuant to the exercise of options
granted under the 2000 Omnibus Stock Plan (the "Plan"). We acted as counsel to
the Company in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement.
We have examined such matters of fact and question of law as we have
considered appropriate for purposes of rendering the opinion expressed below.
We are opining herein as to the effect on the subject transaction of only
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, including statutory and
reported decisional law thereunder, and we express no opinion with respect to
the applicability thereto or the effect thereon of any other laws or as to any
matters of municipal law or any other local agencies within any state.
Subject to the foregoing and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion
that, upon the issuance and sale of the Shares in the manner contemplated by the
Registration Statement and in accordance with the terms of the Plan, and subject
to the Company completing all action and proceedings required on its part to be
taken prior to the issuance of the Shares pursuant to the terms of the Plan and
the Registration Statement, including, without limitation, collection of
required payment for the Shares, the Shares will be legally and validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable securities of the Company.
This opinion is rendered only to you and is solely for your benefit in
connection with the transactions covered hereby. This opinion may not be relied
upon by you for any other purpose, or furnished to, quoted to or relied upon by
any other person, firm or corporation for any purpose, without our prior written
consent. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Latham & Watkins
LATHAM & WATKINS
