Exhibit 5.1
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SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP 555 CALIFORNIA STREET SUITE 2000 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104 +1 415 772 1200 +1 415 772 7400 FAX
AMERICA • ASIA PACIFIC • EUROPE |
February 28, 2022
Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.
611 Gateway Blvd., Suite 900
South San Francisco, California 94080
| Re: | 4,814,328 Shares of Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”) |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) being filed by Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the registration of (i) 4,583,559 shares of Common Stock which may be issued under the Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) and (ii) 230,769 shares of Common Stock which may be issued under the Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (collectively with the 2014 Plan, the “Plans” and the aggregate shares of Common Stock to be registered under the Registration Statement, the “Registered Shares”).
This opinion letter is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
We have examined the Registration Statement, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, the Plans, and the resolutions adopted by the board of directors and stockholders of the Company relating to the Registration Statement and the Plans. We have also examined originals, or copies of originals certified to our satisfaction, of such agreements, documents, certificates and statements of the Company and other corporate documents and instruments, and have examined such questions of law, as we have considered relevant and necessary as a basis for this opinion letter. We have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all persons and the conformity with the original documents of any copies thereof submitted to us for examination. As to facts relevant to the opinions expressed herein, we have relied without independent investigation or verification upon, and assumed the accuracy and completeness of, certificates, letters and oral and written statements and representations of public officials and officers and other representatives of the Company.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that each Registered Share that is newly issued pursuant to each Plan will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable when: (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended, shall have become effective under the Securities Act; (ii) such Registered Share shall have been duly issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable Plan; and (iii) certificates representing such Registered Share shall have been duly executed, countersigned and registered and duly delivered to the person entitled thereto against payment of the agreed consideration therefor (in an amount not less than the par value thereof) or, if any Registered Share is to be issued in uncertificated form, the Company’s books shall reflect the issuance of such Registered Share to the person entitled thereto against payment of the agreed consideration therefor (in an amount not less than the par value thereof) all in accordance with the applicable Plan.
Sidley Austin (CA) LLP is a Delaware limited liability partnership doing business as Sidley Austin LLP and practicing in affiliation with other Sidley Austin partnerships.