Exhibit 5.1

 

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September 7, 2021

Precision BioSciences, Inc.

302 East Pettigrew Street, Suite A-100

Durham, NC 27701

Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8; 15,000,000 shares of Precision BioSciences, Inc. Common Stock, $0.000005 par value per share

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Precision BioSciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the proposed issuance by the Company of up to 15,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company, $0.000005 par value per share (the “Shares”) issuable under the Precision BioSciences, Inc. 2019 Incentive Award Plan (the “2019 Plan”), the Precision BioSciences, Inc. 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) and the Precision BioSciences, Inc. 2021 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan (the “2021 Inducement Plan” and, together with the 2019 Plan and the ESPP, the “Plans”). The Shares are included in a registration statement on Form S–8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on September 7, 2021 (the “Registration Statement”). This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or related prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the Shares.

As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws.

Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, when the Shares shall have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers, and have been issued by the Company for legal consideration in excess of par value in the circumstances contemplated by the Plans, assuming in each case that the individual grants or awards under the Plans are duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and duly granted or awarded and exercised in

September 7, 2021

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accordance with the requirements of law and the Plans (and the agreements and awards duly adopted thereunder and in accordance therewith), the issue and sale of the Shares will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ LATHAM & WATKINS LLP