<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2024-03-04</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001604464</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATRA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001977970</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Nguyen AnhCo</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ATARA BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2380 CONEJO SPECTRUM ST, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>THOUSAND OAKS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91320</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Chief Sci. &amp; Tech Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>false</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2024-03-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10746</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.72</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>941397</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares sold automatically to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of previously granted restricted stock units, pursuant to a sale-to-cover provision in the award agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The sale price of the reporting person's shares represents the weighted average price of all shares sold by a broker on March 4, 2024 and March 5, 2024 on behalf of a group of employees of the Issuer to satisfy the payment of withholding tax liability of such employees.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John Chao, Attorney-in-Fact for AnhCo Nguyen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2024-03-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
