Weil partners line up moves as trainees face uncertainty after wind down plan

Senior lawyers at Weil are understood to be in discussions about moves to rival firms after the US practice announced plans for an orderly wind down, while trainees and junior lawyers in London face uncertainty over their futures.

Ramona Nee, the private equity partner who had been selected to lead Weil from the start of 2027, is reportedly in advanced talks with Kirkland & Ellis. Bloomberg Law reported that any deal could involve more than 40 of her colleagues, highlighting the scale of the potential team move.

In London, Gibson Dunn is said to be preparing to take on a substantial group from Weil’s private funds practice, with almost 40 lawyers potentially moving across. The reported transfer would include several partners alongside other members of the team, although it remains unclear whether any trainees would be included.

The Gibson Dunn discussions are understood not to be a new response to Weil’s recent difficulties. Negotiations are reported to have begun more than a year ago, before the firm announced its closure plans, suggesting that the move had already been under consideration independently of the wind down.

The developments come amid a wider exodus of senior talent from Weil, with other high profile departures linked to firms including Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Sullivan & Cromwell. For partners at the top of the market, the reported moves underline the continuing demand for established teams with portable client relationships and specialist expertise.

The position is less certain for those earlier in their careers. Weil recruits around 15 trainees each year in London, meaning roughly 30 are currently working through the firm’s two year training programme. The closure raises questions about how those trainees will complete their contracts and what will happen to future recruits who have already accepted training offers.

There is also uncertainty for associates in the City office, who are understood to have been offered a 90 day payout ahead of an expected closure on 31 December. The City of London Law Society has said it will support those affected, with particular concern for trainees and junior lawyers.

Colin Passmore, chair of the City of London Law Society, said the organisation’s primary concern is everyone at Weil’s London office, particularly trainees and junior lawyers who will understandably be anxious about what the latest developments mean for their careers. Weil, which has around 1,200 lawyers globally and average profits per equity partner of about £3.6 million, said its management committee had recommended an orderly wind down after months of senior departures, unsuccessful merger discussions and leadership uncertainty.