Kirkland & Ellis has hired Weil’s co-managing partner, Ramona Nee, along with a team of 40 private equity M&A and debt finance lawyers. The move comes as Weil prepares for its dissolution following last month’s decision to recommend an orderly wind-down.
Major Hire for Kirkland
The confirmed figure makes it one of the largest group hires from Weil in recent memory. Reports surfaced last week that Nee was in talks to join Kirkland with a large team. Joining Nee for the move are fellow Boston-based partners Jakub Wronski, Emily Willey and Michael Messina, as well as New York debt finance partners Benton Lewis and Paul Overmyer.
Jon Ballis, chair of Kirkland’s executive committee, praised the new partners’ ties to top private equity firms. He noted they bring “outstanding experience across sophisticated PE/M&A and finance and will be a terrific fit with our platform and our clients”.
Weil’s Leadership Departure
Nee, a Weil lifer and co-leader of its US private equity practice, was due to become the firm’s executive partner next January. It emerged last month she had told the management committee she would not take up the post. Her departure follows the exits of other notable partners, including Michael Aiello, who joined Cravath Swaine & Moore in September with five other M&A partners.
Nee commented on the move: “My partners and I are grateful for the opportunity to join a world-class partnership and excited to join ranks with the exceptional professionals at Kirkland. The Kirkland platform is truly incredible and is an outstanding fit for our clients. The collegiality and collaboration extended by Kirkland during this period is very meaningful to me and the team.”
Weil’s recent departures reflect a broader industry shift. Gibson Dunn plans to recruit up to 120 funds lawyers from Weil across the US and UK, including over 20 partners. Sidley Austin and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett are also in discussions to onboard partners and teams.
Weil has appointed restructuring consultancy AlixPartners to help manage its planned closure, alongside lawyers from Davis Polk. The firm intends to pursue an out-of-court wind-down rather than enter bankruptcy proceedings, provided it can meet its financial obligations. The Financial Times also reported a group of around 10 former Weil partners is working with Foley & Lardner litigator Peter Wang, pointing to possible disputes over payouts and management decisions.
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