Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP > London, England > Firm Profile

Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions – high-value deals (£250m+) Tier 1

‘A first-class outfit with a well-earned reputation for effectiveness and responsiveness‘, Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP draws superlative praise from a number of clients for the strength of its sponsor-side transactional practice. Regarded by clients as ‘one of the very best PE lawyers in London‘ Marco Compagnoni – global co-chair of the firm’s private equity practice – regularly works with leading firms and their portfolio companies on high-value acquisitions and disposals. Jonathan Wood‘s broad practice encompasses buyouts, exits, and minority investments, most recently for clients in sectors including tech and professional services. ‘First point of call in an emergency‘ Simon Lyell‘s ‘highly technical‘ but ‘commercial‘ practice spans both buyouts and growth investments. Lewis Blakey‘s recent engagements include big-ticket acquisitions with pan-European and transatlantic dimensions. Max Oppenheimer is also recommended.

Finance > Acquisition finance Tier 1

Drawing on deep product knowledge throughout the capital structure and taking on instructions from a balanced roster of debtor and creditor-side clients across the spectrum of deal sizes, Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP‘s banking practice has maintained strong deal flow in spite of the economic and geopolitical headwinds facing the market. On the borrower front, Tom Richards  has strong ties with many large private equity sponsors, including Advent and Bain Capital, which are appreciative of his willingness to fight their corner on deals whether or not the firm itself was involved in the underlying corporate aspects of the M&A. On the lender side, as well as her deep connections with commercial/investment banking clients, Reena Gogna has also successfully broadened her practice to include work for a myriad of private credit funds. Other recommended practitioners include Alastair McVeigh, for credit fund work, and Paul Hibbert for infrastructure finance, as well as practice co-head Chris McLaughlin.

Finance > Corporate restructuring & insolvency Tier 1

Leveraging ‘excellent experience on the restructuring side, combined with a strong understanding of the markets and an innovative approach’, Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP is a popular choice among debtors and creditors in many of the highest-profile mandates in the market, both from a corporate restructuring perspective, as well as on formal insolvencies. The versatility of the team was further enhanced in June 2022 by the arrival of Lois Deasey from Akin, a practitioner who is as comfortable handling complex bondholder work as she is advising debtors. The team is co-headed by Neil Devaney and Andrew Wilkinson , who are both able to impart considerable wisdom and commercial nous on sophisticated cross-border mandates involving complex layers of debt and are well-versed at implementing restructurings both through European processes as well as US Chapter 11. Mark Lawford  is ‘very strong’ at handling formal insolvency matters including in the context of demanding insolvency litigation matters. Gemma Sage is also recommended.

Finance > High yield Tier 2

Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP has seen the personnel in its high yield team change significantly with the departure of Patrick Bright  and his team to Paul Hastings LLP, but the firm has been quick to recruit highly experienced partners to continue its growth trajectory. The firm hired ‘strong, reliable high yield bond expert‘ Andy Hagan from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, who leads the practice with another new recruit Gilles Teerlinck , who joined from White & Case LLP . Nitin Konchady is another key lawyer in the team, which continues to advise top-tier sponsors, investment banks and bond investors on complex and high-profile acquisition financings and refinancings. Konchady recently advised an ad hoc group of bondholders in relation to their holdings of Yandex’s $1.25bn convertible notes in light of sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The firm’s new hires significantly bolster its capability to represent both corporate issuers and private equity sponsors.

Finance > Securitisation Tier 2

Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP is best known for its leading role in the CLO market, in which it acts for leading players Apollo, M&G, Fair Oaks, RBC BlueBay and Guggenheim, among others. The firm also handles a broader range of securitisations. Head of the London structured finance and derivatives practice Jacky Kelly is widely recognised for her skill in transactions covering diverse asset classes, among them pan-European auto fleet rentals, residential property bridging loans, shopping catalogue receivables, and broadcasting receivables. She advised Guggenheim Securities on an innovative transaction to securitise Syco Entertainment's intellectual property in the 'Got Talent' franchise across 72 territories. Kelly and associate Luke Stowe 'have a deep understanding of the European CLO space and provide solid advice on transactions and potential regulatory issues'. Key partner Brian Maher recently acted for Apollo Management International LLP and Redding Ridge Asset Management in a range of new CLO issuances, refinancing and warehouse transactions, including the offering the €452m RRE 11 deal. 'The whole team, from partner to associate, works well together and focuses on supporting the client', remarks one client.

Investment fund formation and management > Private funds Tier 2

Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP advises on numerous fundraisings, in addition to ongoing fund management issues for a varied range of clients, which notably includes Oakley, Actis, and decarbonisation fund Just Climate. The team is led by the highly experienced Ed Gander, recommended for his expertise in raising venture capital, private equity, infrastructure, real estate, impact and credit funds. GP stake transactions and GP led secondaries expert James Bromley, and co-investments specialist Stephen Fox are also essential to the team. Further key names include James Sargent, whose areas of expertise include continuation funds and fund recapitalisation processes, and Marc Schubert, who is noted for his regulatory expertise. Jacquelyn Volpe was promoted to partner in January 2023.

Investment fund formation and management > Real estate funds Tier 2

‘Incredibly helpful from both a legal and commercial perspective’, Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP’s private funds group focuses on several key asset classes: private equity; real assets, including infrastructure, impact and sustainability; and credit. Practice head Ed Gander has over 25 years of experience in fundraising, and is supported by James Sargent, who acts for global fund managers on the establishment and operation of funds, co-investment platforms and on GP-led secondaries. James Bromley acts for fund managers and investors on GP-stake transactions and GP-led secondaries, while Jacquelyn Volpe, who was promoted to partner in January 2023, handles the formation, structuring and negotiation of funds. Eddie Carter joined as counsel from Linklaters LLP in November 2022.

Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: M&A and acquisition financing Tier 2

Well regarded in the market for its energy transition and ESG-incentivised work, Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP continues to grow its presence and client base in the market. Satellite, telecommunications, and fibre deals have been a particular strong part of the group’s practice over the last year,  as well as hard and social infrastructure mandates such as roads, transport and care services. The firm has seen significant movement in its team, adding highly regarded infrastructure M&A partner Brendan Moylan from Latham & Watkins in April 2023. Moylan arrived just as infrastructure PE specialists James MacArthur  and Ed Freeman left for Sidley Austin LLP .  On the M&A side Weil's team is also able to draw on the skills of former Slaughter and May partner Murray Cox. Meanwhile, on the finance side, the very experienced acquisition finance partner Paul Hibbert , who has worked with a number of well-known lenders on infrastructure transactions, heads the team.  Emma Serginson, who was promoted to partner at the start of 2023, is also noted for her experience on leveraged finance acquisitions in the sector. Kate McComiskey is also recommended.

Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax Tier 3

Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP acts for a broad client base, offering expertise in a diverse range of areas including private funds, restructurings and insolvencies, financings, and tax disputes. Oliver Walker, whose clients include private equity funds, corporate management teams, and high net worth individuals, co-leads the department alongside Jenny Doak, whose practice covers restructurings, financings, and public and private M&A. Aron Joy and senior counsel Daniella Abel, praised by clients for their ‘clear’ and ‘practical’ advice, share a specialism in private funds taxation.

Corporate and commercial > M&A: Upper Mid-Market And Premium Deals, £750m+ Tier 3

Routinely instructed by blue-chip corporate clients and lauded for their cross-border transactional abilities, the wide-ranging corporate practice at Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP is noted for its depth of experience supporting clients with public and private M&A, boardroom advice, hostile takeover defence strategies, corporate governance and equity capital markets matters. Natural resources and energy sector dealmaker, David Avery-Gee , regularly advises listed clients on joint ventures, capital raisings and M&A, with recent highlights including assisting Glencore with the sale of the CSA copper mine in Australia. Co-heading the team with Avery-Gee is London head Michael Francies . Focusing on the infrastructure space is Murray Cox , who is praised for his experience in international M&A transactions, corporate governance and public company bids. Bolstering the practice with her public and private M&A, joint venture, corporate restructuring and equity market capabilities across a vast range of industries and two years’ experience as a senior case officer at the Takeover Panel is  new arrival Sarah Flaherty, who joined from Linklaters LLP in March 2023.

Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations Tier 3

Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP handles a broad range of tax disputes, including international and cross-border matters. Leading the department are private equity expert Oliver Walker, Jenny Doak, who has key experience in indirect tax, Jamie Maples, whose areas of strength include the media, technology, and energy sectors, and solicitor advocate Christopher Marks.

Finance > Derivatives and structured products Tier 3

Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP is known for being 'very accessible, and finding a good balance between simply recapping points of negotiation, and providing a view on importance and relevance'. Jacky Kelly leads the structured finance practice and, though best known for her work on CLOs, also handles repo and TRS funding for some of the practice's anchor clients. Counsel Andrew Lauder has a broad derivatives practice that sees him advise on OTC transactions and structured capital markets deals. Clients note that he is 'always  on hand to give good advice, and has a good grounding in the product detail, rather than just legal detail'. Both Kelly and Lauder are key advisers to swap counterparties, including global banks, and originators such as Guggenheim Partners and M&G on swap transactions entered into by structured finance vehicles in relation to securitisations and CLOs.

Corporate and commercial > EU and competition Tier 4

Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP houses a ‘capable and expert’ competition practice that leverages its integrated transatlantic offering to act for some of the world’s leading corporates on a host of big-ticket competition mandates. The firm’s international footprint has been further strengthened with the opening of a new office in Brussels. In recent months, the team has been instructed on a number of market-defining antitrust matters, including advising Microsoft on its $68.7bn proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Inc. The ‘extremely talented and knowledgeable’ practice head Jenine Hulsmann is a highly regarded antitrust lawyer with a stellar market reputation. She advises a diverse roster of clients on merger and foreign investment proceedings and competition law investigations. Niklas Maydell splits his time between London and Brussels and regularly represents clients before the European Commission.

Employment > Employee share schemes Tier 4

Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP's tax benefits and executive compensation team advises on a wide range of share schemes, including tax-efficient employee and management incentive arrangements and support on complex cross border corporate transactions. The team is also able to advise on related issues such as tax, securities and governance laws. Oliver Walker co-heads the practice, having a proven track record of advising on corporate structuring matters and tax disputes. Co-head Kevin Donegan's practice straddles both transactional support and design and implementation of employee and management incentive schemes.

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium Tier 5

Jamie Maples sits at the helm of the ‘focused, elite commercial litigation practice‘ at Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP; the team regularly advises global corporates and private equity sponsors on complex litigation, investigations, arbitrations, and regulatory matters. Restructuring litigation is also within the expertise of the ‘extremely able high-quality team of technically proficient lawyers‘. Noted practitioners include ‘star junior partner’ Christopher Marks, with expertise in complex cross-border insolvencies, and ‘proactive and responsive’ Hayley Lund.

Corporate and commercial > Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory Tier 6

Counting fund and asset managers across the UK, Europe, North America and Australia among its key list of clients, Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP handles a broad range of matters concerning Brexit, AIFMD and MiFID II, ESG, FCA authorisation, securities regulation and market abuse. Additional key areas of focus include advising fund manager start-ups, spin-outs and other financial service providers in establishing new businesses. Marc Schubert leads the team and has experience in private funds regulatory issues.

Projects, energy and natural resources > Mining and minerals

Industry focus > TMT