Leveraging its deep team of highly experienced advisers, each with unique sector specialisms, Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP maintains a dominant position in the London PE market, acting for many of the foremost buyout houses, growth equity firms, pension funds, and impact investors. Highlighted by clients as ‘technically excellent’ and possessing ’deep experience’, Marco Compagnoni fronts the practice, drawing on a broad skillset which is frequently utilised leading global funds. Jonathan Wood handles an array of PE transactions, including complex take-privates, strategic partnerships, and IPOs. Simon Lyell advises alternative investment managers, impact funds, and pension funds as part of a varied domestic and cross-border practice, while James Harvey ‘consistently delivers commercial and practical advice’ to financial sponsors engaged in buyouts, carve-outs, minority investments and exits. Lewis Blakey and Max Oppenheimer work for a host of global private equity firms – as well as their portfolio companies – on M&A, disposals and corporate restructurings. Martin Weatherston-Wilson was promoted to partner in January 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Accolades
Client satisfaction
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘This is a very strong team with engaging, commercial lawyers with great experience and a can-do attitude. If you want a deal to succeed, this team will deliver.’
‘Marco Compagnoni is the preeminent lawyer in the team. He is the lawyer to pick if you have to get a deal done. His enormous energy, deep experience, charisma and personality will drive things forward. Marco is technically excellent, but also a peerless client lawyer. He is the top dog at Weil and will ensure that your deal is staffed with the A-team.’
'The whole Weil team are our go-to legal firm for our most complex and high value legal matters. They have always exceeded expectations, are super responsive, and consequently have been our key legal advisers for over 20 years. The entire team is constantly fights our corner and the quality of advice is always second-to-none.'
'We have worked with James Harvey for many years and he has rightly become one of the key partners on our account, who has the total respect of all of our team. James always goes above and beyond, and consistently delivers commercial and practical advice. James is always the first person at Weil that we make contact with and rightly deserves recognition.'
Key clients
- Px3
- Advent International
- Bain Capital
- Providence Equity
- Berkshire Partners
- TPG
- CVC
- Aleph Capital
- PAI Partners
- FitzWalter Capital
Work highlights
- Advised General Atlantic on its investment in the Permira and Blackstone-led take-private of Oslo-listed Adevinta.
- Advised the Barclay Family on the sale of the Telegraph and The Spectator newspapers to Abu Dhabi-based RedbirdIMI.
- Advised Lone Star and MBCC Group on the sale of MBCC Group, the former BASF Construction Chemicals business, to a competitor in the construction chemicals industry, Sika for a consideration of €5.2bn.
Lawyers
Hall of fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Lewis Blakey
Max Oppenheimer
Practice head
Marco Compagnoni
Other key lawyers
Jonathan Wood; Simon Lyell; James Harvey; Lewis Blakey; Max Oppenheimer; Max Weatherston-Wilson; Michael Francies