The headline-grabbing news that Weil corporate heavyweight Michael Aiello is leaving to join Cravath, alongside five other M&A partners, means the firm has now seen almost 30 partners leave around the world since the start of the year.
The departures include key names in some of the firm’s most important practices, and two of the exits – Aiello and private equity partner Christopher Machera – were members of the firm’s global leadership and strategy committee, which was formed just last year.
As one partner at a rival US firm notes, the firm is going through ‘seismic changes’ – and more departures are expected in the coming weeks. Here, we dive into Legal 500 US data to look at the impact on the firm so far.
Weil now has no individuals ranked for US big-ticket M&A
Aiello, who spent nearly two decades at Weil, where he led its 600-lawyer corporate department, is ranked in Legal 500’s Hall of Fame for both US high-value M&A and telecoms transactions – two of the firm’s total of 15 Hall of Fame rankings.
Matthew Gilroy, who is moving to Cravath with Aiello, is also recognised for US high-value M&A as a leading partner, while earlier this year the firm also saw the departure of next generation partner Sachin Kohli, who moved to Wilson Sonsini.
Those three exits mean Weil, which is ranked in tier two for high value M&A in the US, now has no individual US rankings in the practice area. The most prominent remaining partner is New York-based co-head Michael Lubowitz.
Ranked US partner departures since August 2026
Weil has lost a third of its high-value PE leading partners in the US
Christopher Machera – who was also named on the new global strategy committee last year, alongside Aiello – left Weil for Paul Weiss in August, kicking off the most recent wave of departures and taking his high-value PE leading partner ranking with him.
However, Weil – which is also ranked in tier two in the US for this practice area – has two other senior leading partners who remain at the firm.
These are Douglas Warner, who co-heads the firm’s global PE practice, and Ramona Nee, who is set to take over as executive partner when longtime firm leader Barry Wolf leaves at the end of next year – with the caveat that her role will inevitably shift towards management as she steps into the post.
Individual Legal 500 US rankings pre- and post-2026
Restructuring remains Weil’s strongest practice area
Of the firm’s 79 individual rankings in the US, eight are in restructuring – the most of any single practice area.
This figure includes one Hall of Fame ranking, as well as four of the firm’s 42 leading partners and three of its 21 next generation partners.
The firm also holds a top-tier US ranking for the practice area – one of 11 top-tier rankings that it holds, including merger control and general commercial disputes.
The practice has not been untouched – with big-name former practice head Ray Schrock moving to Latham & Watkins in early 2025, and a London team moving to Akin in May this year – but for now, it remains one of the firm’s core strongholds.
