Weil is braced for more London departures, with leveraged finance partner Tom Richards and private equity partner Max Oppenheimer among a group of partners set to become the latest exits from the US firm.
Richards is understood to be in discussions to join Simpson Thacher, along with a team of partners, while Oppenheimer is close to a move to Paul Weiss.
The partners in talks to move with Richards are understood to be Alex Eagle, Patrick Brendon and Gilles Teerlinck, all of whom focus on acquisition and leveraged finance, including high yield financings.
The departures will take the number of partners leaving Weil or announcing their intention to leave to 17 in London since January.
In a statement, Weil said: “These departures have been anticipated for some time and are already well understood in the market. We are focused on delivering growth and the best client service and advice in the market. In recent days, we have recruited extraordinary talent, and more recruitment news will follow shortly, all of which will help advance our growth plans, which we are laser focused on achieving and surpassing.”
High-profile leveraged finance partner Richards joined Weil as an associate in 2012, becoming partner in 2015.
A leading partner for acquisition finance in the London Legal 500, he advises private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies and has previously worked with buyout companies including Advent International, Bain Capital, Blackstone, Permira and CVC on mandates including the take-privates of In-Post and Cobham among many others.
Should his team move go ahead, it will take the number of partners leaving Weil in London for Simpson to seven, after the news that funds partners Simon Saitowitz and Charles Cooper-Isow and infrastructure M&A partner Murray Cox are also set to join the firm.
Oppenheimer has been at Weil for more than 13 years, and made partner in 2015. A Legal 500 next-generation partner for high-value PE deals, he has worked with clients including General Atlantic, HgCapital and Advent International, most recently co-leading the team that advised Lone Star Funds on its €4bn acquisition of material solutions group ContiTech.
In addition to Saitowitz, Cox, and Cooper-Isow in London, Simpson has also hired a number of Weil partners in New York, including US private funds co-head Stephanie Epstein Srulowitz.
Paul Weiss has added four partners from Weil in the US since August, including PE co-head and global leadership and strategy committee Chris Machera and fellow PE partner Tim Burns.
Last month it emerged that City M&A duo David Avery-Gee and Sarah Flaherty are leaving Weil for Sullivan & Cromwell.
