Weil is set to hold an all-partner meeting today (20 October) Legal Business understands, as the firm weighs up merger options amid a spate of high-profile partner exits.
The firm is due to convene its partnership for a virtual meeting, starting at 11am Eastern (4pm UK time).
While Weil is yet to comment on the merger rumours, LB understands it has been actively talking to potential partners. A number of US and UK firms have been linked with the embattled firm in recent weeks and discussions are understood to have taken place over the weekend with at least one firm.
Bloomberg Law reported overnight that Weil’s leadership had told top partners that the firm was negotiating a memorandum of understanding with one firm.
The talks come as Weil has faced a flurry of exits, including multiple practice heads and members of its firmwide management committee.
This week it emerged that capital markets partner Michael Hickey, who has been at Weil for nearly nine years, and previously held roles as co-managing partner of the corporate department and co-head of capital markets, is set to join Sullivan & Cromwell.
A Legal 500 leading partner for capital markets: debt offerings, he joined Weil in 2018 from Goldman Sachs and continues to work with the bank, most recently advising its investment vehicle Goldman Sachs Alternatives on its $2.7bn acquisition of member club Soho House & Co Inc in August 2025.
His move marks S&C’s third hire from Weil in recent weeks, after M&A partners David Avery-Gee and Sarah Flaherty joined in London.
He is the latest in around 25 partners to have left Weil in New York this year, with the firm’s global departures since January totalling more than 40.
The exits started to mount in earnest in August, when private equity co-head Christopher Machera announced his move to Paul Weiss, while corporate department chair Michael Aiello left for Cravath as part of a six-partner M&A team in September.
Both partners were members of the firm’s global strategy and management committee, which was established in February 2025. Aiello also served as chair of the committee.
However, Weil has also made a number of hires, including the addition of antitrust partner Yuni Yan Sobel, who joined from Paul Weiss in New York yesterday (19 October).
Weil did not respond to requests for comment.
Related: Weil under pressure: Can Ramona Nee halt the exodus and deliver the change required?
