NEW YORK, April 13, 2026: Continuing the strategic expansion of its Private Funds Group, international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP announced today that Sara Allawi has joined the Firm as a partner based in the New York office.

Sara advises global private equity sponsors and asset managers in connection with the formation, structuring and negotiation of their investment funds. She has counseled sponsors with respect to every stage of a fund's lifecycle, across a diverse spectrum of strategies, including buyout, credit, real estate, venture, secondaries and infrastructure, amongst others. She has represented institutional investors and regularly assists clients with strategic co-investments and separately managed accounts as well as upper tier arrangements.

“Sara is a rising star with true commitment to excellence and collaboration, who will help drive the continued growth of our Private Funds Group,” said Weil Executive Partner Barry Wolf. “We are confident she will be a tremendous addition to our team and an immediate value-add to our clients in this space.”

“Sara’s arrival adds further scale to our growing bench of partners focused on primary fundraising,” said Michael J. Aiello, Chairman of Weil’s Corporate Department. “She is well-known for her work advising leading private equity sponsors and asset managers and will be a strong strategic resource to our clients across the full spectrum of their needs.”

“Sara is a distinguished private funds lawyer with deep experience across the fund lifecycle, and we look forward to working with her to support our incredibly active client base,” said U.S. Private Funds Co-Heads Andrew Chizzik and Stephanie E. Srulowitz. “She is also a strong cultural fit with Weil and will be an outstanding mentor to our associates, helping to support the continued growth and development of our team.”

Joining from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Sara was a partner in the firm’s Investment Funds practice in New York. She has also served as Associate Corporate Counsel at Franklin Templeton and gained foundational experience at Sands Capital Management, amongst other experiences in private practice. 

Since the start of 2025, Weil has brought on 16 lateral partners in the Private Equity and Private Funds practices and elevated 8 lawyers to the partnership in these key growth areas, as the Firm responds to record demand.

“I am excited to join Weil’s market-leading Private Funds Group and look forward to working with this exceptional team to support clients in an increasingly complex funds landscape,” said Sara.

About Weil’s Private Funds Group

Weil’s Private Funds Group has a global footprint, with highly ranked practitioners in the United States and Europe. Our team of more than 90 full-time dedicated private funds lawyers is able to serve all of our clients’ needs, wherever they are based and wherever they are raising funds. Our client base covers a broad range of the fund sponsor spectrum, from some of the largest, most well-established players to emerging participants. We have formed funds for a significant number of clients ranging from multi-billion dollar funds, to middle-market funds, to funds for emerging clients.

About Weil

Founded in 1931, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has been a preeminent provider of legal services for more than 90 years. With approximately 1,200 lawyers in offices on three continents, Weil has been a pioneer in the marketplace and a first-mover in the establishment of many significant practice areas. The Firm’s four departments, Corporate, Litigation, Restructuring, and Tax, Executive Compensation & Benefits, and more than two dozen practice groups are consistently recognized as leaders in their respective fields.