Weil was ranked fifth most innovative law firm overall in the 2018 Financial Times North America Innovative Lawyers report, released today. The Firm was also ranked among the top ten most innovative firms for both legal expertise and business of law, with several different firm client matters and programs recognized. 

In addition, Weil Executive Partner Barry Wolf was named one of the top ten legal innovators and profiled in the report. The publication underscored not only his skill in leading the Firm to financial success but also in fostering an entrepreneurial culture and a range of forward-thinking initiatives, including shortening the promotion track to partner and counsel by two years.

Details of the Firm’s recognitions in the various categories are as follows:

Managing and Developing Talent — Weil earned “Standout” recognition for shortening the partner/counsel track by two years in an effort to retain talented mid-level associates.

Managing and Developing Talent — Weil was “Highly Commended” for its development of the first accredited unconscious bias training program in New York State to improve diversity in the profession.

Enabling Business Growth and Transformation — Weil earned “Standout” recognition for advising Fieldwood Energy in its successful restructuring, which the publication noted helped “preserve jobs, simultaneously reduce debt, raise additional capital through an equity rights offering and acquire cash-producing assets from Noble Energy.”

Managing Complexity and Scale — Weil was “Commended” for successfully advising Takata in its global restructuring and completed $1.6 billion asset sale to Key Safety Systems.

Dispute Resolution — Weil was “Highly Commended” for securing a complete defense jury verdict for C&S Wholesale Grocers in an antitrust class action – one of only five such cases tried to verdict in the last five years.

Data, Knowledge and Intelligence — Weil was “Commended” for its development of a docket monitoring system that better enables timely review of new business opportunities within litigation.