Weil’s creation of a groundbreaking technique that allows companies to restructure their debt while avoiding equity cancellation, delisting and the need to overhaul entire capital structures, has been shortlisted by the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards 2026, while Restructuring Head of practice in London, Andrew Wilkinson has been shortlisted as an “Innovative Practitioner.”

The technique, developed for Fossil Group, the Nasdaq-listed, U.S.-headquartered retailer, emerged in connection with the company’s financial restructuring. It marks the first time a U.S. public company has gone outside the U.S. to conduct a restructuring of U.S.-governed debt. Fossil is the first publicly listed U.S. company to adopt the strategy described by Weil as a “Stapled Exchange.” Weil has been shortlisted in the “Innovative Lawyers in Restructuring” category for this work.

Andrew Wilkinson is a senior European Restructuring partner and Head of Weil’s London Restructuring practice. The award he has been shortlisted for, showcases legal practitioners who have changed the way legal work is done, how they have influenced their firms, industry, business or wider society, and how they are changing the way the firm works with clients. Over three decades, Andrew has pioneered new legal techniques, pushed the boundaries of existing frameworks to develop innovative and practical solutions for clients in the most complex situations.

The Financial Times Innovative rankings celebrates the best in innovation from law firms and in-house legal teams across Europe. With over 20 awards, the ceremony recognizes leaders in digital innovation, strategic advice, talent management and driving positive change in the profession. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony taking place at the Natural History Museum in London on September 24, 2026.