Private Equity

Weil's global private equity practice is recognized by the industry as being one of only a very small number of elite, market leaders in this field. Our clients include the majority of the largest and highest profile private equity funds, sovereign wealth funds and pension funds, as well as family offices and other equity financial investors. Weil advises more than 200 private equity clients worldwide, including 9 out of the 10 largest global private equity funds and 70% of the top 25, as ranked by PEI 300 2018. Our advice covers all aspects of the full life cycle of investments.

Notable Representations, Key Contacts

Our clients benefit from our:

Global platform

Across the United States, Europe and Asia, our lawyers work together to provide a seamless service to market leading players of all sizes, across all sectors. Our global private equity practice and our international offices are ranked in the top tiers by the leading legal directories.

Fully integrated offering

In addition to providing best-in-class transactional advice, we also provide our private equity clients with market leading expertise across a range of disciplines including the ability to:

Execute across all financing structures through our leading private equity finance team
Help clients raise funds in time critical situations and efficiently through our market leading fund formation team
Provide clients best-in-class tax and executive compensation and employee benefits advice
In addition, we provide a full service to our private equity clients encompassing restructuring, governance, antitrust, employment, litigation, and intellectual property.

Multi-asset offering

With the increasing trend of private equity houses diversifying into new asset classes, our fully integrated offering means that we can advise multi-asset managers on the full spectrum of their investment products, including distressed debt, infrastructure, real estate, and structured products.

Ability to execute private equity transactions for new types of buyers

We apply techniques used successfully in traditional private equity transactions to meet the needs of newer entrants to the direct market including sovereign wealth funds, pension funds and family offices. Weil has been at the forefront of this evolution and acts for a range of such investors, alongside the more traditional private equity funds.

Strong partnering skills

We work in partnership with our clients to offer a range of value-added services including bespoke training and market trend comparisons. More importantly we develop products and services designed to support our clients at different points in the life cycle of their portfolio companies.

Deep bench of private equity experts

With more than 200 lawyers worldwide, Weil has the strongest bench of lawyers dedicated exclusively to private equity. Our clients benefit from recognized leaders in their field who have been steeped in the industry from the start of their legal careers, providing insight that goes beyond just transactional advice.

Selected Representations

Major buyouts and exits

Carve-outs

Dual-track processes

Minority investments

Public to private

SPACs

Key Contacts

Marco Compagnoni

Partner

London

+44 20 7903 1547
marco.compagnoni@weil.com

Douglas P. Warner

Partner

New York

+1 (212) 310-8751
doug.warner@weil.com

See list of lawyers globally

Visit Weil’s Global Private Equity Watch, highlighting recent market trends and legal developments

Weil advises 9 out of the 10 largest global private equity funds

PEI 300 2018

Band 1 for Private Equity Globally and across Asia and Europe

Chambers Global, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Chambers Europe, Chambers UK

Ranked Tier 1 for Private Equity in the U.S., U.K., France, China and Hong Kong

IFLR1000

Named Private Equity “Practice Group of the Year”

Law360 2017, 2016, 2014 & 2012

Harvey Eisenberg Named a “Dealmaker of the Year”

The American Lawyer 2018

Ranked Top 5 for Global Private Equity by Deal Volume

The Deal Full Year 2017 League Tables

Ranked Tier 1 Nationwide for Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law

U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”

Band 1 for Private Equity – UK

Chambers UK, Legal 500 UK and IFLR1000 UK

Tier 1 for Private Equity – Hong Kong

Legal 500 Asia Pacific and IFLR1000

Named “Asset and Investment Management Team of the Year”

Financial News’ Legal Services Awards Europe 2017

Named “Pan-European Legal Adviser of the Year”

Real Deals’ Private Equity Awards 2017

Named “Law Firm of the Year” in Asia (Transactions)

PEI 2017

They have everything covered and are a one-stop shop. They are terrific.”

Chambers USA

Their international offering is very important to us - they have the ability to work in numerous different jurisdictions, and are experienced in handling a variety of different types of transactions.”

Chambers USA

They've got very talented individuals who have tremendous market insight and expertise. The firm itself has tremendous resources, which it can bring to bear in any area required.”

Chambers USA

They do a great job weighing risks; not just telling us what the risks are, but helping us assess the situation. They're able to help us assess those risks better because they have a much better feel for market.”

Chambers USA

Received “commended” ranking in category of Enabling Business Growth for its role advising SoftBank on its $3.3B take-private of Fortress Investment Group — marking the first instance of a diversified alternative asset manager returning to a private company.

Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Report North America 2017

Private Equity “Law Firm of the Year”

Best Lawyers in Germany 2016

Three lawyers named to “Legal Power 30” list of the 30 most influential private equity lawyers in the world today

Private Equity Manager

Private Equity Client Program and Global Private Equity Watch blog named among the most “Innovative” Business of Law Initiatives of the Year

FT North America Innovative Lawyers Report

Awards and Recognition, Speaking Engagements, Latest Thinking, Firm News & Announcements

Awards and Recognition

Weil Named 2017 Private Equity Practice Group of the Year Award Brief — Law360
Chris Machera Named Among 2018 Emerging Leaders Award Brief — M&A Advisor
Harvey Eisenberg Named a “Dealmaker of the Year” Award Brief — The American Lawyer 2018
Weil Ranked Top 5 for Global Private Equity for the last 7 years Award Brief — Bloomberg; Mergermarket
Weil Named “Asset and Investment Management Team of the Year” Award Brief — Financial News’ Legal Services Awards Europe 2017
Weil Ranked Band 1 for Private Equity in the U.S., U.K., France, China and Hong Kong Award Brief — IFLR1000
Weil Ranked Band 1 for Private Equity Global-wide, Asia-Pacific-wide, and Across Europe Award Brief — Chambers Global, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Chambers Europe, Chambers UK
Weil Ranked Top 5 for Global Private Equity by Deal Volume Award Brief — The Deal Full Year 2017 League Tables

View all

Speaking Engagements

PLI’s Nineteenth Annual Private Equity Forum Speaker(s): Jonathon G. Soler
July 16-17, 2018 — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — Weil’s U.S. Head of Private Funds Jonathon Soler speaks on “General Partner Arrangements: Structure and Terms” as part of PLI’s Nineteenth Annual Private Equity Forum.
BU Business Law Society – Transactional Law Panel Speaker(s): Matthew W. Goulding
February 22, 2018 — Boston, Massachusetts — Weil partner Matt Goulding presented as part of a transactional law panel sponsored by the BU Business Law Society.
Tax Reform for Private Equity: International Aspects of U.S. Tax Reform Speaker(s): Kimberly S. Blanchard and David I. Bower
January 24, 2018 — Part of Weil’s 2018 Tax Reform for Private Equity Webinar Series