Inside Weil's Private Equity Partner Shuffle

Live updates

1. 14d ago

   Weil Expands San Francisco PE Team Amid Partner Departures

   Weil Gotshal & Manges is expanding its San Francisco private equity presence by hiring partners Jonathan Stott from Dechert and Michael Hanna from Kirkland. These additions bring the firm's California private equity platform to approximately 20 partners. While the firm strengthens its West Coast bench, it faces simultaneous attrition as additional partners plan moves to Simpson Thacher. The recruitment drive focuses on accelerating Bay Area growth to better serve private equity clients in the region.

   Why it matters

   The firm is aggressively scaling its California operations to compete for high-value private equity mandates. This growth occurs against a backdrop of partner instability and competition from other elite firms. The shift reflects a broader strategic effort to decentralize from East Coast hubs.

   What is confirmed

   • Weil Gotshal & Manges hired Jonathan Stott from Dechert and Michael Hanna from Kirkland as partners in its San Francisco U.S. Private Equity Group.
   • The firm's California private equity platform now includes approximately 20 partners.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Two more Weil partners plan to move to Simpson Thacher, with exits potentially weeks away.

   What to watch next

   • Confirmation of the departure dates for the partners moving to Simpson Thacher
   • Further hiring announcements for the West Coast private equity bench
   Sources used for this update (8)

   1. Law.com — Inside Weil's Private Equity Partner Shuffle
   2. Law.com — Building West Coast Bench, Weil Adds PE Pros From Kirkland, Dechert
   3. Weil — Weil Accelerates Bay Area Private Equity Expansion with Additions of Jon Stott and Michael Hanna
   4. Law360 — Weil Adds Private Equity Attys From Dechert, Kirkland In SF
   5. news.bloomberglaw.com — Weil Gotshal Adds Dechert, Kirkland PE Partners in San Francisco
   6. Pulse 2.0 — Weil Adds Jonathan Stott From Dechert And Michael Hanna To Expand Bay Area Private Equity Team
   7. www.law.com — 2 More Weil Partners Plan Moves to Simpson Thacher
   8. pulse2.com — Weil Adds Jonathan Stott From Dechert And Michael Hanna To Expand Bay Area Private Equity Team
   confidence 90%