Key Takeaways
- • Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP expanded its private funds platform by recruiting one attorney from Kirkland & Ellis and another from DLA Piper, signaling aggressive growth in the competitive legal market for alternative asset management.
- • Weil's private funds practice is positioned as a "key group" within the firm, with leadership viewing recruitment and scaling as a strategic priority to capture market opportunity in the funds space.
- • The dual hire from two top-tier competitors (Kirkland & Ellis and DLA Piper) reflects broader talent competition among elite law firms servicing the private funds and alternative investment sectors.
- • Co-managing partner Jonathon Soler identified private funds as an area where Weil sees expansion potential, indicating the firm is investing in practice depth to better serve institutional investors and fund sponsors.
Summary
Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP announced the recruitment of two attorneys to its private funds platform on April 13, 2026, with one hire from Kirkland & Ellis and another from DLA Piper. The moves underscore the competitive talent landscape among major law firms serving the alternative asset management and private funds sectors.
According to Jonathon Soler, co-managing partner at Weil, private funds represent a "key group" within the firm's practice portfolio. The firm's strategic focus on scaling this particular practice area reflects management's conviction that meaningful growth opportunities exist in serving private fund sponsors, institutional investors, and fund-related legal matters.
The recruitment of seasoned attorneys from two prominent competitors—Kirkland & Ellis, historically a powerhouse in private funds representation, and DLA Piper, a diversified global firm with substantial alternative asset capabilities—suggests Weil is making targeted investments to strengthen bench depth and competitive positioning. This hiring pattern is consistent with broader market dynamics in which elite firms actively compete for specialized talent in high-demand practice areas.
The announcement highlights the ongoing consolidation and talent mobility within the legal services sector serving alternative investments, where institutional demand for sophisticated legal guidance remains robust across private equity, hedge funds, and other institutional fund structures.
According to Jonathon Soler, co-managing partner at Weil, private funds represent a "key group" within the firm's practice portfolio. The firm's strategic focus on scaling this particular practice area reflects management's conviction that meaningful growth opportunities exist in serving private fund sponsors, institutional investors, and fund-related legal matters.
The recruitment of seasoned attorneys from two prominent competitors—Kirkland & Ellis, historically a powerhouse in private funds representation, and DLA Piper, a diversified global firm with substantial alternative asset capabilities—suggests Weil is making targeted investments to strengthen bench depth and competitive positioning. This hiring pattern is consistent with broader market dynamics in which elite firms actively compete for specialized talent in high-demand practice areas.
The announcement highlights the ongoing consolidation and talent mobility within the legal services sector serving alternative investments, where institutional demand for sophisticated legal guidance remains robust across private equity, hedge funds, and other institutional fund structures.
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