Key Takeaways
- • Weil, Gotshal & Manges appoints Jonathan Stott and Michael Hanna as partners to its private equity practice group in California, strengthening the firm's West Coast presence in a major PE market.
- • Stott brings 16 years of experience from Dechert, where he most recently managed the San Francisco office and led its West Coast private equity practice, with expertise across consumer brands, food products, financial services, aerospace, software, technology, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors.
- • Hanna joins from Kirkland & Ellis after a decade as a partner in the firm's private equity practice, with deep experience representing PE funds and portfolio companies on M&A, leveraged acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and corporate governance matters.
- • Both partners bring established relationships with alternative asset managers and private equity sponsors, positioning Weil to expand its ability to serve institutional PE clients on complex transactions in the Bay Area and broader West Coast markets.
Summary
Weil, Gotshal & Manges has bolstered its private equity platform with the addition of two senior partners to its California office. Jonathan Stott and Michael Hanna, both with extensive track records in PE advisory, join the firm's private equity practice group as the firm seeks to deepen its presence in the Bay Area—one of the world's most significant private equity markets.
Stott arrives from Dechert, where he spent 16 years building relationships with alternative asset managers and private equity sponsors. Most recently, he served as managing partner of Dechert's San Francisco office while simultaneously leading its West Coast private equity practice. His transaction expertise spans mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, carve-out transactions, and joint ventures across a diversified set of industries including consumer brands and products, food products, financial services, aerospace, software, technology, healthcare, manufacturing, industrial goods, and building products.
Hanna brings a complementary skill set from Kirkland & Ellis, where he spent the past decade as a partner in the firm's private equity practice group. His experience encompasses representing private equity funds and their portfolio companies on corporate matters including joint ventures, mergers, divestitures, leveraged acquisitions, equity arrangements, and corporate governance.
Barry Wolf, executive partner at Weil, characterized the hires as integral to the firm's strategic expansion, stating: "We are delighted to welcome Jon and Michael as we continue to strengthen our premier private equity platform and expand our presence in California. The Bay Area is one of the world's most important private equity markets, and Jon and Michael's experience and relationships will further strengthen our ability to serve clients at the highest level." Michael Aiello, chairman of Weil's corporate department, added that the firm is "highly focused on continuing to grow our private equity group in the U.S. and globally with high-quality attorneys who are committed to excellence and collaboration."
Stott arrives from Dechert, where he spent 16 years building relationships with alternative asset managers and private equity sponsors. Most recently, he served as managing partner of Dechert's San Francisco office while simultaneously leading its West Coast private equity practice. His transaction expertise spans mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, carve-out transactions, and joint ventures across a diversified set of industries including consumer brands and products, food products, financial services, aerospace, software, technology, healthcare, manufacturing, industrial goods, and building products.
Hanna brings a complementary skill set from Kirkland & Ellis, where he spent the past decade as a partner in the firm's private equity practice group. His experience encompasses representing private equity funds and their portfolio companies on corporate matters including joint ventures, mergers, divestitures, leveraged acquisitions, equity arrangements, and corporate governance.
Barry Wolf, executive partner at Weil, characterized the hires as integral to the firm's strategic expansion, stating: "We are delighted to welcome Jon and Michael as we continue to strengthen our premier private equity platform and expand our presence in California. The Bay Area is one of the world's most important private equity markets, and Jon and Michael's experience and relationships will further strengthen our ability to serve clients at the highest level." Michael Aiello, chairman of Weil's corporate department, added that the firm is "highly focused on continuing to grow our private equity group in the U.S. and globally with high-quality attorneys who are committed to excellence and collaboration."
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