Firm Profiles
IN-DEPTH RESEARCH REPORT
on Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
- - Financial Information
- - Compensation
- - Billing Rates
- - Lateral Partner Moves
- - Pro bono
- - Key Contacts
Weil, Gotshal & Manges
- Designation: New York
- Head Count: 1,201
- Gross Revenues: $1,228,500,000
- Revenue Per Lawyer: $1,025,000
- Profits Per Partner: $2,230,000
- Year Over Year Change: 2
One of the New York megafirms, Weil doesn’t rank high just by revenue, but also by important noneconomic metrics. Indeed, the firm’s far–above–average scores on diversity, pro bono work, and midlevel associate satisfaction have helped to make it a fixture on The American Lawyer’s “A–List,” which homes in on the nation’s 20 most eminent law firms.
While Weil, like most 1,000–plus lawyer firms, has a far–ranging practice, it is particularly well–known for its bankruptcy and restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and litigation groups. That last practice area has been a regular on the pages of The American Lawyer as well, earning a finalist berth on our Litigation Department of the Year competition in 2010 and 2004, and honorable mentions in 2006, 2008, and 2012 (the contest is held every two years). Ironically, the financial crisis that dealt a blow to Weil’s deal flow?and saw the firm’s revenues drop 4 percent in 2010 before recovering the following year—kept its business finance and restructuring group busy, representing the likes of now–defunct Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., and Washington Mutual, Inc. The firm’s bankruptcy work contributed substantially to Weil’s bottom line: The Lehman work generated $383 million in fees, and the WaMu work brought in another $71 million.
Weil’s IP group, which has handled work for Microsoft Corporation, eBay Inc., and Genentech, Inc., among others, is also well respected. It was a finalist in The American Lawyer’s IP Litigation Department of the Year contest in 2006 and 2010.
Weil’s practice is far–reaching, too. The firm’s 21 offices cover the traditional megafirm standards like London and Hong Kong, as well as newer hot spots like Beijing and Dubai. But Weil also has a footprint in some markets less frequented by American firms, such as Budapest and Warsaw.
Weil’s profits per partner also place it within the upper ranks of U.S. firms. In fact, one of the few areas in which Weil does not rank near the top is age: Founded in 1931, it’s virtually a kid among the big New York firms. But a precocious, ambitious, and high–achieving one, to be sure.
—Updated as of 1/1/12
Firm Rankings
| Survey | Rank | Year Over Year Change | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Am Law 100 | 13 | 2 | Gross revenue |
| Am Law 200 | 13 | 2 | Gross revenue |
| NLJ 250 | 17 | 2 | Lawyer head count |
| The A-List | 9 | 3 | Overall excellence |
| Pro Bono Scorecard | 33 | 12 | Pro-bono commitment |
| Diversity Scorecard | 18 | no change | Minority head count |
| Midlevel Associates Survey | 45 | 2 | Job satisfaction |
| Summer Associates Survey | 59 | 23 | Summer programs |
In the News
Yahoo Picks Up Tumblr for $1.1B
Tom Huddleston Jr. : The Am Law Daily : May 20, 2013
Kirkland Reps S.F.'s Vista on $906M Buy of Software Maker
Brian Baxter : The Am Law Daily : May 20, 2013
Simpson Helps Yahoo, Tumblr Connect
Tom Huddleston Jr. : The Am Law Daily : May 20, 2013
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is advising Yahoo in connection with its largest acquisition in a decade: the $1.1 billion cash purchase of blogging and social media platform Tumblr. Tumblr, meanwhile, is represented by Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian.
Three Deals Add Up to More M&A Work for Kirkland
Brian Baxter : The Am Law Daily : May 20, 2013
Kirkland & Ellis is advising longtime private equity client Vista Equity Partners on its nearly $1 billion purchase of cyber-security software maker Websense, while fellow private equity firm Landmark Partners is relying on the firm to handle a $425 million secondary acquisition of a legacy energy portfolio owned by HM Capital. Kirkland is also advising the world's largest consulting firm, Accenture, on its $316 million buy of digital marketing startup Acquity Group.
Ruling Blocks City From Ending Sandy Hotel Program
Andrew Keshner : New York Law Journal : May 16, 2013
As city officials prepared to terminate the program at the end of this month, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Margaret Chan issued a preliminary injunction holding that while plaintiffs did not have a property interest in an indefinite stay under the program, they did have such an interest in receiving the housing benefits for more than seven months.
Judge Rebuffs Investor's Bid for a Big Share of Patent Holding Company's Licensing Fees
Jan Wolfe : The Litigation Daily : May 16, 2013
A patent holding company has fended off, at least for the moment, the lawsuit of a disaffected investor who claims he was cheated out of a stake in a valuable check-processing technology he allegedly helped develop.
Alcatel Loses Infringement Appeal Against Newegg, Overstock
Lisa Shuchman : The Litigation Daily : May 15, 2013
Kasowitz Makes Silicon Valley Hire
Julia Love : The Recorder : May 14, 2013
Patent litigator Steven Carlson is leaving Fish & Richardson to lead the Silicon Valley office of Kasowitz, arriving as the firm rebuilds in the Valley. Earlier this month, the head of the office, Douglas Lumish, jumped to Latham & Watkins with two other Silicon Valley-based partners and a New York-based partner.
Lehman Reaches Beyond Grave Seeking Millions From Nonprofits
Bloomberg News : Bloomberg : May 14, 2013
Almost five years after Lehman Brothers Holding Inc. filed for bankruptcy and set off the global financial crisis, managers of the bank's estate are demanding millions of dollars from retirement homes, colleges and hospitals.
State Justice Rejects FOIL Request on NYPD's Surveillance of Muslims
John Caher : New York Law Journal : May 14, 2013
Justice Alexander Hunter Jr. said that disclosure of the records could compromise counterintelligence efforts, endanger the lives of law enforcement officials and discourage citizens from reporting information to the police.
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- Dickstein Shapiro
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- Proskauer Rose
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- Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
- Slaughter and May
- Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal
- Sullivan & Cromwell
- Vinson & Elkins
- Weil, Gotshal & Manges
- Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr
