{"id":163271,"date":"2026-09-21T12:15:54","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T20:15:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2026\/09\/21\/weil-seeks-to-strengthen-its-platform-as-merger-rumors-swirl\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T12:15:54","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T20:15:54","slug":"weil-seeks-to-strengthen-its-platform-as-merger-rumors-swirl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2026\/09\/21\/weil-seeks-to-strengthen-its-platform-as-merger-rumors-swirl\/","title":{"rendered":"Weil Seeks To Strengthen Its \u2018Platform\u2019 As Merger Rumors Swirl"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Michael Aiello and a handful of his M&A partners left Weil, Gotshal & Manges for what the firm memorably called \u201ca smaller platform,\u201d<\/a> And by that, they meant\u2026 Cravath. Weil said it would respond by hitting the gas. The firm \u201chas long believed that an ambitious growth strategy is in the firm\u2019s best interest,\u201d the statement read, \u201cand intends to accelerate execution of that strategy going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turns out that was not a figure of speech.<\/p>\n

Bloomberg Law reports<\/a> that Weil is now considering a merger with a competitor, with firm leadership warming to a combination and holding informal talks to gauge interest:<\/p>\n

\n

Weil has been canvassing its partners in recent days as it seeks to stem the tide of defections, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. It has also been studying other ways to shore up its business through strategic hires and promotions, and it could still remain independent, the people said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Weil is pretty tight-lipped about what is actually happening. \u201cWeil is not engaged in merger discussions with any firm,\u201d a spokesperson said. \u201cLike every leading firm, we continually evaluate opportunities to strengthen our platform.\u201d<\/p>\n

Weil\u2019s comms team just can\u2019t quit the word \u201cplatform.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tide in question is real. Aiello, the chair of Weil\u2019s roughly 600-lawyer corporate department and a member of its management committee, is taking M&A co-head Matt Gilroy and four other partners to Cravath. London co-managing partner David Avery-Gee and corporate partner Sarah Flaherty just went to Sullivan & Cromwell. Listen, the firm has breathing room \u2014 Weil billed $2 billion last year and is not a firm on the ropes \u2014 but, no matter the friction he brought to the table, it\u2019s wise to evaluate what\u2019s next when your biggest rainmaker walks out the door.<\/p>\n

And, remember per Bloomberg Law\u2019s reporting, Aiello was an obstacle to growth<\/a>, territorial about his practice, skeptical of expansion, and a drag on recruiting. He reportedly called it \u201cdisloyal\u201d when his own longtime deputy Sachin Kohli wanted to go build a West Coast M&A practice; Kohli left for Wilson Sonsini. Insiders framed Aiello\u2019s exit as \u201ca great opportunity to let Weil be Weil; to be entrepreneurial and grow.\u201d A week later, the entrepreneurial growth under consideration is a merger.<\/p>\n

Aiello didn\u2019t travel light, either. Cravath presiding partner Faiza Saeed welcomed him as \u201ca unique fit within our culture\u201d who shares \u201cthe values that have long defined Cravath\u201d \u2014 a line that reads differently once you remember that Aiello is the Weil partner who advised the CBS board through the Les Moonves mess, which cast a troubling MeToo spotlight<\/a> on the firm after critics picked apart Aiello for downplaying the Moonves allegations to the board. So, the rainmaker came with an asterisk, and Cravath took him anyway to restock their ranks. For its part, Cravath has seen partners depart<\/a> at a healthy clip, and the takeaway is that no firm is untouchable anymore.<\/p>\n

None of this happens in a market with functioning lockstep. When partner pay tracks seniority, a rainmaker\u2019s outside options are capped by whatever rung another lockstep firm will slot him onto. The death of pure lockstep \u2014 at Davis Polk<\/a>, Cravath<\/a>, and nearly everywhere else \u2014 means every partner has a number, every practice group has a number, and $20 million is just the price of admission<\/a>. This merry-go-round of top talent shows no signs of stopping, and the firms that can\u2019t afford another ticket are the ones taking merger calls<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Weil says it isn\u2019t currently in merger talks with any specific firm, we\u2019ll see how long that stays true.<\/p>\n

Earlier: <\/strong>Weil\u2019s Corporate Chair Decamps For Cravath, Which Weil Would Like You To Know Is \u2018A Smaller Platform\u2019<\/a>
The Cravath Shade Wasn\u2019t A One-Off: Weil Insiders Line Up To Say Good Riddance<\/a>
Weil Is Relieved To Lose Its Biggest Rainmaker. Cravath Is Thrilled To Get His \u2018Values.\u2019<\/a>
Cravath Is No Longer Immune To Partner Poaching<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of\u00a0The Jabot podcast<\/a>, and co-host of\u00a0Thinking Like A Lawyer<\/a>. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email\u00a0her<\/a>\u00a0with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter\u00a0@Kathryn1<\/a>\u00a0or Bluesky\u00a0@Kathryn1<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The post Weil Seeks To Strengthen Its \u2018Platform\u2019 As Merger Rumors Swirl<\/a> appeared first on Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

When Michael Aiello and a handful of his M&A partners left Weil, Gotshal & Manges for what the firm memorably called \u201ca smaller platform,\u201d<\/a> And by that, they meant\u2026 Cravath. Weil said it would respond by hitting the gas. The firm \u201chas long believed that an ambitious growth strategy is in the firm\u2019s best interest,\u201d the statement read, \u201cand intends to accelerate execution of that strategy going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turns out that was not a figure of speech.<\/p>\n

Bloomberg Law reports<\/a> that Weil is now considering a merger with a competitor, with firm leadership warming to a combination and holding informal talks to gauge interest:<\/p>\n

\n

Weil has been canvassing its partners in recent days as it seeks to stem the tide of defections, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. It has also been studying other ways to shore up its business through strategic hires and promotions, and it could still remain independent, the people said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Weil is pretty tight-lipped about what is actually happening. \u201cWeil is not engaged in merger discussions with any firm,\u201d a spokesperson said. \u201cLike every leading firm, we continually evaluate opportunities to strengthen our platform.\u201d<\/p>\n

Weil\u2019s comms team just can\u2019t quit the word \u201cplatform.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tide in question is real. Aiello, the chair of Weil\u2019s roughly 600-lawyer corporate department and a member of its management committee, is taking M&A co-head Matt Gilroy and four other partners to Cravath. London co-managing partner David Avery-Gee and corporate partner Sarah Flaherty just went to Sullivan & Cromwell. Listen, the firm has breathing room \u2014 Weil billed $2 billion last year and is not a firm on the ropes \u2014 but, no matter the friction he brought to the table, it\u2019s wise to evaluate what\u2019s next when your biggest rainmaker walks out the door.<\/p>\n

And, remember per Bloomberg Law\u2019s reporting, Aiello was an obstacle to growth<\/a>, territorial about his practice, skeptical of expansion, and a drag on recruiting. He reportedly called it \u201cdisloyal\u201d when his own longtime deputy Sachin Kohli wanted to go build a West Coast M&A practice; Kohli left for Wilson Sonsini. Insiders framed Aiello\u2019s exit as \u201ca great opportunity to let Weil be Weil; to be entrepreneurial and grow.\u201d A week later, the entrepreneurial growth under consideration is a merger.<\/p>\n

Aiello didn\u2019t travel light, either. Cravath presiding partner Faiza Saeed welcomed him as \u201ca unique fit within our culture\u201d who shares \u201cthe values that have long defined Cravath\u201d \u2014 a line that reads differently once you remember that Aiello is the Weil partner who advised the CBS board through the Les Moonves mess, which cast a troubling MeToo spotlight<\/a> on the firm after critics picked apart Aiello for downplaying the Moonves allegations to the board. So, the rainmaker came with an asterisk, and Cravath took him anyway to restock their ranks. For its part, Cravath has seen partners depart<\/a> at a healthy clip, and the takeaway is that no firm is untouchable anymore.<\/p>\n

None of this happens in a market with functioning lockstep. When partner pay tracks seniority, a rainmaker\u2019s outside options are capped by whatever rung another lockstep firm will slot him onto. The death of pure lockstep \u2014 at Davis Polk<\/a>, Cravath<\/a>, and nearly everywhere else \u2014 means every partner has a number, every practice group has a number, and $20 million is just the price of admission<\/a>. This merry-go-round of top talent shows no signs of stopping, and the firms that can\u2019t afford another ticket are the ones taking merger calls<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Weil says it isn\u2019t currently in merger talks with any specific firm, we\u2019ll see how long that stays true.<\/p>\n

Earlier: <\/strong>Weil\u2019s Corporate Chair Decamps For Cravath, Which Weil Would Like You To Know Is \u2018A Smaller Platform\u2019<\/a>
The Cravath Shade Wasn\u2019t A One-Off: Weil Insiders Line Up To Say Good Riddance<\/a>
Weil Is Relieved To Lose Its Biggest Rainmaker. Cravath Is Thrilled To Get His \u2018Values.\u2019<\/a>
Cravath Is No Longer Immune To Partner Poaching<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of\u00a0The Jabot podcast<\/a>, and co-host of\u00a0Thinking Like A Lawyer<\/a>. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email\u00a0her<\/a>\u00a0with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter\u00a0@Kathryn1<\/a>\u00a0or Bluesky\u00a0@Kathryn1<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Michael Aiello and a handful of his M&A partners left Weil, Gotshal & Manges for what the firm memorably called \u201ca smaller platform,\u201d And by that, they meant\u2026 Cravath. Weil said it would respond by hitting the gas. The firm \u201chas long believed that an ambitious growth strategy is in the firm\u2019s best interest,\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":163252,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-163271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above_the_law"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=163271"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163271\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/163252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=163271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=163271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=163271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}