Leading attorneys at Weil are either finalizing new positions or exploring high-value transitions to competing firms, while current trainees are left wondering about their next steps after the firm’s sudden shutdown.

Ramona Nee, who was set to become Weil’s next leader in early 2027, is reportedly considering her options for the future.

The US-based private equity specialist is now understood to be in advanced discussions with Kirkland & Ellis, with a possible deal involving more than 40 of her colleagues, according to Bloomberg Law.

Gibson Dunn is reportedly gearing up to hire a substantial number of lawyers from Weil’s private funds division, with nearly 40 attorneys possibly joining.

Under the proposed arrangement, multiple partners would transition to Gibson Dunn alongside other key staff members.

This shift isn’t just a reaction to Weil’s recent struggles—Gibson Dunn had been pursuing these hires for over a year before the firm’s closure plans were announced.

It remains unclear whether any of Weil’s trainees will be included in the potential moves to Kirkland and Gibson Dunn, leaving uncertainty over whether those still completing their training contracts might also find new homes at rival firms.

Weil typically brings in about 15 trainees annually in London, meaning roughly 30 junior lawyers are currently in the middle of their two-year training period.

The impending shutdown raises concerns about how these trainees will finish their programs and what will happen to those who had already accepted future offers.

Associates in Weil’s London office are also facing uncertainty, having been given a 90-day severance package before the expected closure on December 31.

Colin Passmore, chairman of the City of London Law Society, said: “Our primary concern is everyone at Weil’s office, particularly the trainees and junior lawyers here in London, who will understandably be anxious about what these latest developments mean for their careers.”

The difference in fortunes comes against a backdrop of hefty earnings at the top of Weil, where average profits per equity partner stand at around £3.6 million.

Weil announced last week that its management committee had recommended an “orderly wind-down“, bringing months of senior departures, unsuccessful merger discussions and leadership uncertainty to a head.

The proposal is expected to go before partners for a vote in the coming days, with the firm saying it would continue supporting staff during the closure process.