Weil
UnverifiedNew York, NY
About
Weil, Gotshal & Manges is a New York-headquartered law firm with approximately 1,200 attorneys and offices in key U.S. and international markets. Founded in 1931, Weil has built a distinctive identity around restructuring, private equity, and corporate transactions. The firm generates profits per partner of approximately $5.6 million and is consistently ranked #1 in the country for restructuring and bankruptcy work, a position it has held for decades.
Weil holds Band 1 rankings in Chambers USA for Private Equity, Corporate/M&A, and Restructuring. The firm's restructuring practice has handled the largest and most complex Chapter 11 cases in history, including Lehman Brothers, General Motors, and numerous other landmark proceedings. Its private equity team represents major sponsors on leveraged buyouts and fund matters, and the corporate group handles public company M&A and governance work. Weil's litigation practice, while less prominently branded than its transactional groups, handles significant commercial disputes and white-collar matters.
Weil uses a free-market system and is recognized as a Strong Performer for Quality of Life by Chambers Associate. The firm believes in the partnership model and invests in developing associates over the long term rather than relying heavily on lateral hiring. Associates describe the culture as welcoming and inclusive, with one noting they had not encountered any difficult personalities during the recruiting process. The firm has a pro bono target of 50 hours annually, with most first-year associates involved in Innocence Project work. Weil appointed a Chief Wellness Officer in 2022 to support mental and physical health, and the firm emphasizes inclusion across racial, religious, and educational backgrounds. The summer class is approximately 133 associates.
Notable alumni include the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who practiced at Weil before joining the bench. Weil's dominance in restructuring gives it a counter-cyclical business model, when the economy contracts and companies face financial distress, Weil's core practice thrives, providing a stability that many of its peers lack.
Recruiting & Summer Program
Assignment System
Rotation
Summer Class Size
133 associates
Billable Hours
No formal requirement
Practice Areas & Rankings
Source: Chambers USA 2026 Rankings
| Practice Area | Band | Jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Markets / Securities | Band 1 | Nationwide |
| Commercial Litigation | Band 1 | Nationwide, California |
| Corporate / M&A | Band 1 | Nationwide |
| Environmental | Band 1 | District of Columbia |
| Restructuring / Bankruptcy | Band 1 | Nationwide, New York |
| Technology Transactions | Band 1 | New York |
| Advertising: Litigation | Band 2 | Nationwide |
| Antitrust | Band 2 | Nationwide, District of Columbia |
| Banking & Finance | Band 2 | Nationwide |
| Capital Markets / Securities | Band 2 | New York |
| Commercial Litigation | Band 2 | District of Columbia, New York |
| Entertainment / Media / Sports | Band 2 | New York |
| Environmental | Band 2 | Nationwide |
| Intellectual Property (General / Trademark) | Band 2 | New York |
| Labor & Employment | Band 2 | New York |
| Private Equity | Band 2 | Nationwide, Massachusetts, New York |
| Restructuring / Bankruptcy | Band 2 | Texas |
| Tax | Band 2 | Nationwide, New York |
| White Collar Defense | Band 2 | Nationwide |
| Antitrust | Band 3 | New York |
| Banking & Finance | Band 3 | New York |
| Commercial Litigation | Band 3 | Florida |
| Corporate / M&A | Band 3 | Massachusetts, New York, Texas |
| Intellectual Property (General / Trademark) | Band 3 | Nationwide |
| Intellectual Property (Patent) | Band 3 | Nationwide |
| Life Sciences / FDA | Band 3 | California |
| Private Equity | Band 3 | California, Texas |
| Technology Transactions | Band 3 | Nationwide, California |
| White Collar Defense | Band 3 | New York |
| Appellate Litigation | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Banking & Finance | Band 4 | Texas |
| Corporate / M&A | Band 4 | California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrou |
| Energy / Infrastructure | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Entertainment / Media / Sports | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Intellectual Property (Patent) | Band 4 | California |
| Labor & Employment | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Life Sciences / FDA | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Real Estate | Band 4 | New York |
| Tax | Band 4 | District of Columbia |
| Real Estate | Band 5 | Nationwide |
Firm Profile
Vault Rank (2026)
#15
AmLaw Rank (FY2025)
#29
Founded
1931
Chair / Managing Partner
Barry Wolf
Partners
179
Attorneys
~1,200
Partnership Track
9 years
Billable Hours Target
No formal requirement
Summer Class Size (2025)
~130
Revenue (FY2025)
$2.1B
Revenue per Lawyer (FY2025)
$1.7M
1st-Year Total Comp (2026)
$245,000+
PPP (FY2025)
$5.6M
Offices (13 locations)
Data sources: Financial data from AmLaw 200, FY2025. Practice area rankings from Chambers USA 2026. Summer program data from Chambers Associate 2026. Office locations from firm websites. Last verified: March 27, 2026. View our data methodology