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Weil

Unverified

New 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 AreaBandJurisdictions
Capital Markets / SecuritiesBand 1Nationwide
Commercial LitigationBand 1Nationwide, California
Corporate / M&ABand 1Nationwide
EnvironmentalBand 1District of Columbia
Restructuring / BankruptcyBand 1Nationwide, New York
Technology TransactionsBand 1New York
Advertising: LitigationBand 2Nationwide
AntitrustBand 2Nationwide, District of Columbia
Banking & FinanceBand 2Nationwide
Capital Markets / SecuritiesBand 2New York
Commercial LitigationBand 2District of Columbia, New York
Entertainment / Media / SportsBand 2New York
EnvironmentalBand 2Nationwide
Intellectual Property (General / Trademark)Band 2New York
Labor & EmploymentBand 2New York
Private EquityBand 2Nationwide, Massachusetts, New York
Restructuring / BankruptcyBand 2Texas
TaxBand 2Nationwide, New York
White Collar DefenseBand 2Nationwide
AntitrustBand 3New York
Banking & FinanceBand 3New York
Commercial LitigationBand 3Florida
Corporate / M&ABand 3Massachusetts, New York, Texas
Intellectual Property (General / Trademark)Band 3Nationwide
Intellectual Property (Patent)Band 3Nationwide
Life Sciences / FDABand 3California
Private EquityBand 3California, Texas
Technology TransactionsBand 3Nationwide, California
White Collar DefenseBand 3New York
Appellate LitigationBand 4Nationwide
Banking & FinanceBand 4Texas
Corporate / M&ABand 4California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrou
Energy / InfrastructureBand 4Nationwide
Entertainment / Media / SportsBand 4Nationwide
Intellectual Property (Patent)Band 4California
Labor & EmploymentBand 4Nationwide
Life Sciences / FDABand 4Nationwide
Real EstateBand 4New York
TaxBand 4District of Columbia
Real EstateBand 5Nationwide

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)

New York, NY(HQ)
Palo Alto, CA
Miami, FL
London
Frankfurt
Hong Kong
Boston, MA
Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA
Austin, TX
Houston, TX
Washington DC, DC
Boston, MA
Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA
Dallas, TX
Austin, TX
Visit firm website

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

Weil | Summer Associate Program & Rankings | BigLaw Bear