WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES GROWS EUROPEAN BANKING PRACTICE

Leading international law firm Weil, Gotshal&Manges has capitalised on the recent growth of its Banking practice in London, with a number of senior-level promotions across the European team. This reflects the strong performance of the practice over the last three years, and Weil’s expanding client base of sponsors and financial institutions.

The announcement caps a successful year for Weil, with the firm working on $75 billion worth of bids and financings in 2014, including more than 25 deals worth over $1 billion. This has resulted in a 20% market share of 2014 European bond-backed leveraged buyouts, and direct involvement in virtually all of Europe’s largest leveraged buyouts in H2 2014. The team was also at the forefront of a number of trends, including Yankee financings, having acted on a significant number of the major Yankee financings throughout 2014 (including the largest European LBOs).

As a result, Weil has recently confirmed a number of senior promotions, including Chambers “Star Associate” Tom Richards to partner, with Patrick Bright, Head of European High Yield, also promoted to partner. This follows recent appointments to the Banking team in 2014 including ReenaGogna, who joined Weil from Latham & Watkins, where she was partner. Chris McLaughlin also joined Weil from Hogan Lovells, where he was a partner.

Weil’s Banking team in London is an integral part of firm’s European offering, which includes practices in Paris, Frankfurt, Prague, Budapest and Warsaw. The London office also works closely with Weil’s Global Banking & Finance network in the US and Asia. With a large team experienced in complex cross-border transactions for sponsors and lenders, Weil’s London team has the requisite resources and international network to provide clients with a ‘one-stop’ shop for the best execution of all current financing products: leveraged loans, Yankee loans, high yield bonds and unitranche loans.

Mark Donald, Head of Banking at Weil in London, commented:

“The growth of the European Banking Practice demonstrates that we have had an exceptional year. Our success has allowed us to promote internally, highlighting the strength across the international practices and further reinforcing our market position. 2014 was a great year demonstrated chiefly by the volume, value and quality of the deals we’ve worked on, something that is testament to the hard work of each practice area.

The expertise, market knowledge and approach to deals of each of our team members, places us at the forefront of the industry. Our people are the driving force behind our continued growth and success and we look forward to carrying this momentum into 2015.”