Kirkland & Ellis Nears Deal to Acquire Ramona Nee and 20 Weil Partners

Key points

• Kirkland & Ellis is reportedly close to signing Ramona Nee and a team of about 20 others from Weil Gotshal & Manges.
• Nee had been scheduled to become Weil's top leader in early 2026 but declined the role weeks before the firm's dissolution announcement.
• Nee's group is considered one of the highest-performing teams remaining at Weil, attracting interest from multiple Big Law firms.
• The hiring news follows the collapse of merger talks between Weil and Willkie Farr & Gallagher, which triggered a significant exodus of partners.
• Weil Gotshal & Manges is currently winding down operations, leaving hundreds of associates and partners seeking new positions in a saturated market.

Background

In late October 2026, Weil Gotshal & Manges faced a severe leadership crisis after Ramona Nee declined the chair position, which was set to begin in January 2027. This decision followed the collapse of a merger with Willkie Farr & Gallagher and a sustained exodus of senior partners across corporate, litigation, and finance practice areas. The firm, which generates approximately $2.1 billion in revenue, subsequently began winding down operations, leaving around 600 associates without employment. While senior lawyers with substantial client books were aggressively recruited by rivals like Kirkland & Ellis and Gibson Dunn, junior associates faced a challenging job market. Kirkland & Ellis had previously been in talks to hire Nee with a smaller group of six partners, but the current development indicates a larger acquisition of her team.

Why it matters

The acquisition of Ramona Nee and her team by Kirkland & Ellis highlights the intense competition for top-tier legal talent following the dissolution of a major firm. It underscores the strategic importance of retaining high-performing groups in a saturated market and reflects the broader instability in the Big Law landscape as firms restructure or collapse due to failed mergers and leadership vacuums.

What to watch

The finalization of the hiring agreement between Kirkland & Ellis and Ramona Nee's team is expected to be announced soon. Other Big Law firms, including Goodwin, are also actively recruiting Weil talent, such as real estate leader Thomas Henry. The legal market will continue to absorb the influx of lawyers from Weil Gotshal & Manges, with particular attention on how the remaining associates and partners secure new positions.