Weil’s wind-down has set off a scramble among rival law firms to acquire established practices, but some of the firm’s newest lawyers fear they may be left behind as partners and senior associates move to new jobs.

Gibson Dunn is expected to bring on roughly 120 lawyers from Weil’s funds practice in New York and London, including about 20 partners, according to [Non-Billable](https://www.nonbillable.co.uk/news/gibson-dunn-weil-funds-120-lawyer-swoop). Kirkland & Ellis has confirmed that it is taking a 40-lawyer group led by Ramona Nee, the partner who had been slated to take over Weil in January, [The Wall Street Journal reported](https://www.wsj.com/business/partner-who-was-poised-to-lead-weil-gotshal-is-joining-kirkland-ellis-d1b6ff23). Latham & Watkins has secured six lawyers, including the head of Weil’s real estate practice, according to [Bloomberg Law](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/weil-real-estate-head-five-other-lawyers-accept-latham-offers).

The moves offer many associates a path to continue working with the partners, clients and colleagues they already know. First-years, particularly those who joined only recently, have had less time to build those relationships or demonstrate their value on a team.

At least one Weil practice group appeared poised to leave without its first-year associates, [Above the Law reported](https://abovethelaw.com/2026/11/weils-lifeboats-have-a-seating-chart-first-years-worry-they-arent-on-it/), citing a source who said the junior lawyers had previously been told that everything was fine. Whether they ultimately join the departing group remains uncertain.

An anonymous Weil associate told Bloomberg Law that firm leaders “used their insider information to negotiate deals with other firms and oftentimes leaving associates behind.”

The firm’s communications have also highlighted the different positions of partners and associates. [Bloomberg Law reported](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/weil-gotshal-says-remaining-partners-can-resign-now-keep-profit) that remaining partners could resign without forfeiting their share of future profit. A separate memo to associates promised to “facilitate introductions where we can” while instructing lawyers to continue billing, according to [Above the Law](https://abovethelaw.com/2026/10/weils-wind-down-message-to-associates-good-luck-out-there-and-dont-forget-your-timesheets/).

For acquiring firms, taking on a practice group does not necessarily mean adding every junior lawyer. Firms typically recruit first-years as an investment in future talent, and the firms absorbing Weil teams have already hired their own incoming classes.

That leaves some lawyers who recently secured coveted jobs at an elite firm facing a new search before their careers have had much time to begin.