Weil partners land at Goodwin, Quinn Emanuel as wind-down looms (updated)
UPDATE 2-Weil partners land at Goodwin, Quinn Emanuel as wind-down looms Adds details, statement from Quinn Emanuel leader in paragraphs 2 and 7
By David Thomas
Nov 3 (Reuters) - US law firms Goodwin Procter and Quinn Emanuel are taking on partners from Weil, Gotshal & Manges less than week after the New York-based law firm indicated it plans to wind down its operations.
Tom Henry, who was co-head of Weil's real estate practice, is joining Goodwin's New York office as the co-leader of its real estate group, Goodwin said Tuesday. Adam Fee, a former federal prosecutor based in Weil's New York and Los Angeles offices, is joining Quinn Emanuel, one of Quinn's leaders said.
The departures from Weil are among the latest since the prominent Wall Street firm's leadership recommended an orderly wind-down last week, capping escalating defections by senior lawyers in recent months and failed merger talks. The partnership has yet to hold a formal dissolution vote.
A team of nearly 40 funds lawyers from Weil's London office, including the leaders of its private funds group there, are poised to join Gibson Dunn & Crutcher. Ramona Nee, a private equity partner who was once slated to take the reins as Weil's executive partner, is in talks with other Weil lawyers to join Kirkland & Ellis, multiple media outlets have reported. Reuters could not immediately confirm the reports.
Before last week, other Weil partners were poised to depart or had recently left the firm to join Cravath, Swaine & Moore; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Skadden Arps; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Sullivan & Cromwell.
A Weil spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a statement released by his new firm, Henry praised Goodwin's strength in real estate .
Quinn Emanuel co-managing partner Michael Carlinsky in a statement called Fee one of the country's best trial lawyers. Fee did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Henry has represented US real estate company Paramount Group in multiple matters, including the group's $2.29 billion IPO in 2014. Fee defended former US Senate Bob Menendez in his bribery trial.
(Reporting by David Thomas)