Sullivan & Cromwell taps Weil's London M&A leader (updated)

Willis Towers Watson Public

17/09/2026 17:37

Updated to include Weil comment in paragraph 4 and additional information in paragraph 7.
By Sara Merken
Sept 17 (Reuters) - Two London-based M&A partners from Weil, ​Gotshal & Manges are joining rival law firm Sullivan & Cromwell in the latest exit of prominent dealmakers from New York-based Weil.
Sullivan & Cromwell said on Thursday that David Avery-Gee, Weil's London M&A leader and co-managing partner of its London office, is joining the firm alongside partner Sarah Flaherty. Avery-Gee will co-lead Sullivan & Cromwell's European M&A practice. 
Avery-Gee was not immediately available for comment. His clients have included Advent International, Eli Lilly, Sanofi and Willis Towers Watson, according to his biography on Weil's website. Avery-Gee and Flaherty previously worked at Linklaters before joining Weil in 2020 and 2023, respectively. 
Asked about the departing lawyers and others who recently left the firm, a Weil spokesperson said the firm had hired 51 partners since the start of 2025 and was "investing in our talent" through continuing targeted recruitment.
The moves come a week after Cravath, Swaine & Moore said it had hired leading New York dealmaker Michael Aiello, who led Weil's corporate department, alongside five other partners including Weil's M&A practice co-leader Matthew ​Gilroy.
Weil on Wednesday announced that Kyle Krpata, based in California, and Michael Lubowitz, based in New York, will lead its corporate department effective immediately. "The deal market is evolving, and Weil is investing to meet that shift head-on," the firm said.
   Other departures from the firm in recent weeks have included the co-head of its private equity group, ​Chris Machera, who ​joined Paul Weiss; ⁠U.S. private funds group co-head Stephanie Srulowitz, who joined Simpson Thacher; and global white-collar defense ​co-head Daniel Stein, who joined Freshfields. 
Sullivan & Cromwell said on Thursday that adding Avery-Gee and Flaherty would boost its global M&A capabilities. The New York firm has made a string of U.S. partner hires in recent weeks, including a group of private equity partners from Kirkland & Ellis, and former top Fox Corp lawyer Viet Dinh.
The firm also announced this week that it is opening an office in Abu Dhabi. 

(Reporting by Sara Merken in New York)