Weil recruits Cravath private equity chief as US practice co-head

Weil Gotshal & Manges has recruited Peter Feist back to the firm as U.S. co-head of its private equity practice in New York. Feist, who currently leads Cravath Swaine & Moore's private equity practice, previously spent nearly two decades at Weil before moving to Cravath in 2023. The hire represents a reversal in the recent lateral flow of talent from Weil to rival firms.

Feist is a seasoned private equity attorney with more than 25 years of practice experience. He first achieved partner status at Weil in 2007, establishing his credentials during a lengthy tenure before his 2023 departure to Cravath. His return to Weil signals the firm's determination to rebuild depth in its private equity practice amid a competitive market for senior deal lawyers.

The recruitment occurs against a backdrop of significant talent movement at Weil's corporate practice. The firm has experienced notable departures, including Michael Aiello, who stepped down as chair of Weil's 600-lawyer corporate practice to join Cravath, alongside other senior partners including Matthew Gilroy and Eoghan Kelly. These exits underscored competitive pressure at the firm and prompted leadership actions, including the appointment of private equity co-head Kyle Krpata and M&A co-head Michael Lubowitz to new corporate co-chair positions to strengthen practice group governance.

Feist's appointment as co-head reinforces Weil's focus on private equity, a cornerstone of the firm's institutional client base. The move reflects broader patterns in elite legal services, where top-tier practices attract senior partners through co-leadership opportunities and extended compensation guarantees spanning multiple years. For institutional investors and alternative asset managers relying on these firms for complex acquisition structuring and portfolio company governance, leadership continuity and practice strength remain critical factors in firm selection.