- Chairman: Stephen J Dannhauser
- Executive Partner: Barry M Wolf
Main Areas of Practice:
Czech Republic: Weil’s Prague office has been providing legal services in the Czech Republic since 1992 and ranks among the largest law firms active in the Czech market. With 60 highly qualified attorneys and articled clerks (all fluent in English),Weil provides legal services in M&A, corporate law, civil, commercial and labour law, financial law, administrative law and competition law, IT and intellectual property, public procurement, concessions and PPP projects. The firm has also advised on matters involving state aid under EU law, drawing of financial resources from the EU’s funds and management and disposal of public assets and regularly represents clients in proceedings before courts, administrative authorities and arbitrators both in the Czech Republic and abroad. Weil has regularly ranked among the best-rated law firms in the Czech legal services market by a variety of legal publications.
France: Since merging with Serra Leavy Cazals in 2003, Weil’s Paris office enjoys a reputation as one of the leading business lawfirms in France. The Paris office regularly handles the most challenging transactions, disputes and business and financial restructurings and provides counselling to corporations, financial institutions, public organisations, senior management, board of directors and individuals in sensitive situations. The firm acts on domestic and cross-border matters alike. Recognised for their pragmatic approach and their commitment to clients’ interests, Weil’s partners and lawyers bring extensive experience and unequivocally sound business and legal judgment to their clients.As a result of the firm’s experience and client service, Weil consistently ranks in France at the very top of legal advisors on private equity transactions, public takeovers and reorganisations, distressed M&A,banking and finance, in court or out-ofcourt restructurings, as well as tax and competition matters and all types of disputes including criminal investigations that affect companies and their managers. Nineteen partners supported by 40 associates and 15 clerks are available to best respond to the needs of clients. Recent work highlights include the representation of GDF Suez in its €9.6 billion acquisition of the remaining 30% minority shareholding of International Power Plc, representation of Sanofiaventis in its $20.1 billion takeover of Genzyme, representation ofMarinopoulos in the financial restructuring of Carrefour Marinopoulos and acquisition by Marinopoulos of the remaining shares held by Carrefour in Carrefour Marinopoulos, and representation of AXA Private Equity, in its acquisition along with the management team of Fives Group, representing French largest LBO transaction in 2012.
Germany: With its two locations in Frankfurt, founded in 2000, and Munich, established in 2004,Weil’s German offices have positioned themselves as one of the premier transaction practices in the country, providing seamless support in sophisticated cross-border transactions for international and domestic clients in particular in the areas of restructuring/distressed M&A,private equity and M&A. Other practice areas include dispute resolution, finance, tax, antitrust and employment. Recent work highlights are advising Summit Partners on the acquisition of 360 Treasury Systems AG, Semper Constantia Privatbank AG on the financing made available to Praktiker AG, Grohe AG on the voluntary public takeover offer for Joyou AG, Bregal Capital on the acquisition of Novem Group, Strategic Value Partners/Oak Hill Advisors on the complex financial restructuring of Pfleiderer AG and Atos Origin on the takeover of the Siemens IT Solutions and Services business.
Hungary: The Budapest office was opened more than two decades ago and was the first Weil office opened outside the US.Widely acknowledged as a market leader in its core practice areas, Weil’s awardwinning Hungarian team focuses primarily on corporate/M&A, private equity, dispute resolution, insolvency and restructuring, banking and finance, capital markets, real estate, competition and employment. Regulatory practices cover the energy sector, TMT, financial services, healthcare and environmental. The Budapest office is also very involved in regional work, in particular south-eastern Europe. In addition, the firm regularly represents the Hungarian State in a number of complex and high-profile matters.
Poland: Weil’s Warsaw office was established in 1991 and is nowthe unquestionable leader in capital markets, M&A and private equity work,with top-tier dispute resolution, banking and finance and tax practices. Transactional support is provided by specialists in the fields of real estate, competition law, employment/employee matters, environmental and energy law and IP/IT. Recently, the firm advised TAURON Polska Energia S.A., Poland’s second-largest power group, on its €2.14 billion acquisition of GZE S.A., a leading electricity distribution and network services company, from Vattenfall AB. It is currently advising Bank Zachodni WBK S.A., a bank controlled by Spanish Banco Santander and one of Poland’s five largest banks, on its €5.3 billion merger through the acquisition of Kredyt Bank S.A., another Polish bank, controlled by Belgian KBC Bank.The firm also advised PKO Bank Polski S.A., Poland’s top bank by assets, on the issuance of $1 billion bonds and is now advising Alior Bank S.A. in connection with its pending IPO,which is expected to be the largest IPO on the WarsawStock Exchange in 2012.
United Kingdom: Weil’s London office is the second-largest in the firm’s worldwide network.The market-leading London team has key strengths in private equity, corporate/M&A,private funds, banking and finance, dispute resolution, restructuring, as well as full-service support provided by specialists in the fields of competition, employment/employee benefits, environment, IP/IT, pensions, real estate and tax.The London office also works closely with cross-disciplinary teams globally across sectors, including consumer goods and retail, financial services, TMT, healthcare, industrials and energy. Recent work highlights include advising Access Industries and Renova on the $28 billion sale of their stake in TNK-BP to Rosneft; Lion Capital on the $1.9 billion sale of a 60% interest in Weetabix to China’s Bright Food; Hertz Europe on all of their European and Australian rental car fleet securitisations; securing a landmark victory for Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay and their associated companies in a dispute concerning ownership and control of the billion pound-plus Maybourne Hotel Group, owners of London hotels Claridges, the Connaught and the Berkeley, KPMG as Special Administrators to MF Global UK on the UK’s first-ever Special Administration Regime application and proceedings; BC Partners on the final closing of its latest buyout fund,BC European Capital IX, at the hard cap of €6.5 billion in investor commitments; and Lehman Brothers on UK pensions and insolvency issues arising from Lehman Brothers bankruptcy proceedings, representing one of the most significant insolvency and pensions cases in recent years.
INTERNATIONAL OFFICES The firm’s head office is located in New York and also has offices in Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong and Shanghai