Latham & Watkins hit by wave of Private Equity departures to Weil, Germany and beyond

Weil’s German expansion follows the high-profile arrivals of partners Sebastian Pauls and Susanne Decker from Latham, who will be joined by four associates, including Munich-based Andreas Holzgreve, who joins Weil as a partner. Holzgreve, known for advising Novo Nordisk on its €1 billion acquisition of Cardior in 2024, brings notable deal experience that will bolster Weil’s standing in the region.

The strategic revamp positions Weil with ten partners across Frankfurt and Munich, strengthening its European private equity platform at a moment of accelerating deal activity and industry transformation.

“The European private equity market is transforming rapidly where real value creation is the priority above all else,” said Marco Compagnoni, Weil’s co-head of private equity. “Weil’s ambition is to be the foremost pan-European private equity team in this new era, supporting global funds.”

Beyond Germany, Latham’s turnover continues to ripple internationally. Financing and restructuring partner Christian Adams and M&A partner Chris Lester are departing to launch Greenberg Traurig’s new Abu Dhabi office as co-managing shareholders, while London-based private equity partner Cataldo Piccarreta is set to join Ropes & Gray after relocating from Milan.

With talent mobility surging and firms doubling down on private equity capabilities, Latham’s recent losses underscore a competitive reshaping of the transatlantic legal market—particularly in private capital, where market leadership remains fiercely contested.

Sophie Stevenard