Weil, Gotshal & Manges

Overview

Weil, Gotshal & Manges is a premier international law firm that has been consistently ranked as the top bankruptcy and restructuring practice in the world. The firm's Business Finance & Restructuring department has guided some of the largest and most complex corporate bankruptcies in history, including Lehman Brothers, General Motors, and Enron. With over 1,100 lawyers worldwide, Weil handles Chapter 11 reorganizations, out-of-court restructurings, distressed acquisitions, and cross-border insolvency matters for Fortune 500 companies, private equity firms, and major financial institutions.

Strengths

• +Consistently ranked #1 globally in bankruptcy and restructuring by Chambers and U.S. News
• +Led the largest corporate bankruptcy in history (Lehman Brothers)
• +Over 1,100 lawyers with deep resources for complex multi-billion dollar cases
• +Handles cross-border insolvency and international restructuring
• +Track record includes GM, Enron, and dozens of landmark corporate bankruptcies

Considerations

• -Premium billing rates — typically $1,000–$2,000+ per hour for partners
• -Focused exclusively on large corporate matters — not suitable for consumer bankruptcy
• -Engagement requires substantial retainers, often in the millions
• -Complex conflicts process given the firm's extensive corporate client base

Best For

• *Fortune 500 company facing liquidity crisis that needs the most experienced Chapter 11 legal team in the world
• *Private equity firm acquiring distressed assets through a Section 363 sale process
• *Multinational corporation requiring coordinated cross-border insolvency proceedings