Paul Weiss hires Weil PE duo in London

Paul Weiss has confirmed the hire of Weil private equity partner Max Oppenheimer in London, adding another prominent dealmaker to its growing sponsor-focused M&A practice.

Oppenheimer is joining alongside Weil counsel Jamie MacDonagh, hired on as a partner at Paul Weiss.

The announcement confirms earlier reports that Oppenheimer was heading to Paul Weiss, following his departure from Weil after more than 13 years at the firm.

Sponsor credentials

Oppenheimer has advised major private equity sponsors including Lone Star, CVC Capital, General Atlantic and Advent International, with recent mandates including Lone Star's €6.4 billion sale of Portuguese bank Novo Banco.

"Max is widely regarded as a private equity M&A star, with deep experience advising major sponsors on some of their most significant transactions in Europe," said Neel Sachdev, Paul Weiss vice chair and London co-head.

The additions will bolster a London M&A practice that already counts 14 partners, following a period of rapid expansion since Roger Johnson and Neel Sachdev, one of Big Law's more colourful personalities, joined from Kirkland in 2023.

The firm has continued to recruit heavily in London, although Paul Weiss’s European M&A head Will Aitken-Davies departed for Kirkland earlier this year.