Weil boosts funds bench with A&O Shearman hire, targets more laterals

Weil has rehired funds partner Phil Baynes from A&O Shearman, as it looks to rebuild its London funds bench after some high-profile departures earlier this year.

Baynes, who was previously a counsel in Weil’s private funds group before leaving for A&O in 2022, returns as a partner. His practice spans private equity, infrastructure, real estate and debt funds, as well as co-investment schemes and GP stake deals.

The hire comes after Weil lost a trio of funds partners to Sidley Austin in April, including Ed Gander, the firm’s London head of funds. That group’s exit was seen as a coup for Sidley’s fast-expanding private equity finance practice.

Alongside Baynes’ return, Weil recently installed James Sargent and James Bromley as co-chairs of the London funds group and added secondaries and credit funds partner Simon Saitowitz from Ropes & Gray in June.

Baynes’ rehire reflects a wider trend of firms moving to shore up funds practices in the City, which remains one of the most competitive markets globally for private capital legal work. Weil is considered among the leading funds practices in London.

What they said

Weil executive partner Barry Wolf said: "In a challenging fundraising environment, our global funds clients need increasingly sophisticated advice, and Phil offers deeply technical skills to support this work. We are delighted he is rejoining Weil."

"This is one of a number of senior hires we hope to make in London in the near term", added Sargent, co-head of Weil's funds group in London.