Weil loses London M&A partner to Simpson Thacher

Simpson Thacher has hired M&A partner Murray Cox from Weil in London.

Cox joined Weil in 2021 in a high-profile and rare move from Slaughter and May, where he had been a partner since 2016.

His practice spans private equity and public M&A, with a particular focus on infrastructure deals. In 2024, he led the Weil team advising Global Infrastructure Partners on the £1.3 billion sale of a majority stake in Edinburgh Airport to Vinci.

He has also worked on deals for private capital firm Ares and advised fashion marketplace Depop and its shareholders on the company's $1.6 billion sale to Etsy in 2021.

London moves

The hire boosts Simpson Thacher's London infrastructure M&A practice following the departure of senior partner Paul Foote to Paul Weiss at the start of the year.

“Infrastructure as an asset class continues to show strong momentum, with capital concentrating on the largest platforms and digital infrastructure and energy-related investment dominating activity, which plays to the strength of our practice,” said Amy Mahon, co-head of Simpson Thacher's energy and infrastructure practice.

She said Cox's M&A experience across infrastructure sectors would strengthen the firm's ability to advise on the most significant mandates.

For Weil, the move adds to several partner departures in London this year.

A restructuring trio including Neil Devaney, co-head of Weil's London restructuring practice, left for Akin, while Sullivan & Cromwell has poached several leveraged finance partners as part of its own London expansion.

The US firm has also been adding talent. Recent hires include leveraged finance partner James Crooks from Sidley and A&O Shearman fund finance head Fiona Cumming.