On 3 November 2026 Legal Cheek reported that Latham & Watkins (Latham) has taken on five current trainees from the London office of Weil, Gotshal & Manges (Weil). Legal Cheek said Latham confirmed the move.

The five were partway through two-year training contracts, Legal Cheek said. Their contracts were uncertain after Weil’s management committee recommended an “orderly wind-down” the previous week, according to Legal Cheek.

Legal Cheek said Latham was one of 11 firms offering support to people due to join Weil as trainees. Financial News reported the list of 11 firms, citing a person familiar with the matter, and Legal Cheek relayed it. The firms are Akin, Baker McKenzie, Debevoise, Jones Day, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham, Macfarlanes, Paul Weiss, Skadden, Sullivan & Cromwell and Willkie.

Legal Cheek said the support varies between firms and includes removing some stages from training contract applications and letting candidates submit CVs directly. It did not say which firms offer which measures. Many affected trainees are partway through their studies, including the SQE, Legal Cheek said.

Weil recruits about 15 trainees a year in London, according to Legal Cheek’s Firms Most List 2027. Legal Cheek estimated that roughly 30 trainees are currently in training. That figure is Legal Cheek’s, not Weil’s.

Ed Barnett, managing partner of Latham’s London office, was quoted by Legal Cheek as saying: “We’re delighted to welcome this talented group from Weil to Latham.”

Weil said it will continue supporting staff during the closure, according to Legal Cheek.

Legal Cheek said Weil’s proposal is expected to go to partners for a vote in the coming days. It said more firms are expected to join in the coming weeks as Weil’s graduate recruitment team continues talks with other firms.

Why it matters Graduate recruitment leads and partners at competing London firms can see which firms are supporting Weil’s trainees, and that Latham has already taken on five. The next step is the partner vote on Weil’s wind-down proposal. Legal Cheek reports that more firms are expected to join the list.