Weil Gotshal & Manges has named a successor to longtime executive partner Barry Wolf.
Ramona Nee, who currently serves as the 1,200-lawyer firm's co-managing partner, will take over the role from Wolf on 1 January 2027, ahead of his retirement from the partnership at the end of next year when he reaches the firm’s mandatory retirement age.
Wolf, who has led Weil for the past 16 years, will continue to chair the firm’s management committee until Nee also succeeds him in the role at the end of 2027.
Wolf said Nee, who is also co-head of Weil’s US private equity practice and co-managing partner of its Boston office, was “uniquely suited” to lead the firm.
“She exemplifies the leadership, the skills and the values essential to our continued growth, and will ensure that the firm maintains its standing as a preeminent provider of legal services,” Wolf added.
Additionally, New York-based Jonathon Soler, who is currently co-managing partner of Weil, will become sole managing partner at the start of next year when Nee is elevated. Weil said a year of overlap with Wolf would allow for a “smooth and well‑coordinated” leadership transition, including giving Nee sufficient time to transition most of her client work.
As executive partner, Nee will be expected to set Weil’s strategic direction, strengthen key client relationships and direct the firm’s financial performance, while Soler will take responsibility for the firm’s operations. He will also maintain his private funds practice, Weil said.
Weil has also formed a new global strategy committee to focus on growth, including key clients, business development and assessing potential lateral partners that will be chaired by Michael Aiello, the influential head of the firm’s 600-lawyer corporate department. The committee will also include Wolf until his retirement, alongside Nee, CFO Barry Dunne and Beth Kasden, the firm’s chief of lateral partner recruitment.
Following his retirement, Wolf will stay on at the firm as senior counsel, a newly created position that will see him work part-time in areas including lateral partner recruitment and business development.
Nee said Wolf was a role model “whose principled leadership over two decades has helped shape who we are as a firm and prepared us well for the future”.
She added: “I look forward to working with him, the management committee and my fellow partners during the transition period as we continue to serve our clients, support our people and continue attracting the best talent in the legal profession.”
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