Weil Wind-Down Puts Boston Jobs at Risk

The proposed shutdown follows the firm’s launch, fewer than five months ago, of a new, 37,000-square-foot office in Boston’s Back Bay. The firm’s Boston operation has 39 attorneys and 13 staff members, according to a local business survey. Its website lists 43 people connected to the office.

The firm’s partners still must vote on the wind-down proposal. Weil did not confirm the Boston job figures or say what would happen to its newly leased space. The firm opened its Boston office in 2002 and has added seven partners there since January 2025.

Weil’s broader business has been shaken by the departure of prominent partners. Michael Aiello, a leading dealmaker who led a corporate group comprising over 600 people, left for Cravath in September with five partners. The departures helped spur further exits, despite Weil’s roughly 1,200 lawyers and nearly $2.1 billion in 2025 revenue.

The firm’s troubles illustrate the exposure businesses face when client ties, revenue and expertise depend heavily on a small number of star performers. Spreading client relationships across teams, developing future business leaders and sharing decision-making can help reduce the damage if a major figure leaves.