Weil, Gotshal & Manges’ veteran London head, Mike Francies, is to step down at the end of 2024, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Francies has led Weil’s London office since 2000, only two years after he had joined from Clifford Chance. As Francies winds down his tenure, he will be joined in the leadership by private equity partner Jonathan Wood, and head of London M&A partner David Avery-Gee, who will both step up to co-managing partner, the person added.
Wood and Avery-Gee will co-lead the office alongside Francies from January 1, until he officially steps down at the end of 2024. Wood first joined Weil alongside fellow PE partner Marco Compagnoni in 2006 from legacy firm Lovells. Meanwhile Avery-Gee joined from Linklaters in 2019.
