Wachtell just lost an M&A partner to Linklaters

Linklaters poached a Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz M&A partner in New York, who joins as managing partner of the Americas and co-chair of global M&A. He spent 30 years at Wachtell and starts in November. Freshfields poached a Weil, Gotshal & Manges white collar partner in New York, who joins as co-head of their global investigations practice. Winston Taylor added a Kirkland & Ellis investment funds partner in New York, plus a financial regulation and digital assets partner in New York the day before. Reed Smith brought in a private funds lawyer from Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York, who joins as a partner in their global corporate group. DLA Piper added an investment funds partner in New York and a venture capital partner in San Francisco who joins from an in-house role. Foley & Lardner poached a Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher private equity partner in Houston. WilmerHale added a tax partner in New York. Willkie Farr & Gallagher brought back a litigator in DC, who rejoins as a partner after a clerkship at the Supreme Court.

On the business side, Bloomberg Law reports the country's largest firms hired fewer law school graduates last year for the first time since 2011.