Weil and Willkie end merger talks as Weil partners line up exits

Bloomberg Law reports Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP have ended merger talks. Bloomberg Law also reports a co-head of Weil's governance, securities and reporting group in New York plans to join Sidley Austin LLP. The American Lawyer reports two Weil commercial litigation partners in DC are heading to Davis Polk & Wardwell. In DC, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman added the EPA's former top air regulator as an environmental partner. Crowell & Moring added a Justice Department health care litigator as a partner.

On the deal side, Bloomberg Law reports Meta's special committee hired Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates to negotiate Meta's deal to help Mark Zuckerberg stay in California. Zuckerberg's legal team moved to Gibson Dunn during the talks.

On the business side, The American Lawyer reports Latham & Watkins promoted 36 associates to partner, with many of them in New York.