Cravath and Weil are engaged in a visible round of partner poaching, according to a report from Above the Law. Cravath hired six Weil partners this month, a significant single-month haul. Weil has since responded by taking one partner back from Cravath, making the exchange look less like a one-way raid and more like a trading pattern.
The report offers no names or practice areas, but the numbers alone point to an aggressive lateral market. Six departures from one firm in a month is notable even in Big Law, and the quick return of a partner to Weil suggests that recruitment battles are being fought on multiple fronts.
At this point, the two firms appear to be swapping talent rather than simply losing it. The back-and-forth reflects how competitive the market for senior lawyers has become, with even elite firms willing to poach from direct rivals to fill strategic gaps.