Weil Picks Up Private Equity Partner From Goldman Sachs

Brian Parness, partner with Weil, Gotshal & Manges. (Courtesy photo)

Weil, Gotshal & Manges has added former Goldman Sachs vice president Brian Parness as a private equity partner in the firm's New York office.

Parness started his legal career as an associate with Sullivan & Cromwell in 2008, before joining Goldman in 2012.

"Goldman is a special place. I'm not sure there's ever a right time to leave," Parness said. "But the opportunity at Weil was just incredibly compelling: to work with a really sophisticated client base with a fantastic group of lawyers that has great depth across the private equity and fund formation space."

Parness said he was particularly eager to work alongside Weil partner Harvey Eisenberg, who represented SoftBank in its $3.3 billion acquisition of Fortress Investment Group and corporate department chairman Michael Aiello, who has handled a series of significant deals for Brookfield Asset Management.

"These kinds of market-leading complicated transactions — that's where a firm like ours can really add value," he said.

At Goldman, as VP and associate general counsel, Parness managed the day-to-day execution of strategic transactions on behalf of Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

Parness also advised multiple distinct operating business units within Goldman Sachs Asset Management on investing activities and fund formation.

“Brian is well known and highly regarded in the private equity field," Aiello said in a statement. "In addition to his vast experience in asset management transactions, he brings a sophisticated knowledge of the market and will further strengthen Weil’s premier global private equity practice.”

The firm hired London-based private equity partner Mark Thompson from Sidley Austin in February, after that office saw two departures in January. Private equity partner Samantha McGonigle left to co-found a private equity fund and tax partner David Irvine exited for Kirkland & Ellis.

Back in the U.S., in December Weil hired back Dallas private equity partner Richard “Rick” Frye after a two-year stint at Winston & Strawn.