Weil Gotshal bulks up City restructuring team with Jones Day hire

Plainer has led Jones Day’s restructuring group in London since 2003 and has been one of the office’s highest rated partners, having been involved in a number of high profile insolvency and restructuring matters.

Weil Gotshal managing partner Barry Wolf said: “One of our strategic goals for 2011 is to build on Weil’s premier restructuring franchise. Adam’s a superb addition to our global team and is the right person to expand this practice in London.”

Recent work has seen Plainer advise property group Connaught on its administration process. He also took the mandate for the administrator of greetings card chain Birthdays in 2009 and acted for Kroll in the divestment of parts of the XL Leisure Group after the holiday operator went bust in 2008.

London managing partner Michael Francies added: “Our London office’s successful track record has been based for many years on the balance of private equity and restructuring work.

“Adam’s experience is a perfect fit for us as a firm, as we look to him to help lead the expansion of our European platform to complement the strength and depth of our preeminent US and global brand.”

The hire is the second for the US firm’s London office in recent weeks following finance partner James Hogben’s arrival from Ashurst.