Murray Cox

Weil Gotshal & Manges

Even in these days of an ultra-mobile legal market, it is still rare for a Slaughter and May partner to jump ship. But that is precisely what corporate partner and rising private equity star Murray Cox did when he decided the grass was greener over at US firm Weil Gotshal & Manges. Cox’s February 2021 move sent shock waves even through corporate circles well used to seeing magic circle partners join the ranks of US rivals. This move looked different. And since joining, Cox has begun proving his worth, advising British fashion marketplace app Depop and its selling shareholders (alongside partner Jonathan Wood) on its $1.625bn sale to Etsy, on Advent’s lapsed $8bn bid for Swedish drug manufacture Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi), and Ares Management and Goldman Sachs on their participation in Clayton Dubilier & Rice’s bid for British supermarket Morrisons.

In total, since his landmark move from Slaughters, Cox has advised on around $50bn of public M&A on the buy side. Cox, a South African who, as a very junior lawyer at Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs, found himself advising Nelson Mandela on his last will and testament, believes in backing himself. Leaving Slaughters for Weil looks to be one risk that is paying off.