Weil adds private equity partner in NY

International law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges has hired Robert Rizzo as a partner in the firm’s global private equity practice, based in New York.

Rizzo spent more than eight years as a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, where he handled complex business transactions for private equity clients and portfolio companies.

His broad experience includes SPACs, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, spinoffs, formation of private equity funds, venture and growth capital investments, and debt and equity financings.

In his new role, Rizzo will focus on structuring and negotiating complex business transactions for private equity sponsor and corporate clients, including leveraged buyouts and recapitalizations, domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, corporate carve-outs, growth equity investments, spinoffs, and debt and equity financings.

Before joining Willkie Farr, Rizzo was a deputy general counsel and director of M&A and Finance at online ad exchange company AppNexus, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Weil executive partner Barry Wolf said Rizzo’s “extensive experience in private equity and longstanding commitment to providing excellent client service make him a great fit with our culture.”

“Robert is an accomplished transactional lawyer with a proven talent for deal execution, having advised on a wide range of growth equity transactions,” added Michael Aiello, chairman of Weil’s global Corporate Department.