Ed Weil Named Director of Dykema’s Newly Expanded Financial Industry Group

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced that it has named Edward S. Weil Director of the firm’s Financial Industry Group. With more than 25 years of  industry experience, Weil will lead the group’s more than 90 experienced attorneys in representing and providing strategic counsel to all types of financial-services-related companies. Dykema’s Financial Industry Group is multi-disciplinary, bringing together Dykema lawyers from all regions of the country in the areas of litigation (commercial as well as consumer financial services), lending and corporate finance, regulatory/compliance, and restructuring/insolvency.

In addition to Weil’s leadership, the firm’s Financial Industry Group gained substantial experience and capabilities through Dykema’s May 1, 2015, combination with the Texas-based Cox Smith law firm, which added more than 100 attorneys to the firm. Beyond building upon areas that were already a firm strength, the group has gained deep  knowledge and strong ties in Texas’ regional banking community. The firm’s newly-formed Regional Banking team focuses on serving financial institutions in Texas, which has some of the most complex banking laws in the country. With a past president (and current board member) of the Texas Association of Bank Counsel, and the long-time General Counsel to the Independent Bankers Association of Texas, Dykema not only understands the state’s banking laws, but also plays a major role in shaping them.

Based in the firm’s Chicago office, Weil focuses his practice on financial services and business litigation. In his financial services practice, Weil represents banks and other lenders, large CMBS special servicers, distressed-debt funds, investors, title insurers and the occasional borrower in commercial loan enforcement and foreclosure actions, fraudulent conveyance cases, pursuit of guarantors, lender liability claims, bankruptcy Creditors Committee avoidance litigation, mechanic’s lien and land-use claims, and bankruptcy litigation such as non-dischargeability claims.

In his general commercial litigation practice, Weil represents several global, public companies in the telecom power, food technology, airport technology, business services and general manufacturing sectors, as well as many privately-held businesses across a range of industries. Mr. Weil litigates a wide variety of commercial matters, with some emphasis on trade secrets misappropriation and competition-related claims. He has litigated cases all over the U.S. and had substantial international litigation experience.

“Ed’s deep and resourceful knowledge of the financial services industry paired with his know-how around the courtroom makes him the right fit to lead this industry group,” said Peter Kellett, Chairman and CEO of Dykema. “He brings a refreshed energy to Dykema’s excellent client service offering and his peers respect him greatly. I am excited to see Ed carry on his success at Dykema in his new role.”

Weil was named a 2014-2015 Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation and an Illinois Leading Lawyer for Commercial Litigation by the Leading Lawyers Network for eleven consecutive years. Weil is also a frequent speaker on various topics related to the financial services industry, including commercial foreclosures, real estate workouts and more.

“In recent years we have seen increased concern from many of the most preeminent financial organizations across the country on a broad spectrum of issues, especially those relating to real estate and banking infrastructure,” said Weil. “With the regulatory landscape as trying as it is, these organizations need first-rate counsel and courtroom representation, and I am thrilled to lead our group of talented attorneys in providing those services.”

Outside of his practice, Weil serves as a Life Trustee of the Cove School, an Illinois-based school that provides a highly individualized education and life strategies for children with complex learning disabilities, and is active in local and regional politics.

Weil received his J.D. from Northwestern University, where he was a member of the Editorial Board of the Law Review, and his B.A. in Government from Wesleyan University in Connecticut.