Goodwin private equity lawyer George Weavil explores the dynamic nature of deal-making, the importance of commercial awareness, and how junior lawyers can set themselves up for early success
“I really like being in the middle of things. And as a transactional private equity lawyer, you’re really at the centre of the deal,” explains George Weavil, partner in Goodwin’s private equity group. Legal Cheek Careers sat down with him ahead of next week’s virtual student event, ‘The Big Commercial Awareness Themes of 2025-26’, to talk all things private equity and commercial awareness — and how students can start building it early on.
Weavil studied maths and philosophy at university, a combination that has proved an ideal foundation block for a career built on logic and critical thinking. After exploring a few different paths, he eventually decided to become a solicitor. During his training contract, he found himself drawn to private equity. “I did enjoy my other seats, but I just loved my time in the private equity group,” he recalls. The fast pace, the variety of work and the buzz of being at the heart of complex deals all appealed. “It feels great when you get the deal done.” That enthusiasm came with long hours, and often late nights, but even his wife noticed how much he enjoyed it. “She said I was happiest when I was working on private equity transactions,” he laughs.
Given the practice area’s sometimes opaque reputation, I ask him to walk me through the lifecycle of a typical deal. There are two basic scenarios, he explains: buying a business for a private equity fund, or selling one. On a buyout, lawyers usually come in relatively late, after the client has already spent months analysing the target business. The legal team begins by drilling into the key commercial terms and the potential risk areas identified early on. Then comes the deep-dive due diligence, “poring over all the legal information and really understanding what the risk areas are,” as he puts it. Meanwhile, the team negotiates the main transaction documents including the share purchase agreement (SPA) and the documents governing the equity arrangements. As signing approaches, “the pace accelerates sharply,” he says, and the final stretch can be “quite frenetic”, with lawyers from finance, tax, employment, regulatory and other specialist teams all joining forces to get the deal over the line.
On the sell-side, the process looks rather different. Lawyers are typically involved much earlier, helping to prepare the business for sale. “When you’re selling a business, you have to really make sure it is actually ready to be sold,” he explains. His team might run an “exit readiness” exercise to identify and fix potential red flags before any buyer sees them. They also pull together key information and prepare draft documents in advance of engaging with potential buyers. “The goal is to present the company in the best possible light and make the process as smooth as possible once the potential buyer(s) arrive,” says Weavil.
We then move to the theme of the upcoming event, commercial awareness, a quality that, in Weavil’s view, separates good lawyers from great ones. Legal knowledge is essential, of course, but commercial awareness is what turns that knowledge into “client value”. It is about understanding “a client’s business and priorities, and shaping your advice around them,” he says.
Weavil, who joined Goodwin in 2024 from a Silver Circle law firm, gives an example from due diligence. Rather than combing through every document and “producing a dense report that doesn’t really help anyone” if it lacks focus, the smart lawyer zeroes in on what truly matters to the deal. “If, for example, the client’s investment plan depends on raising the target’s prices you’d focus on the customer contracts to check whether there are any restrictions which might prevent the business from doing that,” he explains.
Commercial awareness also means keeping an eye on market shifts and new regulations. Take the EU’s Data Act, which initially caused concern among software investors by giving customers greater rights to switch providers, potentially undermining recurring revenue models. “Part of our job is to help clients understand these changes and put them in perspective,” he says. “In this case, there are signs that it may turn out to be not as bad as it appeared at first.”
Turning to early careers, Weavil shares his advice for aspiring solicitors looking to sharpen their commercial instincts. “Read widely,” he stresses. “The business pages of newspapers — and it doesn’t have to be the FT — are a great start.” Stay on top of the issues businesses face today, from “rising interest rates” to “geopolitical uncertainty”. If something catches your interest, follow it and “dig into it a bit,” he advises. Genuine curiosity about how businesses work, he says, “will take you far”.
He also urges students not to limit themselves to law-related experience. His own non-law background has given him valuable perspective. “I think there’s real value in actually having another string to your bow,” he reflects. A stint in a commercial environment or even a completely different field can be a real asset.
For those at the start of their legal careers, “enthusiasm and initiative” go a long way. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” he says. “What impresses me the most is when a trainee or junior lawyer has clearly done their homework and comes armed with thoughtful questions. I always like it when I realise a junior has gone and read the information memorandum cover to cover and come to me with a load of questions.” That curiosity not only helps juniors learn faster but also makes them stand out, he says.
He is equally impressed by juniors who try to anticipate issues and think a few steps ahead, rather than waiting for instructions. And though it might sound basic, he says being willing to “pick up the phone or talk face-to-face instead of hiding behind a screen is a simple but powerful habit in such a people-driven profession”.
Before we wrap up, I ask for any final words of wisdom for those looking to follow in his footsteps. He acknowledges that securing a training contract can be daunting, and that setbacks are part of the journey. His advice? Stay resilient and authentic. “Don’t be afraid to be you,” he emphasises. “There are many types of law firms and lawyers, so finding an environment where you can be yourself will help you thrive.” He also encourages applicants to “let your personality come through in your applications — it’s what makes you stand out.” And above all, he adds, “Don’t give up, it’s worth it.”
George Weavil will be speaking at next week’s virtual student event, ‘The Big Commercial Awareness Themes of 2025-26 — with DWF, Goodwin, Irwin Mitchell, Morrison Foerster, TLT and ULaw’ on Monday 10 November. Apply Now.
About Legal Cheek Careers posts.
