Goodwin announced that leading debt finance lawyer Matthew Ayre will be joining the firm’s Private Equity practice as a partner in its London office.
With experience in private practice, Matthew joins Goodwin from Travers Smith, where he “was head of the Leveraged Finance team and has served as a partner since 2007.”
He is reportedly recognized in the acquisition finance market “for advising private equity sponsors, corporate borrowers, and lenders on complex financings and restructurings.”
Yash Rana, partner and co-chair of Goodwin’s global Private Equity practice:
“Our European private equity platform continues to see a market opportunity. Matthew’s experience in debt finance, his commercial insight, and his relationships with private equity clients make him an ideal addition to our team.”
Matthew’s arrival follows the “addition of partner Tom Roberts in early July and is a key part of Goodwin’s strategic investment in its London debt finance practice.”
He will work “with Simon Fulbrook, Tom Roberts, and the wider debt finance team to strengthen the firm’s capabilities across private equity, private credit, fund finance, and related areas.”
Carl Bradshaw, London-based partner in Goodwin’s Private Equity practice:
“Matthew’s arrival, alongside our recent hire of Tom Roberts earlier this month, underlines our commitment to building a private equity and finance offering in London and across Europe.”
Matthew is the latest addition to Goodwin’s expansive UK private equity practice, which “includes more than 80 lawyers covering M&A, private investment funds, debt finance, tax, and regulatory specialties.”
Over the past two years, the London team has “welcomed partners Ian Keefe, George Weavil, Jacqueline Eaves, Arvin Abraham, John Anderson, and Tom Roberts.”
With more than 350 lawyers globally focused on private equity, Goodwin advises clients “across the investment lifecycle — from fund formation to leveraged buyouts, growth equity investments, and exits.”
The firm’s London office serves a role in delivering “integrated, cross-border solutions to private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies.”