Mayer Brown adds Kirkland leveraged finance partner in London

Mayer Brown has hired leveraged finance partner Sarah Goodwin in London from Kirkland, as it continues to build out its private capital offering in the City.

Goodwin brings more than a decade of experience advising private equity sponsors, portfolio companies and private credit providers on cross-border financings.

The firm has set out big plans for her first year, including travel to New York, Chicago, Paris and Germany to meet with sponsor and lender contacts.

‘Transformational’ hire

Philip Butler, head of the firm’s London leveraged finance practice, said her hire is “transformational” for the team and “aligns perfectly with our ambitions in London and across the transatlantic private capital markets”.

The firm also said her arrival enhances its ability to advise across increasingly sophisticated capital structures and to tap into her deep lender-side relationships.

Dominic Griffiths, London managing partner, said: “Her arrival is another important step in our growth strategy and significantly enhances our ability to deliver sophisticated financing solutions for clients across global private equity and private credit markets.”

Platform build-out

Goodwin’s hire forms part of a wider push by Mayer Brown to scale its transatlantic leveraged finance and private capital platform, with a focus on upper mid-market and large-cap transactions.

The firm has been steadily adding senior talent in London. Last year, joiners included private equity partner Tessa Agar from Goodwin, three senior private capital-focused partners from Dechert, and a structured finance partner duo from White & Case.

The move also comes amid continued, closely watched partner departures from Kirkland in London, including private equity partners Aprajita Dhundia who joined Sullivan & Cromwell and Charles Cooper-Isow who left for Weil.