Goodwin adds two PE lawyers to London office

Goodwin continues to grow its European private equity team with the hire of two Shearman & Sterling partners.

Goodwin has bolstered its private equity team by adding ex-Shearman & Sterling lawyers Mark Soundy and Sarah Priestley as partners in the London office.

Soundy, who was co-head of private equity and global head of private capital at Shearman & Sterling, focuses on UK and international M&A work. He is a member of the British Venture Capital Association’s Legal & Technical Committee, and a regular commentator on issues relating to international M&A and private equity.

Priestly advises on complex UK, multi-jurisdictional and pan-European M&A and private equity transactions. She advises on the UK corporation tax, VAT and stamp duty aspects of commercial transctions including take-privates, private equity investments, and private and public company takeovers. She was London head of tax at Shearman & Sterling.

The hires follow that of London-based private equity partner Michael Halford, who will be joining the firm from King & Wood Mallesons (see pfm 28 November). He is expected to bring four of his team with him.

Last year a six-strong team of Paris-based private equity lawyers left KWM to join Goodwin, prompting KWM to launch legal proceedings against the firm.