Matthew Ayre Enhances Goodwin's PE Practice in London
Advisor - People | Jul 28, 2025 | Goodwin
Goodwin, an international law firm renowned for its private equity practice, has announced the strategic addition of Matthew Ayre as a partner in its London office. With 27 years of experience, Ayre joins from Travers Smith, where he led the Leveraged Finance team, bringing extensive expertise in advising private equity sponsors, corporate borrowers, and lenders. His recruitment is part of a larger initiative by Goodwin to bolster its European capabilities in debt finance and private equity. Ayre's recruitment follows the recent hiring of partner Tom Roberts and forms part of Goodwin's ongoing strategic investment in its London practice. The firm aims to leverage Ayre's longstanding client relationships and his commercial acumen to enhance its offering across the private equity investment lifecycle.
Sectors
- Legal Services
- Private Equity
- Financial Services
Geography
- United Kingdom – The geographic location of Goodwin's expanded operations with a focus on London, where Matthew Ayre will be based.
- Europe – As Goodwin aims to strengthen its European presence through its London office, Europe is a key geographical focus for the firm's strategy.
Industry
- Legal Services – This industry includes services provided by law firms such as Goodwin, which are involved in legal advisory in private equity and financial transactions.
- Private Equity – This involves the investment and management of private equity funds, relevant for Goodwin's advisory services to private equity firms and portfolio companies.
- Financial Services – The sector includes financial consulting, advisory for private credit and fund finance, which are integral parts of Goodwin's services.
Financials
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goodwin | Recruiting Company | Company | A leading international law firm focusing on private equity and financial services. |
| Matthew Ayre | New Partner | Person | A seasoned lawyer joining Goodwin to bolster its private equity practice in London. |
| Travers Smith | Former Employer | Company | Matthew Ayre's previous firm where he led the Leveraged Finance team. |
| Yash Rana | Partner and Co-Chair, Goodwin | Person | Co-Chair of Goodwin's global Private Equity practice, commenting on the strategic hire. |
| Carl Bradshaw | London Partner, Goodwin | Person | London-based partner in Goodwin's Private Equity practice, commenting on the hire of Matthew Ayre. |
| Tom Roberts | Partner | Person | Recently joined Goodwin's debt finance team, mentioned as part of the strategic expansion. |