Goodwin Procter has hired a pair of private equity partners from Travers Smith in London.
Private equity M&A partners Ian Keefe and George Weavil are joining the US law firm in London, a spokesperson for Goodwin confirmed to Financial News.
A spokesperson for Travers Smith said in a statement: “We would like to thank Ian and George for their contribution to our firm and wish them the best in their new roles.”
Both partners have spent their whole careers at the City of London law firm and were promoted to partner in 2018.
Goodwin London partner Richard Lever said the hires followed strong growth for the firm’s City private equity practice.
“Attracting talent such as Ian and George, who bring extensive expertise in the types of transactions and industries that our clients frequently engage us for, is yet another indicator of Goodwin’s position as the go-to counsel in the UK for sponsors, portfolio companies, senior management teams, and financial institutions,” he said in a statement.
Travers Smith has had a tricky time recently, with a number of high-profile partner departures.
In October last year, the firm lost ESG partner Doug Bryden to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters hired private equity partner Genna Marten from the firm last March and the same month funds partner Sam Kay joined Dechert and funds partners Ed Ford and Sacha Gofton-Salmond resigned to join US firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.
Travers’ private equity head Ian Shawyer quit to join US firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton last January.
The hires come after Goodwin private equity partners Christian Iwasko, Michelle Tong, and Priya Rupal moved to Fried Frank earlier this year.