Addleshaw Goddard announces 7th lateral partner hire of 2018

Addleshaw Goddard has confirmed its seventh lateral partner hire of 2018.

Andrew Fordham, partner in Squire Patton Boggs’ financial services practice in Leeds, will join Addleshaw Goddard later this year. Addleshaw Goddard, based in Sovereign Square in Leeds, said Fordham added additional bandwidth to a busy transactional team, and will play a significant role generating new opportunities in the local market, where he is highly regarded.

Fordham’s appointment comes during an intensive period of targeted investment by Addleshaw Goddard, which has included the high profile hires of Paul O’Kane, DWF’s national head of construction, Paul Barge, DWF’s Manchester head of construction, corporate specialist Richard Hunt from Squire Patton Boggs’ Leeds office, consumer finance specialist Clare Hughes from Eversheds, and from Burness Paull, Lorna Finlayson, former head of its financial services regulatory practice and Ross McKenzie, head of privacy.

Amanda Gray, Addleshaw Goddard finance & projects divisional managing partner, said: “Andrew is a highly respected finance partner.  When we sounded out the local market he was consistently singled out as the banker’s lawyer of choice. Our national finance practice has been going from strength to strength and Andrew will be an exciting addition to our business.

“We are seeing a consistently high volume of mid-market deals through our close relationship with each of the UK clearing banks, as well as a range of other lenders. In that context Andrew will a welcome addition to the team who will help to deepen existing relationships and, in collaboration with colleagues, to secure new ones.”

Fordham has particular expertise in acquisition finance, real estate finance and general corporate banking, both in the UK and overseas. He acts for both borrowers and lenders, and has experience with invoice discounting and other asset-based lending. Fordham’s practice involves particular experience in advising on Loan Market Association-based documentation and private-equity transactions.

Recent deals include:

• Advising Perwyn LLP – who provided funding via a debt facility on Cloud Savings Company’s acquisition of Invitation Digital Ltd (IDL), owner of Bristol based Vouchercloud and Giftcloud, following a management buy-out from the Vodafone Group.
• Acting for Yorkshire Bank on Giacom’s management buy-out with private equity investment from Livingbridge.
• Advising Lloyds Bank who provided senior debt and working capital facilities on the management buy-out of Hampshire-based aggregates and recycling business, Raymond Brown Minerals and Recycling, backed by Elysian Capital.

A spokesman for Squire Patton Boggs said of the recent hire: “We wish Andy well and thank him for the contribution he has made to our regional banking practice. We have a well-established practice of talented, homegrown banking lawyers that will continue to operate at the highest level in support of our clients.”