Akin Gump is pleased to announce that Catherine Goodall has joined the firm as a partner in its New York office, where she will focus on special situations and private credit. She comes to Akin Gump from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, where she was a partner.
A noted transactional lawyer with a particular focus on complex financings, Ms. Goodall has significant experience representing credit investors, distressed companies, private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in a wide range of financing transactions, including bespoke credit facilities, debtor-in-possession financings, and traditional leveraged financings, as well as in capital markets transactions, including high-yield offerings, tender and exchange offers and the securities laws aspects of special situations transactions and restructurings.
“Akin Gump is well known for its top-notch special situations and private credit practice. The opportunity to join a highly sophisticated and fast-growing team was one I could not pass up,” said Ms. Goodall. “I look forward to being part of the growth of this premier ‘one-stop shop’ for clients making complex private credit and other alternative investments.”
Ms. Goodall’s arrival follows the firm’s announcement of special situations and private credit partner Fergus Wheeler—who will be joining in London (learn more here)—and is the most recent for the firm’s corporate group in New York. This past year, that group has added eight partners, including Ranesh Ramanathan, co-lead of the firm’s special situations and private credit practice, and Amy Wollensack and Sergio Urias, two prominent private equity transactions lawyers.
“Catherine’s practice focus and skillset are a perfect fit for our platform,” said Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “She’ll add depth to our bench of lawyers structuring front-end private credit and distressed transactions and analyzing complex capital structures, as well as add critical capability to our private equity clients in their financing needs. I’m thrilled to have her here.”
Added corporate practice co-head Zach Wittenberg, “Catherine’s transactional experience and market reputation speak for themselves. Her impressive experience with complex distressed, leveraged and other financings is a great addition to our team, and her arrival comes at an exciting time in the growth of our practice.”
Ms. Goodall received her J.D. and B.S. from University of Virginia.