Dealmaker: Goodwin's Richard Lever on SJ Berwin, Jimmy Choo and Michael Jackson's monkey
Goodwin City private equity partner Richard Lever recently led the firm's team advising Amplify Snack Brands on its £300m acquisition of Tyrells
August 12, 2016 at 12:00 AM
3 minute read
What was particularly interesting about this deal? Navigating a US corporate (albeit private equity backed) through the intricacies of a UK deal with a UK PE seller.
Why did you become a lawyer? I worked in a debt-collecting firm during university and enjoyed litigating.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career? Matthew Hudson, Steve Davis, Martin Bowen and Graham White have all influenced me at various times. Thanks guys.
What's your proudest professional moment? Being made partner and then co-head of corporate at SJ Berwin/King & Wood Mallesons.
…and worst day on the job? Seeing valued colleagues move on.
Aside from your own firm, which lawyer do you most admire and why? Richard Youle and Ian Bagshaw at White & Case for the business they are building, and Phil Sanderson for the great job he did at Travers Smith.
What's your strongest characteristic… and worst trait? Demanding that the teams I work with drive client service – even when sometimes it can wait until a Monday.
What advice would you give to young lawyers starting out? Work hard and never turn any work down – the worst jobs give the best experience. Find a mentor and stick with him or her.
What's the best part of your job? The people – both the clients and colleagues you work for and with.
What most annoys you about the legal profession? KYC.
What's the most unusual/shocking request you've ever had from a client? Getting instructed to buy Michael Jackson's ranch. The monkey was specifically carved out of the deal.
Most memorable deal you ever have worked on and why? Buying Jimmy Choo for Lion Capital. It was their first deal in the UK and my last as an associate.
What is the daftest bit of corporate jargon you've heard? On the "horn" (on the phone) and "in the workshop" (being drafted). Both last week.
Do you see yourself having a career outside law? You never know…
What's your favourite item of clothing? Suede loafers – it's like leaving home in a pair of slippers.
It's midnight and you're in the office for the night, where's your takeaway from? I usually try to make it home to sneak a glass of wine with warmed up leftovers. Even at 3am it makes me sleep easy.
What are your desert island discs? Fools Gold – Stone Roses, Sympathy for the Devil – The Rolling Stones, Rock 'N' Roll Star – Oasis, Paul Weller – Stanley Road.
Favourite boxset? Band of Brothers.
Related: Shearman and Goodwin bag roles on £300m Tyrrells sale
NOT FOR REPRINT
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
You Might Like
View All
Latham, Jones Day and Wachtell Lead on Anglo American's $3.8B Coal Business Sale
2 minute read
Big Law Leaders, Dealmakers Optimistic about M&A Deal Flow Under Trump, With Caveats
5 minute read
The Law Firms Generating 8-Figure Fees on the Year's Big Ticket UK Deals
3 minute readTrending Stories
Who Got The Work
Michael G. Bongiorno, Andrew Scott Dulberg and Elizabeth E. Driscoll from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr have stepped in to represent Symbotic Inc., an A.I.-enabled technology platform that focuses on increasing supply chain efficiency, and other defendants in a pending shareholder derivative lawsuit. The case, filed Oct. 2 in Massachusetts District Court by the Brown Law Firm on behalf of Stephen Austen, accuses certain officers and directors of misleading investors in regard to Symbotic's potential for margin growth by failing to disclose that the company was not equipped to timely deploy its systems or manage expenses through project delays. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton, is 1:24-cv-12522, Austen v. Cohen et al.
Who Got The Work
Edmund Polubinski and Marie Killmond of Davis Polk & Wardwell have entered appearances for data platform software development company MongoDB and other defendants in a pending shareholder derivative lawsuit. The action, filed Oct. 7 in New York Southern District Court by the Brown Law Firm, accuses the company's directors and/or officers of falsely expressing confidence in the company’s restructuring of its sales incentive plan and downplaying the severity of decreases in its upfront commitments. The case is 1:24-cv-07594, Roy v. Ittycheria et al.
Who Got The Work
Amy O. Bruchs and Kurt F. Ellison of Michael Best & Friedrich have entered appearances for Epic Systems Corp. in a pending employment discrimination lawsuit. The suit was filed Sept. 7 in Wisconsin Western District Court by Levine Eisberner LLC and Siri & Glimstad on behalf of a project manager who claims that he was wrongfully terminated after applying for a religious exemption to the defendant's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The case, assigned to U.S. Magistrate Judge Anita Marie Boor, is 3:24-cv-00630, Secker, Nathan v. Epic Systems Corporation.
Who Got The Work
David X. Sullivan, Thomas J. Finn and Gregory A. Hall from McCarter & English have entered appearances for Sunrun Installation Services in a pending civil rights lawsuit. The complaint was filed Sept. 4 in Connecticut District Court by attorney Robert M. Berke on behalf of former employee George Edward Steins, who was arrested and charged with employing an unregistered home improvement salesperson. The complaint alleges that had Sunrun informed the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection that the plaintiff's employment had ended in 2017 and that he no longer held Sunrun's home improvement contractor license, he would not have been hit with charges, which were dismissed in May 2024. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer, is 3:24-cv-01423, Steins v. Sunrun, Inc. et al.
Who Got The Work
Greenberg Traurig shareholder Joshua L. Raskin has entered an appearance for boohoo.com UK Ltd. in a pending patent infringement lawsuit. The suit, filed Sept. 3 in Texas Eastern District Court by Rozier Hardt McDonough on behalf of Alto Dynamics, asserts five patents related to an online shopping platform. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap, is 2:24-cv-00719, Alto Dynamics, LLC v. boohoo.com UK Limited.
Featured Firms
Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C.
(470) 294-1674
Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
(857) 444-6468
Smith & Hassler
(713) 739-1250
