Former Addleshaw Goddard Managing Partner Paul Devitt and Addleshaws Partner Richard Thomas are the latest partners to leave the firm to join the legal arm of accounting giant EY. They will join his former Addleshaws partner, Philip Goodstone, who runs the firm. Commenting on the appointments, Goodstone said: “As we continue to grow our legal practice, we remain focused on finding the best talent and I am confident that Paul and Richard will be fantastic additions to the team. They are both outstanding lawyers with excellent reputations in the North West and the UK. Richard is a transaction lawyer for EY UK&I and has extensive experience as lead counsel for corporate transactions. The two partners will join EY`s growing UK legal practice in Manchester after a 12-month notice period at Addleshaws. EY also said it plans to continue developing the team, with the duo playing a central role. EY has strengthened its legal practice with the appointment of two lawyers in the downtown core. Philip Goodstone, Head of Law at EY, UK and Ireland, added: “As we continue to grow our legal practice, we remain focused on finding the best talent and I am confident that Paul and Richard will be fantastic additions to the team. Richard has acted as lead counsel on numerous strategically significant transactions in a number of sectors, including advanced manufacturing and consumer and retail products.
“They are both exceptional lawyers with excellent reputations in the North West and the UK. His expertise and experience will help our clients achieve their growth goals in this thriving market. “In addition to a strong national economy, we have also seen a sharp increase in foreign direct investment in the region. Our latest figures show that the North West was the fastest growing region in the UK in terms of foreign investment in 2015. This initiative strengthens EY`s M&A offering to companies in the North West and nationally. Richard started his career at another Big Four law firm and practiced as a receiver in the UK. Richard then joined EY 20 years ago and became Head of the Investigation Practice at EY Cayman Islands, where he oversaw international investigations, regulatory obligations and cross-border restructurings. Richard moved to New York City in 2004 and, prior to his current role as Chief of Forensics for the three states, he was responsible for a large team of forensic and technology experts in our tri-state offices. Paul Devitt and Richard Thomas left Addleshaw Goddard to join EY as partners this month. The original version of this article was published on Legalweek EY, which received an alternative business structure licence from the Solicitors Regulation Authority last December, has hired several private firms in recent months.
In addition to recruiting Goodstone from Addleshaws, the accounting giant also hired Matthew Kellett, who was recruited by Berwin Leighton Paisner to lead its financial services group, and Olswang`s former labor director, Daniel Aherne, to build and lead the employment law team. Richard is currently Head of the EY Americas Forensic & Integrity Services Law Firm Alliance. Richard specializes in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures, shareholder agreements and advises publicly traded companies on disclosure and other regulatory obligations. He advises on domestic and cross-border transactions, public and private mergers and acquisitions, as well as large collective and related party transactions for listed companies. Simon Allport, Senior Partner at EY North West, said: “There is a well-developed and active M&A market in the North West. He is responsible for the services that Forensic & Integrity Services provides to our clients through external lawyers. Just over a year after Paul Devitt resigned as Managing Partner of Addleshaw Goddard, he will leave the firm with his colleague Richard Thomas to join the accounting firm Big Four EY. Both will join EY at the end of May 2016, after their notice period expires. Innovative, insightful and energetic forensic guide. Father and husband proud.
Passionate about golf. Creating a better world of work. Working with our clients` external lawyers, we create a better work environment by investigating fraud and working with our clients to develop and strengthen their compliance programs to limit their vulnerability to fraud. Passion for developing people and watching them thrive. Enjoy working together. Husband and father of two teenagers. Passionate about rugby, cricket and football. He spent 20 years at Addleshaw Goddard and held various positions within the firm, including Managing Partner. Devitt stepped down as Managing Partner of Addleshaws last March, one year before the end of his term on April 30, 2015. His early resignation triggered a controversial choice between real estate partner Adrian Collins and head of corporate support and restructuring John Joyce, who was appointed for a three-year term last May. Whether it`s responding to a regulatory request or developing a cutting-edge technology compliance solution, I am passionate about empowering our teams, challenging them, innovating and collaborating to develop efficient and effective approaches to the critical issues facing our clients.
Richard is an experienced M&A corporate lawyer who works primarily for blue-chip clients in connection with acquisitions, divestitures and acquisitions. He spent 15 years at Addleshaw Goddard, the last seven years as a partner. I am fortunate to work with talented teams of external lawyers as well as forensic and technology experts, and to have the support of professionals from other EY firms. My goal is to bring the right combination of medical, regulatory, technology and industry experience to help our clients meet their challenges in a timely manner. Accounting giant hires more lateral entrants as partner Paul Devitt and corporate partner Richard Thomas join us “We are committed to helping our clients make the most of this emerging market by giving them access to the best people and the most experienced teams.” Richard has extensive experience in forensics, investigations, compliance technology and integrity consulting. He has led numerous high-profile internal investigations and other regulatory and fraud-related matters. In a statement, Addleshaws said: “After 22 years at our company, including five years as Managing Partner, Paul naturally feels ready for a new environment after returning to a full-time transaction role in May 2014, and he leaves with our best wishes.” Paul has extensive experience in public and private mergers and acquisitions and equity market issues, particularly for public and international companies. It`s always disappointing to lose talented people and we`ll be sorry to see Richard go. He was a great partner and will be missed. The possibility of establishing a firm in another area of professional services is an attractive alternative for Richard and it also follows our best wishes.