Richard Lever is a partner in the firm’s Private Equity group.
Richard focuses on complex domestic and cross border transactions. Richard represents private equity houses, financial institutions, corporates, founders and management teams in a wide range of corporate finance matters and private equity transactions, including leveraged buyouts, venture capital, minority investments, management incentive schemes and corporate restructurings. His work has included transactions in a variety of industry sectors including software technology, on-line services, healthcare, retail, hospitality and leisure, industrials and business services. Richard also has experience with investment fund related M&A such as the sale of fund managers, the “spin outs” of investment fund managers from banks and other institutions and the establishment of fund management vehicles.
Prior to joining Goodwin, Richard was a partner at SJ Berwin/King & Wood Mallesons, where he co-led the corporate group.
Representative Matters
Credentials
Education
Legal Practice Course
De Montfort University
BA1990
Lancaster University
Admissions
Bars
- England and Wales
Recognition & Awards
Richard is ranked as a leader in private equity by major UK legal directories, including Chambers, Legal 500 and IFLR1000. The most recent edition of Chambers UK (2025) recognised him as a top lawyer for Private Equity: Buyouts, commending his “excellent track record” in handling domestic and cross-border private equity deals.
Clients report being impressed by Richard’s ability to “defuse and navigate challenging situations and find solutions,” stating that “he has really good deal judgement, is available and gets on with it.” Richard has also been commended for his “really strong commercial judgement” and for providing “direct and succinct advice … critical in the context of complex transactions.”
Publications
- Interviewed, “Life During Law: Richard Lever,” Legal Business, February 2024
- Quoted, “Dealmaker: Goodwin’s Richard Lever on SJ Berwin, Jimmy Choo, and Michael Jackson’s Monkey,” Legal Week, August 2016
- Quoted, “Goodwin Procter Closes Four PE Deals in Four Weeks,” Private Equity Wire, December, 2015