Press Release
June 8, 2006

Goodwin Procter Adds Private Equity Partners In New York

BOSTON, June 8, 2006 — Goodwin Procter LLP is pleased to announce that partners Thomas C. Meriam and Bruce J. Rader are joining its Private Equity Practice in New York, further enhancing the firm's private equity platform. They join Goodwin Procter from Chadbourne & Parke in New York.

"We're excited to welcome these two prominent partners to our firm. They will be key members of our Private Equity Practice, allowing us to enhance our practice platform even further by expanding our client service capabilities and broadening our client base, both in the private equity space overall and in our growing New York office," said Regina M. Pisa, chairman and managing partner at Goodwin Procter. "Tom and Bruce bring a wealth of experience in the areas of leveraged buyouts, mezzanine and other debt financing, and representation of growth companies, which is a perfect match for our nationally recognized private equity platform."

Goodwin Procter is recognized as one of the top law firms in the nation for private equity and fund formation by highly respected industry sources such as Chambers and Partners. A national leader in the sector for more than 40 years, Goodwin Procter was the sixth most active private equity and venture capital law firm based on deals closed in 2005 (Private Equity Analyst); the firm closed more than 300 private equity and venture capital deals last year.

Goodwin Procter's Private Equity Practice works collaboratively to address clients' needs, offering specialists in debt, tax, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, ERISA, employment and real estate law, and enabling clients to assess opportunities and structure complex, innovative transactions. The practice works closely with entrepreneurs, investors and growth companies in coordination with the firm's Technology Companies Practice, which added close to 100 attorneys from Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault and McDermott, Will & Emery in 2005.

In addition to Meriam and Rader joining the firm, Goodwin Procter recently added J. Hovey Kemp, Christopher J. Hagan and James A. Hutchinson, three private equity partners from Hogan & Hartson, in Washington, DC. The combination of these five leading attorneys joining the firm's Washington, DC and New York offices, coupled with the recent opening of offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles, presents Goodwin Procter with significant opportunities for continued growth by serving existing and new clients in these important markets.

About Goodwin Procter LLP
Goodwin Procter LLP is one of the nation's leading law firms with 650 attorneys. The firm's core areas of practice are corporate, litigation and real estate, with specialized areas of focus that include private equity, technology companies, financial services, REITs and real estate capital markets, intellectual property and products liability. Goodwin Procter is headquartered in Boston, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC.

Partner Biographical Information:

  • Thomas C. Meriam, who was active in Chadbourne & Parke's private mezzanine, private equity and bank finance practice groups, has practiced in corporate law for nearly 30 years. He recently represented the sponsor in a cross-border acquisition of the manufacturer of a unique exercise product and was the lead lawyer for the acquirers on the acquisition of Herbalife International Inc. He also has extensive experience in secured and unsecured lending, private placements, off-balance sheet leasing, securitization of assets, tax exempt financing, leveraged leasing and issues involving mass transportation. He represented the lenders in numerous synthetic lease financings, including a $2.5 billion facility for the construction of four power plants and a $1 billion facility for telecommunications equipment located in the United States and Europe. He earned his J.D. from Fordham University Law School, graduating cum laude, and B.S. from the College of the Holy Cross.
  • Bruce J. Rader, who practiced in Chadbourne & Parke's corporate group for 18 years, represents multinational corporations, investors and lenders in connection with secured financings, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, public offerings, private placements, capital markets transactions, private equity transactions, mezzanine debt financings, project financings, leasing transactions and other general corporate matters. He also has significant restructuring and workout experience. He earned his J.D. from Boston College Law School and B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, graduating cum laude.