Akin Welcomes Special Situations and Private Credit Partner Catherine Goodall

Ms. Goodall brings private credit financings and capital markets experience; adds depth to the firm’s special situations and private credit practice

(New York) – Akin 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 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 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 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.

About Akin's Special Situations and Private Credit Group

Akin’s global special situations and private credit group operates at the nexus of finance, securities, M&A and restructuring. We have deep relationships throughout the credit and restructuring ecosystem and service the lifecycle of the credit community’s investments—in front-end lending and liability management transactions, comprehensive restructurings, structured finance and securitization transactions, and post-restructured corporate, finance, securities and crisis management matters.

About Akin’s Corporate Practice

Lawyers in Akin’s corporate practice counsel private equity, private credit and other investment funds, public and private companies, boards of directors and sovereign entities in connection with complex M&A, debt finance and capital markets transactions and corporate governance matters worldwide. Our team of more than 300 lawyers worldwide works across borders, industries and asset classes, helping clients to deploy capital, restructure debt and navigate business opportunities.

Akin is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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