Paul Hastings Adds Leading New York Private Equity Partner

NEW YORK – Continuing to enhance its Private Equity practice, Paul Hastings LLP announced today that elite private equity lawyer Joshua Ratner has joined the firm as a partner in New York and global vice chair of private equity.

Joining from Goodwin Procter LLP, Ratner represents private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, as well as venture capital and hedge funds, family offices, and operating companies. He was previously managing director and general counsel, private equity, of York Capital Management and its York Special Opportunities Funds. Prior to his 12 years at York, he was at Skadden.

“Josh’s operational and general counsel perspective on the needs of private equity clients, coupled with his exceptional private practice experience, brings added depth and breadth to our high-level private equity practice,” said firm Chair Frank Lopez. “He’s an exciting addition in New York as we execute on our strategy to continue to build our private equity and M&A platforms.”

At Paul Hastings, Ratner will reunite with several of his former Goodwin colleagues, including fellow private equity partners Scott Joachim, Ryan LaForce, and Kaitlin Kines. Other recent private equity and M&A additions in New York include Kirk Lipsey from Sidley Austin LLP and Jon Kubek from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and in Chicago Chad Vance, also from Sidley. The firm has also added Anna Rips from Skadden and seven former Kirkland & Ellis partners to its private equity funds group over the last nine months, including John Budetti.

Ratner’s extensive middle market transaction experience ranges from leveraged buyouts, dispositions, and joint ventures to growth equity investments and other equity and debt financings. He also advises on structuring fund documentation, internal carry allocations and equity waterfalls.

At Goodwin, Ratner co-chaired the firm’s food and healthy living practice, working with clients in the consumer products, fitness, technology, food, and vitamins sectors.

“Exciting things are happening at Paul Hastings and I’m thrilled to help continue the firm’s focus on building leading practices,” said Ratner.

With one of the most sophisticated Private Equity practices among premier global law firms, Paul Hastings private equity clients include top-tier private equity firms such as Francisco Partners, H.I.G. Capital, Accel-KKR, Oakley Capital Investments, Goldman Sachs, and ABRY Partners.

About Paul Hastings

With widely recognized elite teams in finance, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, restructuring and special situations, litigation, employment, and real estate, Paul Hastings is a premier law firm providing intellectual capital and superior execution globally to the world’s leading investment banks, asset managers, and corporations.