Polly Richard

James Fisher is a partner in the Finance Group in Alston & Bird’s London office, focusing on debt capital markets, structured finance, securitisation, and derivatives transactions, with a particular specialty in advising corporate trust, agency, and issuer clients across a broad spectrum of cross-border and domestic financings.

Helen Croke joined Ropes & Gray as a partner in its private equity transactions group in October 2016. She specialises in UK and international private equity and M&A, including acting for institutional investors, corporates and founders. Helen is recommended by Chambers UK and The Legal 500 as a leading individual in private equity who clients say is “fantastic” with a “unique ability to articulate complicated aspects in layman’s terms.” Helen was recogni...

Peter Coulton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Peter, who practices law in London, United Kingdom, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Peter is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David Birchall advises clients on the full range of energy transactions in the mid- and downstream fields, including types of commodity trading matters, conventional, renewables and clean-tech projects, energy and infrastructure projects, regulation and waste, including waste-to-energy schemes. Having practised as an energy corporate, regulatory and projects lawyer since 1993, he also worked from the start of the renewables and physical commodities trading legal market, in the UK, throughout ...

Christopher Hilditch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Investment Funds. Christopher, who practices law in London, United Kingdom, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mark Fine focuses his practice on complex debt financing transactions for private equity houses, borrowers and lenders including direct lending, leveraged buyouts, domestic and cross-border syndicated lending, junior debt issuances, high yield offerings, special situations, distressed debt trading, portfolio acquisitions and restructurings. Mark has previously held the position of European General Counsel at Bain Capital Credit in London.

Eleanor West advises clients on UK and international private equity investments and buyout transactions, acting for institutions and management teams. Eleanor also advises corporate clients on cross-border merger and acquisition, joint venture and restructuring matters.

Dorothee Fischer-Appelt is a New York and English-qualified shareholder with 24 years' experience in international capital markets and M&A transactions. She represents companies, financial institutions and selling shareholders in connection with international equity and debt capital markets transactions, including IPOs, secondary equity offerings, structured equity offerings, convertibles, warrants, block trades, high yield offerings, Rule 144A debt offerings, covered bonds, exchange offe...

Paul Lyons is a partner in Goodwin’s Real Estate Industry group and co-chair of the London office. Mr. Lyons focuses primarily on real estate debt finance, where he has significant experience in advising both borrowers and lenders at all levels of the capital stack. He has extensive experience in leveraged finance and his work has included advising banks on debt originations and restructurings as well as real estate and private equity fund clients on both lender and borrower mandates.

Bill Schnoor is a partner in and former co-chair of the firm’s Technology and Life Sciences groups. He works in all areas of corporate, securities and partnership laws, with a primary focus on advising high-growth technology and life sciences companies. He joined Goodwin in 2005, after a 21-year career with Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP, and quickly became co-chair of Goodwin’s technology and life sciences practices. Under his leadership the Technology and Life Sciences grou...