Addleshaw Goddard has today announced the appointment of Andrew Carpenter as Head of Private Equity to lead the practice through the next important stages of its growth.

Andrew joins Addleshaw Goddard from US firm O'Melveny and Myers (OMM) where he was one of the founding partners of its revised London offering. Before joining OMM in 2004, Andrew was Head of DLA's City-based Private Equity practice, and responsible for developing its European profile.

Andrew specialises in private equity-backed transactions, mainly acting for institutional investors, but also investee companies and management teams.

In welcoming Andrew, Paul Devitt, Addleshaw Goddard Corporate Division Managing Partner said: "I am delighted that Andrew has chosen to join us. An enhanced PE team in London to complement our leading position in the North is a critical strand of our strategy to grow revenue in this area by 50 per cent by 2009. Andrew is a leader in his field. His appointment will strengthen our existing City capability substantially, providing an exciting platform for us to significantly develop our Private Equity practice in particular, but our alternative asset investment practice in general."

Andrew Carpenter is well known in the private equity community having acted for many of the UK's key players such as Cabot Square Capital, Indigo, Lyceum Capital, Montagu Private Equity, Phoenix Equity Partners, and Sovereign Capital Partners.

Addleshaw Goddard's Private Equity Group is a leader in mid-market private equity, acting on a wide range of transactions including the £675million acquisition by Dubai International Capital of Travelodge from Permira Funds, and the $100million BWA Water Additives IBO.

The 30+ strong practice acts for many of the leading PE houses including 3i, Barclays Private Equity, Close Brothers Private Equity, ECI and the Graphite Capital Management, and LDC.