Matt Richards Joins Ropes & Gray’s Chicago Office to Enhance Service to Private Equity Clients

Ropes & Gray announced today that Matt Richards will join the firm as a partner in its private equity practice. Mr. Richards represents private equity firms and their portfolio companies in complex acquisition, financing and restructuring transactions.

“Matt’s demonstrated credibility with leading Chicago-based private equity sponsors and his experience with complex, cutting-edge deals makes him a great addition to our private equity practice,” said Ropes & Gray Chicago managing partner Jim Lidbury. “We are excited that he is joining the firm as we continue to build the services we provide clients in Chicago and throughout the Midwest.”

Mr. Richards was formerly a partner at Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago. He has worked with many leading Chicago-based private equity sponsors in structuring, negotiating, and closing a wide array of complex acquisition, financing and restructuring transactions. He also regularly counsels clients on governance, compliance, and reporting issues.

“I am thrilled to join the elite private equity team at Ropes & Gray,” said Mr. Richards. “The firm’s global reputation for excellent work in the private equity practice first attracted me to Ropes & Gray. The strength of the Chicago team and its focus on collaboration and client service made my decision easy.”

Mr. Richards is the 14th partner to join the firm’s 39-lawyer Chicago office since it was founded in 2008. Ropes & Gray has consistently been ranked one of the world’s leading law firms for private equity. Law360, the online outlet for legal news and analysis, named Ropes & Gray’s private equity group “Practice of the Year” for 2011 based on the firm’s work on a number of significant deals.