Eversheds Sutherland has recruited Andrew Fordham from rival Addleshaw Goddard as a finance partner, adding senior weight to its international banking and finance practice. Fordham joins the firm’s Leeds office, and Eversheds Sutherland said the hire will also add to its capabilities across important UK and global markets.
Fordham acts for lenders, private equity sponsors, corporates and management teams on complex financing deals. His work covers acquisition finance, real estate finance, asset-based lending and corporate banking. Before his time at Addleshaw Goddard he was a partner in the financial services practice at Squire Patton Boggs. His practice spans both sides of the lending relationship, from banks and other lenders to the businesses and buyout firms that borrow.
At his new firm he will work with partner Paul Castle and colleagues across the international network, advising clients on domestic and cross-border transactions in a wide range of sectors. His arrival continues a run of partner recruitment in the finance group this year, which has already brought in Simon Thomas, Linn Mayhew, Zaid Al-Farisi and Benjamin Marché.
Nick Swiss, international head of finance at Eversheds Sutherland, called Fordham one of the most highly regarded finance lawyers in the market and pointed to his consistent rankings in the Chambers and Legal 500 directories as evidence of the confidence clients place in him. Swiss said the firm is focused on building one of the leading finance teams in the market, and that Fordham’s experience, client relationships and commercial approach make him a strong addition to that effort.
Simon Harris, senior office partner in Leeds, said the appointment strengthens the firm’s position and reflects continued investment in its global finance offering. The hire comes as the Leeds team prepares to move into new premises at Kellstone, Aire Park, in 2027, which Harris described as part of the firm’s long-term commitment to the city and its growth plans for the region. Fordham said the firm pairs the international reach clients need with a “genuinely collaborative approach”, and that he was joining at a time of real ambition for both the finance practice and the wider business.
