John LeClaire > Goodwin > Boston, United States > Lawyer Profile
Goodwin Offices
100 NORTHERN AVENUE
BOSTON MA 02210
MASSACHUSETTS
United States
John LeClaire

Position
Partner
Career
John LeClaire is co-founder and chair of Goodwin’s nationally ranked Private Equity group and one of the leading PE/M&A growth company lawyers in the U.S. The Goodwin Private Equity group has served leading private equity firms and growth companies for over 30 years and was recently named U.S. Middle Market M&A Firm of the Year by Merger Market. Mr. LeClaire joined Goodwin in 1982 and has been a partner since 1989.
Education
JD, Boston University School of Law (magna cum laude) 1982 / AB, Brown University (magna cum laude) 1979
Lawyer Rankings
United States > M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: middle-market (Up to $500m)
(Hall of Fame)Goodwin‘s ‘best-in-class‘ private equity practice combines deep expertise in middle-market and growth equity transactions with a strong global presence. The firm advises sponsors and investors on structuring complex deals, fund formations, and buyouts. Helming the practice from Boston is John LeClaire, a seasoned partner valued by both financial sponsors and growth companies who rely on his advice regarding M&A, investments, and restructurings. Co-chair Brian McPeake has an extensive cross-border practice and covers a range of sectors including financial services, fintech, software and healthcare from San Francisco. New York co-head Chris Nugent underpins his transactional pedigree with skill in corporate governance, while Chris Wilson is noted for his healthcare and tech-focused practice. Joshua Klatzkin is well-regarded for his work across small-cap and mid-market buyouts and is another key name for early stage growth instructions. Amy Keller also comes recommended for her broad practice.
Lawyer Rankings
- Hall of Fame United States > M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: middle-market (Up to $500m)
- Private equity buyouts: middle-market (Up to $500m) United States > M&A/corporate and commercial
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Industry focus > Cannabis
- Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco)
- Intellectual property > Patents: licensing
- M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: middle-market (Up to $500m)
- Real estate > Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
- Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions
- M&A/corporate and commercial > Venture capital and emerging companies
Firm Rankings
- Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings
- Dispute resolution > E-discovery
- Labor and employment > ERISA litigation
- Finance > Fintech
- Healthcare > Life sciences
- Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense
- Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage)
- Real estate > Real estate
- Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
- Intellectual property > Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters)
- M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism
- Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)
- Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings
- International trade and national security > CFIUS
- Finance > Commercial lending
- M&A/corporate and commercial > Corporate governance
- Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional
- Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation
- Antitrust > Merger control
- Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital)
- Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco)
- Tax > US taxes: non-contentious
- Labor and employment > Workplace and employment counseling
- International trade and national security > Customs, export controls and economic sanctions
- Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)
- Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (International Trade Commission)
- Intellectual property > Patents: prosecution (including re-examination and post-grant proceedings)
- Healthcare > Service providers
- Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
- Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers
- Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers
- M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+)
- Real estate > Real estate finance
- Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate
- Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense
- Finance > Financial services regulation