Michael R. Halford

Michael Halford is a partner in Goodwin’s Private Equity group and Global Private Investment Funds co-chair. His practice focuses on private equity funds, infrastructure funds and real estate funds for institutional and private investors. He covers a wide range of funds, incentive schemes and co-investment arrangements. Among the investment houses he has previously worked for are Triton, Core Equity Holdings, Capital D, Capital Dynamics, Epiris, Patron, and PAI Partners.

Prior to joining Goodwin in 2017, Michael was the Head of International Funds, London for King & Wood Mallesons (formerly SJ Berwin).

Recent transactions include advising on:

• Advent International’s latest $17.5 billion private equity fund, Advent International GPE IX
• Glennmont Partners’ latest €850 million European Clean Energy fund
• A global asset management company's latest $1 billion European Buyout Fund 2019 and associated GP-led restructuring
• Macquarie’s €6 billion infrastructure fund, MEIF VI
• PAI Partners’ €3.3 billion private equity fund, PAI Europe VI*
• Triton Partners’ €3.5 billion private equity fund, Triton Fund IV*
• Macquarie’s €4 billion European infrastructure fund, MEIF V*
• First State’s first €2 billion European infrastructure fund, EDIF I*
• Capital Dynamics’ $462 million Clean Energy and Infrastructure Fund*
• Patron Capital’s €800 million private equity real estate fund, Patron Fund V*

* Denotes experience prior to joining Goodwin.

• Recognized by Chambers UK 2025 for Investment Funds: Private Equity and featured on their Spotlight Table for Credit Funds and is described by clients as “high-calibre legal professional. He is experienced and solution-focused."
• Recognized by The Legal 500 2025 in their Hall of Fame for Investment Fund Formation and Management
• Recognized by Chambers UK 2024 for Investment Funds: Private Equity and featured on their Spotlight Table for Credit Funds
• Recognized by The Legal 500 2024 in their Hall of Fame for Investment Fund Formation and Management
• Recognized by Chambers UK 2023 for Investment Funds: Private Equity and featured on their Spotlight Table for Credit Funds
• Recognized by The Legal 500 2023 in their Hall of Fame for Investment Fund Formation and Management. Clients described Michael as ‘extremely professional yet very personable and true pleasure to work with. He is one of the most intelligent and bright lawyers in the space.’
• Recognized by whoswholegal.com in their 2022 Legal Marketplace Analysis as “the doyen of fund formation” with an “encyclopedic knowledge of private equity, infrastructure and real estate funds.”
• Recognized by Chambers UK 2022 for his work in Investment Funds: Private Equity; Investment Funds: Credit Funds. Clients note “He knows our business inside out and is extremely commercial.” 
• Recognized by Chambers Europe 2021 for his work in Investment Funds: Private Equity
• Recognized by Chambers 2021 UK for his work in Investment Funds: Private Equity and Investment Funds: Private Equity: Credit Funds. Clients note “Michael's technical insight is particularly very helpful.” “He is able to point to solutions because he is a problem solver.”
• Recommended by Legal 500 UK 2021 for Private Investment Funds and Real Estate Funds. Clients note “Michael Halford is an outstanding partner — very reliable and creative, and able to mobilise the team to deliver on time.”
• Ranked a leading lawyer by IFLR1000
• Ranked Law360’s 2019 Fund Formation MVP
• Listed in Who’s Who Legal 2018: Private Funds
• Ranked in Expert Guides and Financial News – 100 Rising Stars in 2008

Michael is a frequent writer and speaker in the private equity funds, infrastructure funds and real estate funds sectors. Publications and speaking engagements include:

Publications

• “The Profile" by Krystal Scalon, The Drawdown, September 2022 
• Co-Author, “Private Equity Comment: Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, ELTIFs, and ESG issues relating to ERISA”, Goodwin Client Alert, December 21, 2020
• Co-Author, "Hotel California No More – Secondary Transactions and the Rise of Entry and Exit Routes in PE," Private Equity Wire, June 2020
• Co-Author, "GP-led secondaries: Dealing with Conflicts of Interest," The Drawdown, August 2018
• Carried Interest Models in a Changing Fundraising Environment, Real Deals, March 2018
• Co-Author, "Liberty in Law," Private Funds Management, April 2017
• Editor, "The Definitive Guide to Infrastructure Fundraising," PEI, 2009
• Quoted, "The Effect of Diminishing Value of the Euro on Buyout Firms," Private Equity News, August 2012
• Quoted, "Distressed Debt not for the Fainthearted, The New York Times," December 2009
• Quoted, "CVC Tests Water for Euro 11 billion Buyout Fund," The Financial Times, December 2007

Speaking Engagements

• Moderator, “Keynote panel: the nexus of strategy, culture and investing,” SuperReturn Conference, Berlin, June 2023
• Panelist, “Annual Funds Sector Updates – Private Equity,” Goodwin Webinar, June 2021
• Moderator, “Innovation in the PE industry – inspiring transformative growth”, SuperReturn Conference, Berlin, February/March 2019
• Speaker, “Private Equity Fund Raising Environment Feast or Famine?”, November 2016
• Speaker, “The Investor Relationship: Latest Trends in Terms and Conditions,” EVCA’s Investors Forum, Geneva, March 2016
• Speaker, “The Fund Raising Market: Terms, Structures and Regulatory Developments,” plenary session, Superinvestor Conference, Amsterdam, November 2015
• Speaker, “Update on the private equity market: Terms and Conditions and Regulatory Updates in Europe and the US,” plenary session, SuperReturn Conference, Berlin, February 2015