Geoffrey Bailhache is Co-Head of the Firm’s European M&A Practice. Based in London, he advises clients on complex cross-border private equity mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, take-private transactions, dispositions and other corporate matters. Geoff has extensive experience across a range of geographies and industries and has led numerous significant transactions for many of the world’s leading financial sponsors. Prior to joining Simpson Thacher, Geoff was the General Counsel for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Blackstone, where he spent more than 10 years advising their Private Equity and Tactical Opportunities, Energy Transition and Infrastructure Groups. Geoff is recognized by Chambers UK for Private Equity Buyouts and was named to Private Equity News’ list of the “Twenty Most Influential Private Equity Lawyers” for 2024. He was also named among the top 5 private equity bankers and lawyers in EMEA for 2023 and one of Europe’s top M&A and finance lawyers for 2022 by MergerLinks. In 2023, Geoff was included in The Lawyer’s Hot 100.
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Work Highlights
- Blackstone Capital Partners on its investments in Civica, Desotec, Bourne Leisure, Ambassador Theatre Group, Encore, Cirsa Enterprises, Huws Gray and Esdec Solar Group
- Blackstone Energy Transition Partners on its acquisition of SEVES Group
- Blackstone Infrastructure Partners on its €54 billion acquisition of Atlantia SpA and its €9.3 billion acquisition of Autostrade per l'Italia
- CRC Group, a leading North American wholesale insurance distributor, on its definitive agreement to acquire Atrium Underwriting Group’s managing agency business
- EQT and its portfolio company, EdgeConneX, on its substantial minority investment in EdgeConneX by Sixth Street
- CVC Capital Partners on its acquisition of M Group Services
- Blackstone Tactical Opportunities on its strategic investment in Superbet and the €1.3 billion refinancing of that investment alongside HPS Investment Partners, and its investments in Redpin and Lazeo
- Technology Crossover Ventures on the take private acquisitions of Adevinta and Believe SA
- Corsair Capital on its strategic minority investment by British Columbia Investment Management Corporation
- Five Arrows Principal Investments on its investment in Causeway Technologies
Accolades
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Chambers UK, Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above (2024-2026)
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The Lawyer, Hot 100 (2023)
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Private Equity News, “Twenty Most Influential Private Equity Lawyers” (2024)
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Financial News, In-house Counsel of the Year: Asset Management (2015)
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Financial News, 40 Under 40: Private Equity (2013)
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Financial News, 40 Under 40: Legal Services (2013)
Education
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University of Nottingham, 2001 LL.B.
Associations
- Former Board Member, Invest Europe
Geoffrey Bailhache is Co-Head of the Firm’s European M&A Practice. Based in London, he advises clients on complex cross-border private equity mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, take-private transactions, dispositions and other corporate matters. Geoff has extensive experience across a range of geographies and industries and has led numerous significant transactions for many of the world’s leading financial sponsors.
Prior to joining Simpson Thacher, Geoff was the General Counsel for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Blackstone, where he spent more than 10 years advising their Private Equity and Tactical Opportunities, Energy Transition and Infrastructure Groups.
Geoff is recognized by Chambers UK for Private Equity Buyouts and was named to Private Equity News’ list of the “Twenty Most Influential Private Equity Lawyers” for 2024. He was also named among the top 5 private equity bankers and lawyers in EMEA for 2023 and one of Europe’s top M&A and finance lawyers for 2022 by MergerLinks. In 2023, Geoff was included in The Lawyer’s Hot 100.
Geoff is a member of the Firm's Pro Bono Committee and is a former member of the Board of Invest Europe.
Geoff’s recent work highlights include:
- Blackstone Capital Partners on its investments in Civica, Desotec, Bourne Leisure, Ambassador Theatre Group, Encore, Cirsa Enterprises, Huws Gray and Esdec Solar Group
- Blackstone Energy Transition Partners on its acquisition of SEVES Group
- Blackstone Infrastructure Partners on its €54 billion acquisition of Atlantia SpA and its €9.3 billion acquisition of Autostrade per l'Italia
- CRC Group, a leading North American wholesale insurance distributor, on its definitive agreement to acquire Atrium Underwriting Group’s managing agency business
- EQT and its portfolio company, EdgeConneX, on its substantial minority investment in EdgeConneX by Sixth Street
- CVC Capital Partners on its acquisition of M Group Services
- Blackstone Tactical Opportunities on its strategic investment in Superbet and the €1.3 billion refinancing of that investment alongside HPS Investment Partners, and its investments in Redpin and Lazeo
- Technology Crossover Ventures on the take private acquisitions of Adevinta and Believe SA
- Corsair Capital on its strategic minority investment by British Columbia Investment Management Corporation
- Five Arrows Principal Investments on its investment in Causeway Technologies