Geoffrey Bailhache is a Partner in Simpson Thacher’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice. Prior to joining Simpson Thacher in 2021, 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 on complex, cross-border private equity mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, take private transactions and dispositions, among other corporate matters. Based in London, he has extensive experience spanning across geographies and industries, and since joining Simpson Thacher he has led numerous significant transactions for many of the leading global financial sponsors.
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
- EQT and its portfolio company, EdgeConneX, in connection with a substantial minority investment in EdgeConneX by Sixth Street
- CVC Capital Partners on its acquisition of M Group Services
- Blackstone Capital Partners in its investments in Civica, Desotec, Bourne Leisure, Ambassador Theatre Group, Huws Gray and Esdec Solar Group
- Blackstone Energy Transition Partners in its acquisition of SEVES Group
- Blackstone Infrastructure Partners in its €54 billion acquisition of Atlantia SpA and its €9.3 billion acquisition of Autostrade per l'Italia
- Blackstone Tactical Opportunities in its investments in Currencies Direct, Superbet and Lazeo
- Technology Crossover Ventures in its investments in the take private acquisitions of Adevinta and Believe SA
- Corsair Capital in its strategic minority investment by British Columbia Investment Management Corporation
- Five Arrows Principal Investments in its investment in Causeway Technologies
Accolades
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Chambers UK, Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above (2024-2025)
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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 a Partner in Simpson Thacher’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice. He advises clients on complex, cross-border private equity mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, take private transactions and dispositions, among other corporate matters.
Prior to joining Simpson Thacher in 2021, 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 on complex, cross-border private equity mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, take private transactions and dispositions, among other corporate matters. Based in London, he has extensive experience spanning across geographies and industries, and since joining Simpson Thacher he has led numerous significant transactions for many of the leading global financial sponsors.
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:
- EQT and its portfolio company, EdgeConneX, in connection with a substantial minority investment in EdgeConneX by Sixth Street
- CVC Capital Partners on its acquisition of M Group Services
- Blackstone Capital Partners in its investments in Civica, Desotec, Bourne Leisure, Ambassador Theatre Group, Huws Gray and Esdec Solar Group
- Blackstone Energy Transition Partners in its acquisition of SEVES Group
- Blackstone Infrastructure Partners in its €54 billion acquisition of Atlantia SpA and its €9.3 billion acquisition of Autostrade per l'Italia
- Blackstone Tactical Opportunities in its investments in Currencies Direct, Superbet and Lazeo
- Technology Crossover Ventures in its investments in the take private acquisitions of Adevinta and Believe SA
- Corsair Capital in its strategic minority investment by British Columbia Investment Management Corporation
- Five Arrows Principal Investments in its investment in Causeway Technologies