Travers' Barter goes in-house at Bridgepoint
Private equity star Charles Barter (pictured) is to leave Travers Smith to join Bridgepoint Capital, one of the firm's key private equity clients.
Barter, who set up Travers' private equity group in 1996, will join Bridgepoint in the newly-created role of general counsel in October.
Managing partner Chris Carroll said: "While we are all tremendously sorry to be losing him, we would obviously hope and expect that his appointment will help firm up what is already a strong and longstanding relationship with an important client."
Barter, a veteran of The Lawyer's Hot 100 list of outstanding partners, led the relationship with Bridgepoint at Travers.
In February this year he helped the private equity firm buy out the management of sandwich chain Pret A Manger in a deal worth around £350m.
"Whilst I am very excited about my new role at Bridgepoint, I leave Travers Smith with great sadness," Barter said.
"It has been a wonderful firm to work for and I know it will continue to go from strength to strength".
Barter stood down as private equity chief in May 2008 after five years in the role and was replaced by Phil Sanderson, whose clients include 3i, Exponent and Phoenix Equity Partners.
