Barnes & Thornburg announced today that Ryan J. Barncastle has been named co-chair of the firm’s Private Equity practice group. Based in Los Angeles, Barncastle joined the firm in 2018, is a member of the firm’s Management Committee and will now co-lead the Private Equity practice alongside Anthony Arnold.
With nearly two decades of experience, Barncastle advises private equity firms, portfolio companies, family offices and investor groups in a wide array of transactions across numerous industry verticals. His sophisticated practice includes the full range of M&A transactions, growth equity investments, recapitalizations and restructurings, complex joint ventures and cross-border deals. Barncastle’s unique background enables him to offer comprehensive deal advice to general partners, limited partners, co-investors and other equity stakeholders, as well as portfolio companies, lenders and financial sponsor groups, in connection with high-stakes transactions.
“Ryan has a strong reputation as a strategic dealmaker, and his multidisciplinary background and collaborative approach make him an excellent fit to help lead our expanding national practice,” said Andrew J. Detherage, managing partner at Barnes & Thornburg. “Our Corporate Department has seen tremendous growth in recent years, due in large part to our successful private equity work, and I look forward to seeing continued success under Ryan and Anthony’s leadership.”
Barnes & Thornburg’s Private Equity practice has earned a reputation as a go-to team for sophisticated, efficient deal execution and is a core practice group within the firm’s 165-attorney Corporate Department. With experience across different sectors and a focus on middle-market transactions, the team represents clients in fund formation, acquisitions, capital investments, reorganizations, divestitures, going-private deals, and other strategic transactions.
Providing responsive and partner-led counsel from start to finish, the practice collaborates closely with specialists across the firm – including tax, intellectual property, employment, finance, information technology, antitrust and regulatory experts – to help clients navigate challenges and confidently close deals.
“I’m honored to co-lead this dynamic group of lawyers alongside Anthony Arnold, who are passionate about getting deals done for our private equity clients,” said Barncastle. “Our practice is defined by our relationships, thoughtful strategy, and a focus on our clients’ goals. I look forward to building on this strong foundation and continuing to deliver value to the private equity sponsors, funds, portfolio companies and institutional investors that we serve.”
With more than 800 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, Boston, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, South Florida, Texas and Washington, D.C.







