John R. LeClaire

John R. LeClaire is a partner in Goodwin’s Boston office and the founder and co-chair of the firm’s nationally ranked Private Equity group. He is recognized as one of the leading private equity and growth company lawyers in the United States, with decades of experience advising sponsors, management teams, and portfolio companies on complex transactions.

John earned his J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 1982, graduating magna cum laude and serving as Articles Editor of the Boston University Law Review. He received his A.B., magna cum laude, from Brown University in 1979, building a strong academic foundation for his transactional and strategic legal practice.

John joined Goodwin in 1982 and became a partner in 1989. Over more than four decades, he has remained an active frontline lawyer, firm strategist, and industry commentator. He has played a central role in building and expanding Goodwin’s private equity franchise across generations of lawyers and clients.

John’s practice focuses on private equity transactions, including leveraged recapitalizations, buyouts, and minority investments in the United States and internationally. He also represents growth companies in healthcare services, digital health, medical devices, technology, consumer products, and advanced manufacturing, with a strong emphasis on equity incentives and management representation.

John has received broad recognition from leading legal publications. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts, Private Equity Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and is also recognized by Chambers Global, Chambers USA, Lawdragon 500, The Legal 500 United States, and U.S. News – Best Lawyers.

In addition to his legal practice, John R. LeClaire is a frequent writer and speaker on private equity and emerging company topics and is regularly featured in national business publications. He is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and continues to advise clients at the highest levels of the private equity market.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Goodwin Procter LLP
• Member, Massachusetts Bar Association

Licensed State

• Massachusetts

Education

• Boston University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Brown University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)
  

Awards & Badges