London-based M&A advisory firm, LAVA Advisory Partners, has announced the appointment of Paul Joyce as a new partner. Joyce, who joins from Forvis Mazars, brings over two decades of M&A and corporate finance experience to the firm.
With a background in senior roles at Deloitte, Credit Suisse, and PwC, Joyce’s expertise spans across financial and professional services, with a particular focus on fund and trust administration, offshore services, and people-centric businesses.
This new partnership sees LAVA expand its team to three partners, with Joyce joining founding partners Hamish Martin and Simon Woodcock. His appointment will provide additional leadership depth and origination capacity as the firm prepares for a period of accelerated growth.
Established in 2020, LAVA specializes in advising on M&A and financing deals across various sectors, including professional services, aerospace, education, and technology. The firm is known for its expertise in handling complex transactions and recently made headlines for becoming an Employee-Owned Trust last year.
In a statement about his appointment, Paul Joyce said: “From my first meeting with Hamish and Simon, I was impressed by the firm’s clear proposition, strong team, and high-quality client base. There is a tremendous opportunity to become the go-to boutique advisor for real people, including founders, investors, and teams who are seeking a more thoughtful, human, and transparent M&A experience. I am excited to join LAVA and contribute to its growth and success.”
Partner at LAVA, Simon Woodcock, commented on the appointment, saying: “Paul is an excellent addition to our team at LAVA. He brings a wealth of experience, energy, and valuable sector insights. We are honored to have such a highly respected industry figure join our firm and we have no doubt that he will fit right in with our team and clients. We welcome him to LAVA and look forward to working with him.”
Joyce’s appointment follows the recent addition of five new hires at LAVA, including three Associate Directors, an Analyst, and an Operations Coordinator.
About LAVA:
LAVA is a unique M&A advisory firm that prides itself on never doing the same deal twice. With a creative and bespoke approach to dealmaking, LAVA leverages its extensive experience to deliver impactful results for its clients. Whether it’s buy side, sell side, or purely advisory, LAVA has the expertise to handle any transaction.
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Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of LAVA Advisory Partners, on Friday 4 July, 2025. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/
