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‘A first-choice firm’ with great strength in depth, Addleshaw Goddard LLP handles a wealth of corporate banking, real estate, acquisition and asset finance mandates, as well as financial restructurings for major lenders and corporate borrowers. Amanda Gray and Martin O’Shea are both ‘very knowledgeable, practical and proactive’ on leveraged and real estate transactions. Andrew Maskill is ‘a very commercial lawyer with considerable experience and expertise in asset finance’.

Recommended for complex, cross-border financings, DLA Piper UK LLP’s Matthew Christmas ‘provides sensible, commercial legal advice during challenging negotiations’, and real estate finance partner Hans Scheiwiller is ‘knowledgeable and commercial’. Recent matters include advising lenders on Betfred’s acquisition of The Tote. It lost Liz Sweeney to EOS Law LLP, but hired Alan Cunningham from DWF LLP to lead on asset finance mandates. Derivatives and structured finance specialist John Delamere joined from Shearman & Sterling LLP.

Eversheds LLP’s ‘strong banking team’ combines ‘local knowledge with quick response times’, and remains focused on acting for borrowers. Nigel Dale ‘has a depth of knowledge, enabling him to give practical, informed advice’, and recently acting for lenders and borrowers on various refinancings, including HSBC’s global refinancing of Olaer Group. Simon Prendergast leads on asset based lending matters, and advised HSBC Invoice Finance on the restructuring of Celsa Steel.

Pinsent Masons LLP has a strong lender client base, acting for names including The Co-Operative Bank, Lloyds Banking Group and HSBC. ‘Pragmatic and good to work with’, Matt Morgan leads on real estate and corporate financings, recently acting for HSBC on funding a private equity backed MBO of Intrinsic Technology. The firm’s merger with McGrigors LLP added the capabilities of a team led by Samantha Rollason, who is ‘extremely commercial and gives good-quality, sensible advice’.

DWF LLP’s corporate banking practice is led by Jonathan Edwards, ‘an excellent lawyer and a pleasure to deal with’, while other well-regarded individuals include the ‘sensible, commercial’ James Szerdy and Helen Johnston. Highlights included acting for Q-Park on its multimillion-pound debt refinancing; and advising The Co-operative Bank on a £60m financing to acquire and develop branded hotels across the North of England and the Midlands. Graham Hall left for Shoosmiths.

At Brabners Chaffe Street LLP, corporate finance specialist Tony Harper heads the department, and Charlotte Round acts for lenders and borrowers on a range of transactions. Liverpool-based Mark Glenville focuses on secured lending and development finance. The practice remains predominantly lender oriented, with clients including RBS, Lloyds TSB and National Westminster.

Cobbetts LLP handles mid-market corporate and real estate financings. Key clients include RBS and Santander, and the practice has also been increasingly acting for HSBC and Lloyds TSB. Practice head Paul Brown is ‘commercial, in that he doesn’t try to point score in deals, preferring to adopt a realistic view to make things happen’.

Gateley acts for both banks and corporate borrowers, with recent matters including advising on Varenna Holdings’ £40m debt facility agreement from Bank of Scotland, and Santander’s £3m financing for Equity Solutions & Partners. Rick Sealy heads the team, and Susan Molloy focuses on project finance and corporate lending.

Valued for its ‘in-depth knowledge’, Hill Dickinson LLP acts for corporate borrowers, asset finance groups and major UK banks. Richard Capper heads the practice. Beverley Bentley, who has ‘excellent knowledge and is very responsive’, acted for Lloyds on the secondary buyout of Go Outdoors. Patrick Keown advised Manchester Cables on a £43.1m refinancing.

Pannone LLP has a ‘partner-led approach, with capable, experienced banking lawyers that offer a real focus on the North West’. Rob Fawke is ‘one of the best technical banking practitioners in the region’, and recently acted for Santander on £45m-worth of debt facilities for retail property acquisitions. Andrew Gosnay advised on Bardsley Construction’s £65m refinancing by National Westminster Bank.

Squire Sanders LLP ‘applies a genuinely collaborative and commercial approach’ in acting for banks and borrowers. Practice head Claire Shepherd advised PNC Business Credit on asset based refinancings, and RBS on a £16m real estate financing. Recently arrived from the firm’s Leeds office, Matthew Ingram ‘is efficient and prepared to understand business needs’.

‘Approachable and commercial, with a strong emphasis on working in partnership with its clients’, George Davies Solicitors LLP’s three-partner team includes Shaun Rearden, who advised B3 Cable Solutions on a £55.1m asset backed financing from PNC.

Led by George MacMillan, Kuit Steinart Levy LLP has particular strength in real estate financing, acting for both lending institutions and borrowers.

Weightmans LLP’s Mike Yardley is ‘convivial, knowledgeable, and has a cost-effective approach towards matters’. He recently acted for The Co-operative Bank on various refinancings.

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