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The ‘excellent’ team at Dickinson Dees LLP is praised for its ‘strong commercial approach’. Key highlights included acting for the University of Durham on its £70m funding facility from Barclays, and for RBS, HSBC and Lloyds TSB on several multimillion-pound funding facilities. Deborah Kirtley and John Ralph jointly lead the team, which includes a dedicated asset finance group.

Julie Harrison, who provides a ‘commercial and practical point of view’, heads up the full-service team at Ward Hadaway, which is a panel firm for many prominent banks. It recently acted for Barclays on multiple high-value transactions, and for two substantial borrowers in relation to acquisition finance facilities.

Muckle LLP is considered a ‘trusted adviser that provides professional, commercial and friendly advice’. Team head Louise Duffy, who is singled out for her ‘constructive’ advice, advised Bank of Scotland on additional funding matters, and new client Santander UK on several transactions in the healthcare space. Stephen McNicol enjoys a strong reputation.

At Hay & Kilner, practice head Phil Broadhurst provides ‘a professional and prompt service that is delivered with a personal touch’. The firm is on several bank panels and continues to act for a major mortgage and general insurance broker. It has a national regulatory compliance offering.

The ‘excellent’ team at Optima Legal, which includes the ‘outstanding’ Chris Johnston and the ‘practical and accessible’ Jonathan Yates, advised Lloyds TSB on a £4m secured loan to two BVI-registered companies.

Sintons LLP advised on the refinancing of a £14m care home portfolio, and the restructuring of a £10m leisure portfolio, and also assisted a bank with a security review relating to a £20m facility. The team counts AIB Group, Dunbar Bank and Davenham Group plc as clients.

At Watson Burton LLP, Mark Lazenby is an ‘invaluable source of help on banking matters’, and heads the practice, which spans the firm’s Newcastle and Leeds offices. It is a panel firm for many leading banks, and has a strong borrower client base. Key highlights included advising Watchmoor Estates, a longstanding client, on the restructuring of a £34m property acquisition credit facility.

Jacksons Law’s expertise includes corporate and property finance. It is a panel firm for multiple banks, and has recently advised on insolvency, refinancing and secured lending matters.

2010 saw the team at Mincoff Solicitors LLP advise on alternative funding options and on the restructuring and amendment of existing credit facilities, for clients including Northern Bear plc. John Nicholson is the key banking contact.

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Legal Developments in the UK

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  • A justified retrospective

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  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

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  • Public Sector Equality Duty

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  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue:
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  • Premium service for tier 2 and 5 sponsors to be launched

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