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Banking and finance

The pre-eminent practice in the region, Osborne Clarke provides a ‘first-class service’. The ‘wholly reliable and experienced’ Hugh Jones leads the team, which is particularly rated for its leveraged finance experience. In 2010 the ‘knowledgeable’ group advised RBS and LBG on the financing of a sales and letting agency; added NAB Clydesdale and the Bank of Montreal to its impressive client roster; and was newly appointed to the Santander Group and Investec Bank panels.

The ‘very efficient and responsive’ team at asb law LLP focuses on corporate finance work. In 2010 it advised Erste Group Bank in a $9.57m term loan facility, and was appointed to the panel of Aldermore Bank. Angela Haywood, Helen Mead and the ‘very knowledgeableClaire Williams are recommended.

Blake Lapthorn acts for the likes of Barclays, HSBC and Santander, providing ‘concise and quick advice’ and a ‘practical approach’ on finance matters. The ‘knowledgeableKath Shimmin has ‘good business acumen’, and the ‘flexible and proactiveRichard Eldridgethinks on his feet’. The team acted on transactions in the health, education and real estate sectors in 2010.

The ‘truly excellentBond Pearce LLP advised Rockspring on the financing to fund the acquisition of four shopping centres provided by EuroHypo. The ‘very responsive, excellent and commercial’ Graham Jeffries leads the team, and Sophie Eales is also recommended. Key clients include the Chemring Group.

John Barker’s ‘highly competent’ team at Boyes Turner is rated ‘ten out of ten’ by clients. With a ‘very commercial approach’, the ‘entrepreneurial’ firm advises Santander, HSBC and Clydesdale Bank. The ‘very experienced’ Barker is ‘a pleasure to do business with’, and recently led in advising the Bank of Ireland in a term loan facility.

With experience in property finance and asset-based lending, EMW was appointed to the asset finance panel of Santander in 2010. The team, led by Ian Mabbutt, also advised AIM-listed company Praesepe on the reverse takeover of Beacon Entertainments and its subsidiaries for £50m.

Highlights for Guy Constant’s team at Morgan Cole included advising HSBC and HSBC Invoice Finance on the funding of Logicalis Group to refinance its existing debt. Based in Reading and Oxford, the team counts Svenska Handelsbanken, HSBC and Co-operative Bank as clients.

The ‘proactive and experienced’ team at Pitmans LLP includes four partners and is led by Patrick Long, who is ‘willing to go the extra mile’. The practice delivers ‘accurate and timely advice’, and has ten bank panel appointments.

Shoosmiths’ South East-wide practice is renowned for its ‘top-quality advice’. Rated for his ‘genuine deal making ability’, Sean Wright is ‘very commercial, knowledgeable, and knows his stuff’, and advised RBS in its financing of the Isis-led buyout of Encore Tickets. Chris McClure has ‘excellent industry knowledge’ and is a leader in aircraft and railway rolling stock work. Colin Mattis can ‘hold his own and negotiates well under pressure’. The team combines ‘City-quality advice with value for money’.

Stevens & Bolton LLP handles work for both lenders and borrowers across acquisition, real estate and structured finance. The team has ‘high levels of relevant industry experience’, and recently advised Rydon Group in a restructuring and refinancing of its £52m of banking facilities with Lloyds. Jonathan Porteous has ‘incredible attention to detail’. Joe Bedford is also recommended.

Excellent in all areas’, Clarke Willmott LLP added HSBC and Lloyds to its client roster in 2010. It also advised on the £200m facilities relating to the acquisition of the Extra MSA chain of motorway service stations by Evergreen Real Estate Partners. Kelvin Balmont is ‘very responsive’.

DMH Stallard LLP was substantially boosted by a merger with SM Reed & Co. in 2010, and now has niche expertise in advising on acquisitions and refinancings within the healthcare sector. The ‘very proactive’ team impresses with its ‘high level of sector knowledge’, and is led by Gwen Godfrey. Stephen Reed is also rated.

A ‘very strong local firm with a City punch’, Mundays LLP was appointed to the panel of a retail bank in 2010. Santander and Close Brothers are also clients. The four-partner team provides ‘very appropriate advice’, and practice head Mark Andrew is ‘very commercial’. Neale Andrews is ‘excellent’.

James McNeil’s team at Paris Smith LLP provides a ‘cohesive service’. It advises on property, acquisition, leverage and project finance transactions, and recently assisted in Sisco’s sale of Fibercore for $22m.

SNR Denton recently advised Lloyds on its £26m funding package to Silverstone to host the F1 British Grand Prix. Brandon Ransley has a ‘strong legal mind’, and Robert Wyatt is ‘one the most knowledgeable lawyers around the table’.

The ‘efficient and business savvy’ team at Thomas Eggar LLP has a combination of broad experience and niche expertise in consumer finance and private lending. ‘Top quality transactional lawyerDan Bastide led in advising Sussex Waste Recycling on a £14m refinancing matter. Steven Clifford is ‘top class’.

Trethowans LLP’s team has ‘a sound understanding’ of banking matters, and Chris Twaits’ ‘clear and unequivocal advice’ is highly rated. The arrival of Nick Gent from Blake Lapthorn in 2010 further strengthened the team.


Insolvency and corporate recovery

Firmly in the top tier, asb law LLP’s ‘creative and commercially aware’ group advises on asset recovery, liquidations, company voluntary arrangements (CVAs), and antecedent transactions litigation. It recently advised an aviation sector client in an administration case. The ‘exceptionalAndy Taylor is a renowned ‘market leader’.

Following a transitional period, Blake Lapthorn has re-established a formidable practice, with knowledge that is ‘second to none’. It recently advised KPMG in a bankruptcy matter and BDO in an administration proceeding. Adrian Owen is ‘very commercial’, and Mike Pavitt gives ‘good, practical advice’. Asset-based lending specialist Chris Willison in London is ‘technically excellent’, and consultant Paul Rippon in Oxford is ‘hugely experienced’.

Led by the ‘exceptionally able’ Nick Keitley, Bond Pearce LLP has a formidable reputation in the area and acts for a host of insolvency practitioners. In 2010, it advised on the administration proceedings of Oil and Water, Pure Organics, Emote Games, Stylus Sports, Card Data Management and Dantron. Associate Susie Meikle ‘deals with issues head on’. Clients include Grant Thornton, PwC and Begbies Traynor.

Delivering ‘consistent first-class service’, Boyes Turner advises insolvency practitioners and banks, and has growing expertise in bank advisory work, asset tracing and fraud. Led by the ‘highly professional and commercially mindedPhil Smith, the team advised the Asset Management Unit of the Bank of Ireland on the insolvency of Southern Care Home Group. Chris Branson is ‘excellent’, and associate Kathryn James is ‘solid and dependable’.

Clarke Willmott LLP impresses with its ‘insolvency knowledge and experience’ and ‘speedy responses’. Qualified insolvency practitioner Matthew Barker is a ‘sound strategist’, and advised RSM Tenon on the administration of a research and development business. Associate Maz Rahmati is a ‘powerful networker’. Clients include NatWest, Middleton Partners, Bibby Trade and Bibby Factors.

Matthew Arnold & Baldwin LLP’s Watford-based Mark Tempest and Bill Ramsey can call on the strength of the firm’s London team (and group head Carolyn Jones) to offer wide-ranging expertise. The team is experienced in insolvency matters, including liquidations, advice to asset-based lenders and LPA receiverships. Clients include Bank of Cyprus, King Sturge, Barclays Bank, KPMG and Tenon Recovery.

Providing a ‘premium service’ together with a ‘great blend of experience and value for money’, Coffin Mew LLP provides advice to insolvency practitioners. In 2010 it advised Portland on a partnership administration, and also advised on several pre-pack administrations. New clients include PwC, Grant Thornton and Mazars. Malcolm Niekirk is ‘technically strong’, and Tim Gleeson is recommended.

Pitmans LLP provides ‘prompt commercial responses’ which are ‘technically spot-on’. The large team is noted for advising asset-based lenders, and clients from the construction, property and automotive sectors. Insolvency practitioner Suzanne Brooker has ‘excellent communication skills’; and the ‘first-classNicola Kirk has ‘industry knowledge that is second to none’ and ‘gets to the crux of the matter quickly’.

Experienced in international insolvencies and fraud-related issues, Martin Cross now leads the ‘helpful’ team at Thomas Eggar LLP, which continues to act for FRP Advisory in the administration of Cliffgroup. PwC, Baker Tilly and KPMG are all clients. Gary Player left in 2010 to set up his own firm, Players Solicitors.

Birkett Long LLP fields an ‘outstanding, proactive and dedicated’ insolvency team. Simon Loome is a ‘highly skilled and strategic litigator with an exemplary success rate’.

Birketts LLP’s team in Chelmsford can also call on the strength of partners in East Anglia to provide broad expertise. Rafael Ruiz leads the South East-based group and senior associate Matthew Weston is recommended. The team acts for Baker Tilly.

With ‘excellent technical expertise’, Charles Russell LLP was appointed to advise on the liquidation of Sixty UK, trading as fashion brand Miss Sixty, in 2010. The ‘robust and able’ team continues to advise on the administration of Awal Bank, and is rated for its experience in property-related insolvencies, where Peter Levaggi has ‘encyclopaedic knowledge’. Practice head James Hyne is ‘vigorous and highly commercial’.

Darbys Solicitors LLP’s ‘excellent insolvency litigation team’ advised on the administration of Track Seminars, and continues to represent an insolvency practitioner in the High Court regarding the administration of Northwich Victoria FC. With a ‘calm and methodical approach’, Elizabeth Taylor is a ‘solid player’ in the arena. The firm lost Howard Roberts to Leeds-based Schofield Sweeney in 2010. Associate Caroline Benfield is ‘very bright and promising’.

Delivering ‘pragmatic advice’, Lamport Bassitt advises insolvency practitioners and accountants. Rick Munro is noted for his ‘no-nonsense approach’, and is currently acting for the liquidator of a fashion retail company. Neil Stewart provides ‘inventive solutions that work’.

The ‘excellent’ Noel Ruddy at PDT Solicitors advises insolvency practitioners, and has notable experience in asset-based lending.


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Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
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Press Releases in the UK

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to