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Under the peerless guidance of partner Hugh Jones, Osborne Clarke enjoyed another outstanding year. Highlights included acting for RBS on the £185m financing of Mouchel Group and advising Barclays on the £7m financing of Project Tristar.

The ‘always approachable‘ Kath Shimmin runs the team at Blake Lapthorn, where ‘an excellent value-for-money service is provided on all transactions‘. Richard Eldridge - ’a very sound and experienced banking lawyer‘ - was made partner in May 2009. The firm is on the panels for Abbey, HBOS and Clydesdale Bank.

Graham Jeffries heads Bond Pearce LLP’s practice, which was appointed to HSBC’s panel for property, acquisition and corporate matters in 2009.

Boyes Turner’s coup of securing former Osborne Clarke partner John Barker to head its practice, makes it one to watch. As one client says, this is ‘a great acquisition and he will enable the firm to move into more complex, higher-value work‘.

EMW Picton Howell LLP’s merger proved immediately successful, with the combined practice winning appointments to the panels of Fortis Bank and Alliance & Leicester.

‘Consistently excellent in terms of response times, commerciality, courtesy and diligence‘, Morgan Cole was appointed to the Co-operative Bank and Lloyds TSB panels in 2008. Practice head Guy Constant is praised for his ‘speed of response and legal advice‘.

Considered by clients as ‘by far the best law firm in the Solent‘, Shoosmiths’ large finance team should benefit from the arrival of Chris McClure, formerly at Blake Lapthorn. Acquisition finance partner Sean Wright ‘always adopts a practical approach to problem solving‘ and Colin Mattis is ‘able to see a deal commercially‘.

‘Hands on and resourceful‘, Stevens & Bolton LLP is a panel firm for Lloyds TSB, Clydesdale Bank, Fortis Bank and HBOS. Practice head Jonathan Porteous demonstrates ‘a high level of ability‘, and real estate finance partner Andrew Steele has an ‘excellent work ethic‘.

At the ‘user-friendly‘ asb law, head of corporate finance Helen Mead is praised for her ‘commercial view‘. The team is on the Lloyds TSB, HSBC and Clydesdale Bank panels.

Clarke Willmott LLP is led by corporate partner Sally Norcross Webb, and is on the mid-value Bank of Scotland and HSBC panels. The team continues to do property finance and corporate work for RBS.

Denton Wilde Sapte LLP, strengthened by the move of numerous partners from Howes Percival LLP’s Milton Keynes office, has recently acted for banks such as HSBC and RBS.

Ross Johnstone heads a four-partner team at IBB (Iliffes Booth Bennett) whose main strength is property finance. The firm also has expertise in loan restructuring.

Kimbells LLP continues to work for RBS and joined the HSBC regional panel. Mark Archer leads the team.

Clients of Mundays LLP praise partner Mark Andrew as ‘extremely knowledgeable and experienced‘.

At Pitmans, ‘service and performance are excellent‘. ‘Practical and solutions orientated‘ partner Patrick Long was joined by consultant Jim Meechan, previously of HBOS, who brings expertise in senior and mezzanine finance to the practice.

Thomas Eggar LLP opened a Southampton office in September 2008, and was joined by care industry specialist Estelle Clarke. The firm acts for HSBC, RBS and HBOS, as well as enjoying strong borrower and private investor practices.

Field Seymour Parkes is ‘happy to go the extra mile‘.

Wollastons offers an ‘excellent service‘ to clients.

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