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Banking and finance
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Banking and finance

1
- asb law LLP (Crawley, Maidstone)
- Blake Morgan LLP (Southampton, Reading)
- EMW Law LLP (Milton Keynes)
- Osborne Clarke (Reading)
- Pitmans LLP (Reading)
- Shoosmiths LLP (Reading, Solent, Milton Keynes)
2
- Bond Dickinson LLP (Southampton)
- Cripps LLP (Tunbridge Wells)
- DMH Stallard LLP (Gatwick)
- Irwin Mitchell (Crawley)
- Mundays LLP (Cobham)
- Paris Smith LLP (Southampton)
- Stevens & Bolton LLP (Guildford)
3
- Birketts LLP (Chelmsford)
- Dentons (Milton Keynes)
- Field Seymour Parkes LLP (Reading)
- IBB (Iliffes Booth Bennett) (Uxbridge)
- Penningtons Manches LLP (Reading)
- Trethowans LLP (Southampton)

Leading individuals

1
- Guy Constant - Blake Morgan LLP
- Rich Eldridge - Penningtons Manches LLP
- Graham Jeffries - Bond Dickinson LLP
- Hugh Jones - Osborne Clarke
- Patrick Long - Pitmans LLP
- Kath Shimmin - Blake Morgan LLP
- Claire Williams - asb law LLP

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Claire Williams leads asb law LLP’s ‘excellent’ team, which acts for a mixed client base of borrowers and lenders including HSBC, Big Box Storage Centres and Lloyds Bank. Nigel Wigin advised Lloyds Bank on a £3.5m refinance deal. Also recommended are Andrew Hoad, Chris Worthington and consultant Shaun Kelly.

Blake Morgan LLP is on the lending panels of all of the UK’s clearing banks and also has a significant presence on banks’ retail and investment panels. Kath Shimmin, who is noted for her ‘strong commercial mindset’, is leading on the finance aspects of the £120m redevelopment of Gatwick Airport Station for the Department for Transport. Guy Constant and senior associate Steve Cole, an Islamic finance specialist, are also recommended.

Practice head Ian Mabbutt at EMW Law LLP advised Riverside Capital on the acquisition financing of its purchase of a property portfolio. Joe Soul leads on healthcare financing.

At Osborne Clarke, practice head Hugh Jones has historically advised Barclays Bank on refinancing and real estate matters. Legal director Rebecca Scott and associate Victoria Clarke are other names to note.

Pitmans LLP’s ‘excellent’ team provides ‘exemplary and trusted’ advice and has a ‘wide skillset’, including a developing Islamic finance capability which saw the firm’s appointment to the legal panel of Habib Bank AG Zurich. Department head Patrick Long is ‘very responsive’ and ‘appropriately supported by a suitably qualified and knowledgeable team’, which includes Stephanie Perry and director Mark Metcalfe. Other clients include Santander and Handelsbanken.

Lender-side highlights for Shoosmiths LLP’s ‘excellent’ team included assisting HSBC with a £40m facility provided to ITSU to refinance existing indebtedness and fund working capital. Practice head Rebecca Mauleverer led the advice. On the borrower side, Linda Williams advised 23.5 Degrees North on the financing of the first Starbucks franchise in the UK. Sean Wright is a key name for private equity-backed acquisition financing.

Bond Dickinson LLP has a strong track record in borrower-side work and is a go-to firm for energy financing. Clients include Chemring Group and Renewable Energy Systems. The ‘expert’ Graham Jeffries has ‘real command of deals’.

The ‘professional’ team at Cripps LLP is ‘skilled in all areas of commercial banking’. It particularly stands out for its real estate capabilities, which it utilised in advising Millwood Designer Homes on a £20m revolving credit facility with Santander. James Beatton, Nigel Stanford and healthcare specialist Nick Austen are the key names.

DMH Stallard LLP’s ‘excellent’ team was reappointed to several banking panels in 2015 and further strengthened its footprint in the region through its merger with AWB Partnership. Gwen Godfrey leads the team, which provides ‘sensible and timely commercial advice’ and includes Anne Milne, a key name for property finance and Ralph Crane, who has a following in the healthcare industry.

Irwin Mitchell’s absorption of Thomas Eggar LLP gave it a strong foothold in Crawley. Highlights for the team included advising RBS on financing the management buyout of the London arm of a shipping brokerage firm. Practice head Sarah Naylor led the advice. David Fanchi is a key name for property finance.

Mundays LLP’s practice is led by dual UK and US-qualified partner Mark Andrew and includes Neale Andrews, who specialises in corporate financing. Clients include Close Brothers and Jordan International Bank, and the team is experiencing an uptick in instructions from non-banking lenders involved in mezzanine lending. George Georgiou left the firm in 2016.

Paris Smith LLP has noted a substantial uptick in instructions to handle property financing. The ‘very good’ James McNeil leads the team, which advises clients including Santander, Lloyds Bank and Alfred Homes.

Stevens & Bolton LLP’s team, led by Jonathan Porteous, is noted for its ‘good level of knowledge and advice’ and has been particularly active in refinancing and vendor finance matters. Also recommended are Joe Bedford, who works across the firm’s corporate and finance teams, and senior associate Andrew Dodds. Clients include Santander and Kia Motors.

Birketts LLP has restructured its team following the departure of Richard Payne to an in-house position; the ‘knowledgeable’ Adam Jones is taking a greater role on lender-side mandates and Duncan Williamson joined from Laytons. Mark Henry leads the team from Ipswich. Clients include Santander and HSBC.

At Dentons, Peter Cox ‘impresses with his strong industry knowledge’. Highlights included advising Knight Therapeutics on English term loan documentation drafted by the borrower.

At Field Seymour Parkes LLP, ‘outstanding’ practice head John Barker advised Ultimate Capital and its sister company Ultimate Opportunities on mezzanine and bridging finance facilities.

Highlights for IBB (Iliffes Booth Bennett)’s team included advising AIB Group on financing the restructuring of Harlequins RFC. Ross Johnstone and David Clark are recommended.

Rich Eldridge leads Penningtons Manches LLP’s ‘professional and diligent’ team, which includes associate John Chater. The team advised Northumberland Development Land, part of the Carebase group, on two term loan facilities.

At Trethowans LLP, the ‘knowledgeable’ Nick Gent advised Santander on two separate refinancing deals for the same client. Sophie Eales joined from Bond Dickinson LLP in 2015.

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Legal Developments in South East for Banking and finance

New revised guidelines for administrators in pre-pack sales

Pre-pack sales by administrators are now used frequently enough for most people in business to be aware of them and many have come across them in their business lives. A small amount of controversy still attaches to pre-packs, but it is probably right to say that they are now an accepted part of the UK business scene as a useful means of rescuing a business in difficulty and preserving some or all of the jobs connected with the business.

- Druces

Legal Developments in the UK

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

Cayman Islands Introduces Beneficial Ownership Register

The Cayman Islands government has now introduced legislative changes which will require relevant companies (“Relevant Companies”) to prepare and maintain a register of beneficial owners (the “Register of Beneficial Owners ”).

- Stuarts, Walker Hersant Humphries Attorneys-At-Law

THE DANGERS OF CARTELS.

Syedur Rahman and Nicola Sharp consider two recent cartel cases and examine why businesses must take care not to become involved in such behaviour.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

THE SFO AND SECTION TWO INTERVIEWS: WHY ROBUST DEFENCE IS NEEDED

Aziz Rahman explains why the SFO’s insistence that solicitors cannot be present for interviews under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act can be and should be challenged.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

THE FOURTH EU ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING DIRECTIVE: WHAT IT MEANS FOR BUSINESS

With the Directive coming into effect, Aziz Rahman examines its implications.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

THE HUGE COSTS OF BRIBERY

Aziz Rahman looks at the case of Petrofac, explains how bribery can ruin a company and emphasises what must be done to prevent it.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

CROSS-BORDER INVESTIGATIONS

The huge Petrobras bribery scandal has engulfed companies in many countries. Syedur Rahman and Nicola Sharp explain what needs to be done if your company is investigated in more than one country.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

CORRUPTION: HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF

Aziz Rahman outlines why allegations of corruption in football should act as a warning to everyone in business about the need to prevent wrongdoing.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

CHALLENGING FCA ACCUSATIONS

Nicola Sharp and Syedur Rahman explain how changes to the way the FCA investigates cases will make it easier for companies and individuals to negotiate the best possible outcome.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

OBTAINING A DPA

With deferred prosecution agreements (DPA’s) becoming more common, Aziz Rahman considers how a company under investigation can enhance its chances of obtaining one in order to avoid prosecution.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

WHAT THE CRIMINAL FINANCES BILL MEANS FOR ASSET SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE

Syedur Rahman and Nicola Sharp examine the changes likely when the Criminal Finances Bill becomes law.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

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

Pitmans crowned as top firm for trainee work/life balance

Pitmans has been awarded winner of the best work/life balance in the 2016 Lex 100 - a survey that is recognised as the most comprehensive valuation of training opportunities at law firms across the UK.

- Pitmans LLP

Gender Pay Gaps: The Latest Reporting Requirements

On average, male employees are paid more than female employees. In 2015, men working full-time were paid approximately 9.4% more than women working full-time. As a result, the government is working to introduce measures with the aim of reducing this gap.

- Pitmans LLP

Pitmans acts on Westcoast’s acquisition of Art Systems Holdings Ltd

Pitmans LLP has acted on behalf of its longstanding client, Westcoast (Holdings) Limited on its acquisition of Art Systems Holdings Limited.

- Pitmans LLP

Insolvency Update: Changes that take effect from April 2016

The Department of Justice has issued a practice direction in connection with the new insolvency express trials pilot.

- Pitmans LLP

The Apprenticeship Levy

Following last year’s autumn statement, HMRC has now published draft legislation which introduces the proposed new apprenticeship levy. The levy will have effect from 6 April 2017.

- Pitmans LLP

Coutinho -v- Liverpool Victoria Insurance Company Ltd Judgment 29 April 2016

SOUTHAMPTON -- LV=, represented by Pitmans LLP, have won a case involving a fraudulent household insurance claim worth almost £50,000.

- Pitmans LLP

Pitmans promotes two Partners

Pitmans today announced that Oliver Kelly (corporate) and Matt Heyworth (private client) will become partners as of 1 May 2016.

- Pitmans LLP

Pitmans advised the acquirer and the management team on the £12M MBO of Westfield Medical

The management team were backed by Maven Capital Partners with PNC providing debt facilities.

- Pitmans LLP

Supreme Court ruling will lead to increase in business rates

Many businesses will be liable for increased business rates following last year’s Supreme Court ruling in Woolway (Valuation Officer) v Mazars LLP.

- Pitmans LLP

Pitmans advises Premier Marina Ltd on Noss Marina Acquisition

Pitmans has advised Premier Marinas Limited on its acquisition of Noss Marina, which is just outside Dartmouth, from the Administrators Duff & Phelps.

- Pitmans LLP