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Banking and finance

The highly regarded Philip Vaughan leads Eversheds LLP’s team, which is valued for its ‘excellent’ performance and ability to deliver appropriate structures in tight timescales. It handles a significant flow of high-quality lending work for clients such as Barclays, HSBC, and Nemo Personal Finance. In 2011 it was involved on a number of sales and purchases of mortgage and other debt portfolios, including the purchase of the consumer loan portfolio of MBNA by a finance consortium. Senior associates Fraser MacRae and Joanne Canning are recommended.

Dominic Marshall has overseen an impressive rise in Hugh James’ profile, attracting refinancing work from the City. The firm is on panel for most of the active lenders in Wales, and was appointed by Santander as sole UK provider on commercial transactions of up to £2.5m. Marshall ‘goes the extra mile’, and his team is noted for its strength in depth and value for money. Social housing is also a key sector, with the ‘no-nonsense’ Robert Morgan ‘rated very highly’.

Karl Baranski at Geldards LLP is instructed by leading banks, the Welsh government, and various corporates. His ‘advice is commercial and current’, and he is ‘good to have on your side’.

Leading banking specialist Meryl Morgan at Morgan Cole is recommended for her ‘professional manner, business acumen and friendliness’, and the wider team is ‘very responsive and efficient’; the ‘overall level of service is excellent’. Clients include HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, and Santander, a new client in 2011. The firm is recommended for regulatory issues.

Beverley Jones heads up the banking practice at Acuity Legal Limited. She advised on the £40m refinancing of the Leckwith (Cardiff City FC) retail park, and the first-stage funding for Lifecare Residences Limited’s £90m Battersea project.

Morgan LaRoche Limited is active for a number of banks, and in the social housing sector. William Barletta is ‘prompt’ and ‘professional’.

Insolvency and corporate recovery

Philip Vaughan at Eversheds LLP acts for the Big Four accountants. Instructions in 2011 came from Grant Thornton (in relation to Gomer Electrical); PwC (in relation to Lehmans’ commercial mortgage portfolio); and Deloitte (in relation to Maes Manor Hotel).

The ‘excellent’ Kempton Rees and Ian Herbert at Darwin Gray advise the Big Four accountants and various local IPs. The team is often called on to advise directors and struggling businesses attempting to avoid an insolvent situation.

Hunt Morgan Rostron is a niche practice; its three name partners are all time-served insolvency experts. The firm handles contentious and non-contentious matters, both corporate and individual, and has a loyal client base of IPs nationwide.

Paul Caldicott at Morgan Cole has been busier than many, and is recommended for complex and difficult issues. With strong commercial and property support within the firm, Caldicott consistently steps up to the mark where deals are time critical; he is ‘approachable, knowledgeable and professional’.

Karl Baranski at Geldards LLP is recommended for technical insolvency and security advice, and can draw on the firm’s good commercial depth and corporate tax expertise.

Alex Pay at MLM Cartwright has been advising on a mix of individual and corporate matters, for clients including Deloitte and BDO. He also advised in a number of disputes with HMRC, one involving ‘time to pay’ arrangements.

Rachelle Sellek heads up the team at Acuity Legal Limited, specialising in pre-appointment transactions. John Morris handles contentious matters.

Berry Smith has a cross-departmental team which acts for a number of administrators throughout the region, as well as for clients looking to acquire distressed businesses.

Capital Law LLP advises directors of companies in difficulty. Duncan Macintosh leads on non-contentious issues, and Philip Jones on contentious matters.

Helen Tudball joined Gabb And Co as a partner in April 2012, blending her client base of South Wales and Southwest England IPs with the firm’s established Mid Wales client base.

Gareth Llewellyn Williams is ‘the very best in South Wales’, and leads a ‘highly competent’ team at JCP Solicitors. It has seen an increase in instructions from fixed-charge receivers such as Colliers International and Eddisons Commercial Limited. Williams advised Swansea City FC on its voluntary arrangement.

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