'They have tremendous client-facing skills and inspire confidence in their professional skills,' say clients of the lawyers at Birketts LLP. The firm counts major lenders including HSBC and Lloyds Bank among its clients, though it also has a strong flow of borrower-side work. Its range of niche specialisms includes investment property funding, agricultural finance and acquisition finance. Mark Henry and Andrew Tubb in Ipswich, along with James Allen in Cambridge, are the lead partners. Greg Allan in Norwich, who handles leveraged finance to property development finance, and real estate finance specialist Alex Schaafsma in Cambridge are also recommended.

Mills & Reeve LLP's Cambridge office is the hub for a multi-faceted banking and finance practice that handles domestic and cross-border lending, capital markets issuance and niche areas such as real estate finance for borrowers and lenders. Among its clients are banks, debt funds, local authorities and government bodies. Corporate and acquisition finance partner William Roles, who works in both London and Cambridge, leads the practice. Sarah Seed handles finance matters in the not-for-profit sector, Laura Holdaway real estate finance and Norwich-based Zak Virgin asset-based lending. In Cambridge, principal associates Matthew Howling and Frances Churchard are also recommended.

Ashtons Legal in Bury St Edmunds has 'an approachable and practical team that demonstrates strong commerciality'. The firm works predominantly for lenders, with HSBC Bank, Handelsbanken and Clydesdale Bank among its key clients. It focuses predominantly on real estate secured lending, agricultural finance, corporate finance and construction finance, with loans typically in the £2m to £15m range. The 'unflappable, calm and extremely helpful' Ron Clare leads the practice.

Greene & Greene in Bury St Edmunds acts for corporate borrowers in increasingly high-value financing transactions. Strong in regional matters, it increasingly acts for London-based and national clients, and it is involved in transactions with cross-border elements. Recent work includes parties in the US, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Libya and throughout Europe. Simon Ratcliffe leads the practice, which counts multinational companies, investors, SMEs and owner-managed businesses among its clients. Partner Andrew Cooper and associate Mark Williams are also recommended.

Howes Percival LLP in Norwich focuses on real estate and development finance, building on the strength of its commercial property and agriculture teams. 'The stability of the team means that they know the historical context of current transactions and understand what we are trying to achieve', remarks one client. Alongside corporate borrowers, the firm counts lenders such as HSBC and Lloyds Bank among its clients. Lead partner Joanna Nicholls, head of real estate Tessa Haskey and Cambridge-based real estate finance specialist Will Stokes are highly recommended.

The Cambridge office of Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP plays a key part in the firm-wide banking and finance practice that not only advises some of the world's most active lending banks, but also has a large roster of large corporate borrowers in the healthcare, real estate, retail, education, construction and social housing sectors. The practice led by Helen Drayton, who handles acquisition finance, bi-lateral lending and development finance, works with the London office to assist banks and investors outside of the EEA to enter the UK.

The Peterborough office of Greenwoods GRM works closely with its London-based team to act for banks and corporate borrowers. The firm has created an Inward Investment group that includes dual-qualified lawyers with expertise in German and Italian commerce to handle cross-border investment transactions. Corporate partner Alastair Gunn is the key practitioner in East Anglia, with senior associate Jamie McConnell handling contentious matters.