The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > North West > Banking and finance

Addleshaw Goddard offers in-depth experience across a range of banking and finance mandates. Corporate banking, leveraged finance, project finance, and real estate finance are key areas of expertise, and the team particularly stands out for its proficiency in asset-based lending and asset finance (equipment leasing and finance) instructions. With borrower and major lender clients, the team is active across transactions in the energy, finance, health, transport and retail and consumer sectors. Department head Martin O’Shea is a 'leading light for North West banking and finance'; Andrew Maskill heads the firm's asset finance practice; Simon Prendergast specialises in asset based lending and receivables financing; Richard Oman has a particular focus on corporate lending and leveraged acquisition finance matters; and Katie Ridehalgh specialises in real estate finance. Legal directors Caroline Gray and  Ben Edwards are also key figures.

DLA Piper UK LLP stands out for its debt finance and asset based lending expertise, and it is experienced in alternative and complex debt structures. Real estate finance and large corporate transactions are a mainstay of the practice and it is adept at handling complex cross-border instructions. The team acts for numerous banks, borrowers, funds and sponsors. Department head Matthew Christmas  is 'exceptional' and the 'strong' Joseph Frew leads the asset based lending practice in the North West and co-heads the firm's national ABL team. Rebecca Williams handles asset finance matters, while senior associates Charles Weems, who regularly advises on alternative debt structures and Alastair Carruthers, who is experienced in ABL work, are also noted.

Pinsent Masons LLP is active across real estate finance, corporate lending, acquisition finance, public sector lending, debt capital markets, asset based lending and education finance mandates. The team acts for a raft of major banks, public sector bodies, sponsors and borrowers on complex domestic and international transactions. Team head Matthew Morgan acts for lenders and borrowers on real estate finance, corporate finance and acquisition finance mandates, while Samantha Rollason is experienced in advising on the restructuring of UK and international real estate transactions and UK and overseas real estate funds, and Tim Fearn specialises in corporate finance, acquisition finance and asset based lending. Senior associate Sarah Jay and legal director Pippa Whitmore are also noted.

Based across its Manchester and Liverpool offices, the team at Hill Dickinson LLP regularly handles corporate and property finance transactions, and acts on a number of asset based lending and private equity mandates. The team is instructed by a range of lender and borrower clients and has particular experience across the leisure, transportation, real estate, construction, retail and financial services sectors. Liverpool-based banking and finance head Richard Capper is a 'fantastic lawyer', while Alasdair Mackinnon heads the banking practice in Manchester, where Chris Johnston, who heads the property finance team, is also based.

Squire Patton Boggs is active across real estate finance, corporate lending, leveraged finance, project finance and asset based lending transactions. The team acts for a range of lender and borrower clients, and regularly handles complex domestic and cross-border instructions. Department head Claire Shepherd handles property finance, asset based lending, acquisition finance, project finance, restructuring and general corporate lending mandates. Matthew Ingram is 'experienced' and is regularly instructed on cross-border matters. Debra Cooper is 'excellent on real estate finance mandates'.

Operating across the firm's Liverpool and Manchester offices, the team at DWF stands out for its corporate banking expertise; it regularly acts for borrowers and lenders, and boasts a growing alternative lender client base. Public sector finance and automotive sector finance mandates are particular areas of expertise for the department. The team is headed by James Szerdy and includes Paul Brown who acts for lenders and borrowers on both public and private sector funding.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP stands out for its strong corporate borrower following and handles a raft of high-profile transactions. The team is also developing its bank side practice and counts several major banks as clients. Real estate finance and education finance are key areas of expertise, as are care home finance and renewable energy finance. Department head Jason Wurzal and  Taslima Salam who specialises in in corporate banking and real estate finance, are key figures.

The team at Gateley Plc acts for a range of major UK high street banks, owner managed businesses, entrepreneurs, borrowers and local private equity houses, mezzanine lenders and debt funds. Acquisition finance is a key area of expertise, as is real estate finance, and the team stands out for its specialist experience in acting for asset based lenders and surety houses. Richard Sealy heads the team and senior associate Christopher Lister is also noted.

gunnercooke LLP acts for leading financial institutions and corporate clients across corporate banking, real estate finance, leveraged finance, asset based lending and treasury transactions. With an experienced team, led by Rob Fawke and Georgina Tripp , it handles both domestic and cross-border instructions. Real estate finance lawyer Jill Parker and Simon Baum are also recommended.

Kuit Steinart Levy LLP handles a range of banking and real estate finance mandates in the mid-market and SME sectors, and is strong on corporate finance transactions. The team, which is led by George MacMillan, is noted for its experience in acting for lenders and borrowers in debt finance transactions; and for its experience in advising property developers, investors and asset managers on real estate finance, and acting for banks on development finance mandates. The healthcare sector is a key area of focus.

Shoosmiths LLP is best known for its specialist real estate finance expertise, and the team is also active across leveraged finance and general corporate lending mandates. The team, led by Liz Sweeney, regularly acts for banks, borrowers and large corporates and is active across the student accommodation, hotel, leisure, healthcare, infrastructure, education, energy, marine and retail sectors. It is increasingly instructed on offshore mandates, in addition to standard domestic banking and finance transactions. The 'brilliant' Tim McNamara is also a key figure.

Browne Jacobson LLP is experienced across a range of acquisition finance, corporate banking, leveraged finance, property finance, asset based lending and debt restructuring mandates.  The team, led by Jonathan Edwards , particularly stands out for its peer-to-peer lending expertise, the healthcare sector is also a key focus.

Fieldfisher was recently bolstered by the arrival of Charlotte Round from Brabners LLP. The team acts for borrower clients, such as plcs and SMEs, and lenders, including a number of clearing banks, private banks and bridging funders. The Manchester-based team also handles real estate finance mandates.

Led by Dean Gormley , the team at Irwin Mitchell is instructed by lenders and borrowers on a range of commercial and corporate banking matters. Asset based lending, secured lending, leveraged and acquisition finance are key areas of expertise, as is real estate finance work where the team acts for sponsors and investors. The team is increasingly active in China-led mandates.

TLT 's banking and finance team is regularly instructed by banks and other financial institutions on complex real estate finance and social housing finance transactions. The team is also noted for its corporate lending practice, and the team acts for both lenders and borrowers. Department head Paul Crighton is a 'technically talented lawyer but combines this with personal charm and straightforward communication'.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP is best known for its property finance expertise and housing finance is a key area of strength for the department; the team acts for a range of clients on a range of mandates such as property investment finance, development finance, bridging finance and finance from institutional investors. Neil Waller heads the team which also includes the 'brilliant' Eleanor James .

Weightmans LLP stands out for its experience in advising on the establishment of European Funds. The team is headed by the 'outstanding' Patricia Grinyer and acts for banks and borrowers on bilateral and syndicated facilities. It regularly handles public sector finance and is particularly strong in the education sector, while property finance is also a key area of expertise.