Banking and finance in Wales

Capital Law Limited's 'highly responsive' three-partner team has 'solid and practical experience in the sector', enbling it to provide 'pragmatic advice' to lenders and borrowers on financing matters throughout the capital structure. Christopher Agius is the relationship partner for many of the firm's most active creditor-side clients, including Julian Hodge Bank and the Development Bank of Wales, which he regularly advises on real estate finance matters. The 'incredibly hardworking and technical' Reshma Jogia has flourished since joining the team from Blake Morgan LLP in May 2020 and her recent promotion to partner was reflective of her role, alongside senior associate Christopher Lewis, in strengthening the team's corporate finance credentials  - including increasing visibility on the funding side for the firm's private equity sponsor client base. The team is rounded out at a partner level by the 'commercial and pragmatic' Rachel Hillier, who leads the firm's financial services offering and is a vital resource to both traditional banking clients as well as fintech-related entities across their regulatory requirements.

Led by the very well-respected Joanne Canning from Cardiff and also able to draw from the firm's wider UK-based resources, if necessary, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP has a particular strong reputation advising on complex real estate finance mandates for a lender-focused client base, including numerous clearing banks. Associate Melissa Hellio has gained an excellent lender-side perspective as a result of several bank secondments during her time at the firm, experiences which she deploys to good effect in relation to both real estate and corporate lending transactions.

Geldards LLP advises lenders and borrowers across a range of secured and unsecured financing transactions in both the private and public sectors. As well as his restructuring/insolvency expertise, team head Karl Baranski is also particularly well-versed at handling development financing matters and funding for renewable energy-related projects.

Hugh James' three-partner team provides 'commercially pragmatic advice and proactive guidance' to lenders and borrowers across a range of financing transactions, including as it relates to facilities for corporate, acquisition and real estate purposes. 'Highly experienced' team head Dominic Marshall takes the lead on much of the work for clearing and challenger banks, including in relation to the government-backed CBILS scheme for companies adversely affected by Covid-19.  Robert Morgan has also advised on many of these Covid-related loans, although his overall focus remains more aligned to borrower work, including his continued advice to the Welsh Rugby Union and niche expertise advising Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) on their debt finance requirements. Rowena Downie is also a key member of the team.

Blake Morgan LLP remains very active in the regional market for clearing/challenger banks and borrowers, including corporates and not-for-profits. 'User-friendly and solution-oriented' team head Paul Duggan provides a versatile service, which encompasses bilateral as well as syndicated facilities and is particularly recognised for his debt finance work within the healthcare, hospitality and leisure sectors. As well as handling a considerable volume of work for HSBC, including as it relates to Covid-related funding, Duggan recently advised Zip World on a £4.4m development finance facility to support its expansion into south Wales.

Under the leadership of the 'well-respected' Fraser MacRae, Clarke Willmott LLP's 'user-friendly and knowledgeable' four-partner team has developed a particular sweet-spot advising lenders and borrowers on real estate finance matters. A substantial amount of this work occurs within the social housing space, with instructions being generated from core funders in the sector, including Tridos Bank and Handelsbanken, as well as from housing associations, which the team advises on both their bank debt and debt capital markets mandates. Bethan Evans displays a 'practical approach to overcoming potential hurdles' and as well as her property finance expertise, she is also well-versed across corporate banking and education finance matters.

Morgan LaRoche handles a considerable volume of finance-related work under the umbrella of the firm's broader business services group, which is headed by William Barletta. Real estate financing is a major driver for the practice, an area that the firm is particularly well-positioned to advise on, in part by dint of its ability to draw upon the strength of its overarching property and projects offering.