The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > Wales > Banking and finance

Led by the 'extremely commercial' Joanne Canning, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP 's seven-strong team advises a bank-focused client base across corporate lending, real estate finance and education finance matters. Leveraging the firm's strong clearing bank relationships, as well as receiving a considerable volume of instructions from challenger and local banks, the team is well-placed to advise on both local and UK-wide work. Associate Melissa Hellio is gaining a strong local reputation and is praised for her 'commercial outlook'.

Headed by the 'practical and responsive' Dominic Marshall, Hugh James' eight-strong team has an excellent track record for borrowers and lenders across a range of corporate, real estate and energy financings. As well as having strong relationships with numerous established financial institutions, the firm has also developed strong ties with a growing number of challenger banks, while on the borrower front it excels at handling large, often politically sensitive public sector financings, and is also noted for its advice to registered social landlords seeking loan and bond facilities. The 'excellent' Rowena Downie has a growing reputation in the market and often takes the lead on work for lenders and borrowers.

Locally, Acuity Law has developed strong ties with specialist lenders for real estate financing matters, as well as handling financing work for high-profile developers and providing innovative financing solutions to clients within the affordable housing sector. The firm is also increasingly active handling matters in the South East and London (aided by a growing London presence) where it is building up a growing roster of alternative finance providers. Team head Beverley Jones provides 'very sound advice' to funds, corporates and lenders across a wide range of financing transactions.

Aided by a network of offices throughout the UK, including Southampton and London, Blake Morgan LLP's Cardiff office handles both local and national mid-market new money financings and refinancings for a varied roster of corporates and lenders. As well as her transactional work, which includes a niche speciality in relation to social housing finance, 'strong' team head Reshma Jogia also often provides regulatory advice, primarily in the context of consumer credit matters. Associate Paul Duggan  has a burgeoning reputation in the market and excels at handling financings within the leisure and healthcare sectors.

Although it remains best-known for its property finance prowess, under the leadership of Christopher Agius, Capital Law Limited 's eight-strong team has successfully expanded the scope of its practice to include a growing amount of standalone corporate finance work, in addition to general ongoing banking work for the firm's roster of corporate clients. Associate Christopher Lewis also assists on a significant amount of the firm's property finance matters and has been a key practitioner responsible for the firm's growing presence in the corporate lending space.

Led by the 'calm and experienced' Fraser MacRae, Clarke Willmott LLP 's four-partner team provides a 'proactive service' to lenders and borrowers on real estate finance matters. It is particularly accomplished in relation to social housing finance, where the firm's work includes advice on syndicated loans, securitisations and private placements, for lenders and housing associations.

Led by the 'excellent' and 'experienced' Karl Baranski, Geldards LLP 's six-strong team provides a 'high-quality service' to lenders and borrowers across a wide range of new money deals and refinancings. Active in both the public and private sector, particular areas of focus include development finance, secured lending and corporate lending.