Graham Soar > Burges Salmon LLP > Bristol, England > Lawyer Profile

Providing ‘top-quality legal expertise’, Burges Salmon LLP‘s banking and finance team is regularly involved in large financings, transactions, and investments, representing a range of corporates, banks, alternative lenders, and investors. Andrew Eaton leads the practice, with real estate finance expert Richard Leeming, corporate lending specialist Rachael Ruane, and experienced energy and infrastructure finance lawyer Graham Soar  also being integral members of the team. Katie Allen is prominent in the hotel and built environment sectors, whereas Victoria Allsopp adds further depth to the renewable and infrastructure project finance element of the practice.

Combining ‘detailed technical knowledge with an overriding commercial awareness and pragmatism’, Burges Salmon LLP remains popular among creditors and debtors in relation to investment-grade debt and syndicated loans across the firm’s sector specialisms in energy, infrastructure and real estate. Victoria Allsopp provides ‘technically strong and very commercial’ advice to borrowers within the renewable energy sector. The ‘exceptional’ Rachael Ruane and Graham Soar are also key members of the team, with both regularly handling general corporate lending work for listed companies and large private entities, while Richard Leeming focuses on real estate finance. Andrew Eaton heads the team.

At Burges Salmon LLP, the focus is on multinational listed companies and pension funds on the buy-side, though the firm also acts for trustees and banks on derivatives transactions and structured products. Head of banking and finance Andrew Eaton oversees the work of a specialist team led by Graham Soar, who works closely with directors Alistair Rattray and James Barrett to handle work related to energy and infrastructure financing, real estate finance, and pensions.

Burges Salmon LLP‘s national practice handles M&A, joint ventures and debt finance instructions for a range of infrastructure funds, energy groups and social infrastructure providers. The team continues to be highly active advising on new technologies and deals in emerging sectors, and is frequently instructed on energy transition and decarbonisation mandates. Camilla Usher-Clark and Stuart McMillan co-lead the team; the former is regarded for her work in the renewable energy sector, while the latter is known for his debt and equity financing expertise. Jonathan Eves is a key name for energy and social infrastructure instructions, while Graham Soar is chiefly noted for his M&A and financing work regarding renewable energy assets.

Burges Salmon LLP has a growing presence in the market, acting for originators, fintech consumer lenders, private capital investors and debt funds. Its work spans consumer assets, corporate loans, real estate loans and corporate debt, infrastructure and whole-business securitisations. Head of banking and finance Andrew Eaton oversees the work of the securitisation practice, which is led by structured finance specialist Graham Soar. James Barrett, who joined from A&O Shearman, worked with Soar to advise a bank on the exercise of the portfolio call option for a securitisation.