The ‘nimble and dynamic’ team at CMS is well-equipped to deliver cost-effective guidance to stakeholders on mid-market acquisition finance matters, both within the UK and multi-jurisdictionally. Although it does handle some bank work, the team is best-known for its borrower practice which advises funds and corporates on funding throughout the capital structure to facilitate M&A deals across a range of targeted sectors. Patrick Donegan has a focus advising on infrastructure and energy-related debt financings (including acquisition finance mandates) and heads up a team that also includes the ’accessible’ Tom Siggers, whose creditor/debtor practice includes lending structures implementing unitranche, syndicated and ABL bank facilities; TMT finance expert Charles Kerrigan; and the ‘erudite’ Olivia Crundwell, whose versatile practice includes work for banks, debt funds and corporates.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Good solid team that knows its market, manages deals well, is commercial and sensible to deal with.’
  • ‘A small, nimble and dynamic team with all the skill sets any client would need.’
  • ‘The team is very responsive, knowledgeable and very easy to work with. They take a pragmatic approach and don't try and point score - they just work to deliver the deal the clients have agreed.’

  • ‘Tom Siggers is accessible, open, honest and knows his stuff.’

  • ‘Tom Siggers is responsive, knowledgeable and very easy to work with.’

  • 'Olivia Crundwell: the lawyer’s lawyer. Erudite, effective and elegant in solutions. Sees things way ahead of others and diffuses difficult situations.'

Key clients

  • Horizon Capital
  • CBPE
  • Swiss Life Asset Management
  • Synova Private Equity
  • Queens Park Equity Partners
  • Crescent Capital
  • Cheyne Capital Partners
  • Five Arrows
  • Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing (MSREI)

Work highlights

Acted for Swiss Life Asset Management and Vesper Infrastructure on the financing of their acquisition of Rad-x, a leading diagnostic imaging and social infrastructure platform with 23 sites across Germany and Switzerland, from Gilde Healthcare.
Advised CBPE on senior debt facilities provided to support its investment into HF, a leading legal services provider to the insurance and commercial sectors.
Advised global credit fund Crescent Capital on unitranche financing provided to support the acquisition of private wealth, corporate and fund services provider VG by Mayfair Equity Partners.

Lawyers

Leading associates

Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.

Practice head

Patrick Donegan

Other key lawyers

Charles Kerrigan; Anne Chitan; Kerry Langton; Ruth Marken; Mark Moseling; Alex Patience; Tom Siggers; John Dawson; Tom Hughes; Olivia Crundwell