The ‘well-balanced team’ at Simmons & Simmons provides ’pragmatic and responsive’ advice to banks and a growing roster of large-listed corporates across a broad swathe of corporate lending, event-driven and M&A financing. Team head Kirsty Barnes is across both creditor and debtor sides of the practice, being particularly active of late on data centre financings. Elliot Beard is also key to the firm’s success in handling corporate lending and acquisition financings, including on deals utilising sustainable financing terms. At an associate level, Erica Houlihan is a ‘reassuring pair of hands’ and Emmie Spring-Manek has ’a really good knowledge of her market’.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The team provides pragmatic and responsive advice.'
- 'It is a well-balanced team, with good knowledge and a client-focused approach.'
- 'Kirsty Barnes 100% knows her game and gives practical advice which is easy for a non-expert to follow.'
- 'Kirsty Barnes is a star - I know that she will manage all the different lawyers involved with a minimum of fuss. We get concise, commercial legal advice delivered in a manner which always achieves our initial objectives.'
- 'Emmie Spring-Manek - client focused. Delivers great work, and has a really good knowledge of her market.'
- 'Erica Houlihan is a reassuring pair of hands.'
Key clients
- Ashgrove Capital LLP
- Kartesia Management
- Triple Point Advancr Leasing PLC
- Santander UK plc
- Tresmares Capital
- Brookfield / Data 4 Group
- Blue Alliance Limited
- Ascona Group Holdings Limited
- Napier Technologies Group Limited
- VIRTUS Data Centres
- Venture Life Group plc
- Nurture Landscapes Limited
Work highlights
Acting for Data 4 Data Centres on its cross-border capex financing facilities.
Advised Blue Alliance on a first of its kind loan facility for Blue Finance, to be provided by BNP Paribas.
Advised Ashgrove in relation to an annual recurring revenue facility to Xempus, to finance cash on balance sheet for organic growth activities and acquisitions.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Kirsty Barnes
Other key lawyers
Elliot Beard; Helen Hagan; Laurie Keel; Emmie Spring-Manek; Erica Houlihan; Peter O’Donnell