Bird & Bird LLP regularly handles syndicated lending work and investment-grade financings for banks and borrowers, adding particular value in areas of firmwide sector expertise. The sports industry remains a fertile source of instructions, with Claire Barker excelling in handling creditor and debtor work relating to, inter alia, stadium financings, player transfer and media rights financings. The firm also remains very active on lender-focused emerging markets transactions, where Andrew Hallgarth has longstanding relationships with development finance institutions, in particular. Team head Joss Hargrave is well-versed in handling new money mandates, including within the sports sector, as well as providing expertise to stakeholders in relation to distressed financings.
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Accolades
Client satisfaction
Key clients
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
- MGG Investment Group
- Santander UK plc
- Macquarie Bank Limited, London Branch
- Santander UK plc
- International Restructuring Company (IRC)
- BMO
- International Investment and Underwriting (IIU)
- Kindred Education Limited
- Southampton Football Club
- Gamma Communications plc
- Galanthus Partners Ltd
Work highlights
Advised the EBRD on establishing and funding a Guernsey insurer to provide retrocession insurance for Ukrainian war risk, facilitating the re-establishment of insurance products and supporting Ukraine's reconstruction.
Acting for Macquarie in relation to their financing of sports clubs in the UK, Europe and Latin America.
Advised listed client Gamma Communications plc on a major investment grade revolving credit facility, to be used in part for the acquisition of STARFACE GmbH.
Practice head
Joss Hargrave
Other key lawyers
Andrew Hallgarth; Claire Barker; Samrad Nazer; Toby Cooper; Dan Campbell