Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is known in the marketplace for providing specialist advice to clearing and overseas banks on the full range of project, real estate and leveraged finance issues. Recognised for his ‘clear, commercial advice and guidance’, John Chater heads up the practice group and routinely dispenses advice to commercial banks, specialist debt funds and alternative lenders on acquisition finance, leverage finance, real estate investment finance, development finance, loan servicing and general corporate banking matters. Andrew Rushfirth is another important port of call and acts on a broad range of lender and borrower-side mandates.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team are commercial in their approach, provide concise and clear explanations of any issues that may present and engage across all levels. They are clearly knowledgeable, experienced and capable individuals in their field.'

  • ‘John Chater is considered a key partner to my team - he provides clear, commercial advice and guidance; keeps us appraised throughout progress of a transaction and works with us to achieve agreed timelines. His team are also a key support and engage with all members of the bank's team professionally and proactively.’

  • ‘The team consistently operate in a professional manner with a strong understanding of the commercial real estate sector. We have worked with the team on a number of transactions in recent years and will continue to do so in the future given the efficient and reliable service.’

  • ‘We have worked with John Chater, Partner on the Banking & Finance Team, on several transactions and have been impressed with his sensible, responsive and approachable nature which has assisted in progressing transactions and delivering good outcomes.’

  • ‘Small, competent team of lawyers who work together efficiently and their capabilities are complementary. Manage availability and stand-in effectively.’

  • ‘Very fast response times. Have the capability to describe critical contractual points in an understandable way and suggest suitable solutions in case of disputes.’

  • ‘I think for us as a company we know we can pass complex work to John Chater and his team at very short notice and they will get to work on it straight away. If there's any advice needed, I can always pick up the phone and call John or his team and receive good advice.’

Key clients

  • Mathematical Market Research Limited
  • HSBC UK Bank plc
  • The Magic Bean Co. Ltd
  • AIB Group (UK) Plc
  • B.I.G Finance Limited
  • Saudi Arabia Investment and Manufacturing Group
  • Treveth Holdings LLP
  • Bank of China
  • Carver Group Limited
  • Frontier Development Capital Limited
  • Lucy Group

Work highlights

  • Represented HSBC UK Bank Plc in facilitating a £15m term loan for the UK subsidiary of an international renewable energy and hydrogen producer.
  • Assisting AIB Group (UK) Plc with its complex £30m facility to a group operating in the self-storage sector. The facility allowed the group to accelerate complete on a number of acquisitions.
  • Acting for Saudi Arabian Investment and Manufacturing Group on the refinancing of a CHF150m Murabaha Margin Financing Agreement from Credit Suisse to Citibank London Branch.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

John Chater

Other key lawyers

Andrew Rushfirth