Addleshaw Goddard fields a large and growing team of dedicated practitioners, experienced in a diverse range of sectors including energy, healthcare, and retail. The group is active on behalf of both lenders and borrowers, advising on high level mandates across the UK and internationally. Team lead Andrew Fordham is a key contact for a range of clients, including private equity groups and debt funds. Other key names include Nick Barlow, who leads the social, sustainable, and green finance team in Leeds, and Geoff McGinley, whose practice covers transactional and real estate finance matters.

Pinsent Masons LLP‘s ‘strong, cohesive team’ demonstrates strength in large corporate financings, and structured finance matters. Asset-based financing is a key area for the group, which acts on behalf of clients at the local, national, and international levels. Matthew Clayton-Stead leads the team and covers corporate financing, structured finance matters, and mandates for non-bank lenders. Sean Houlihan leads the real estate and social housing finance teams within the group, working closely with Tom McHugh, who specialises in social housing finance. Christopher Graham advises on a broad range of corporate financings.

Shoosmiths LLP fields a team with considerable depth of expertise in leveraged and acquisition finance, in addition to key strength in venture debt financing across both local and national markets. The group is active across numerous sectors, including real estate, healthcare, and infrastructure. Anna Robson, who leads the team, has a particular specialism in venture debt, and acts on behalf of numerous prominent clients in the space. Robson is supported by Charlotte Thomas, who covers leveraged and acquisition finance, and Kat Raanan, whose practice includes a broad range of corporate lending transactions.

Walker Morris LLP‘s large, dedicated corporate banking team covers the full spectrum of relevant mandates. The group covers project and real estate financing, as well as acquisition, corporate, and asset-backed lending. Team lead Philip Scott represents a broad range of clients, including alternative lenders and debt funds, in addition to clearing banks. Laura Lister and James Crellin are core team members. Lister specialises in real estate finance, while Crellin leads the alternative lending practice within the department. Senior associate Ricky Walker is a name to note, with experience across real estate finance, acquisition finance, and corporate lending.

DLA Piper‘s team covers the key areas of debt finance, real estate finance, project finance, and asset-based lending, with a strong record at the local, national, and international level. The group has additional strength in sustainability financing, with work for multiple prominent clients in this area. Kirstie Allerton, whose particular area of expertise is real estate finance, jointly leads the department with highly experienced practitioner Sarah Day. Key team members include project finance expert Laura Gordon, real estate finance specialist Charlotte Woodfield, and Charlotte Smith, who is experienced in cross-border matters.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is a key contact for numerous clearing banks active in the region, and leverage the firm’s national network to provide comprehensive support on the full range of financing transactions. The group is active on behalf of both borrowers and lenders, with experience acting throughout the UK and internationally. Team lead Paul Castle has niche expertise in education finance, in addition to covering a range of finance transactions for corporate clients. Amy Franks is a key name.

Irwin Mitchell acts at the local, national, and international levels for a range of lender and borrower clients, providing full service in the full range of matters. Areas covered by the group include real estate finance, corporate finance, and private equity funding. Paddy Sturman, who leads the team, is the firm’s national head of banking and finance, and has broad financing expertise. Jeremy Ladyman joined the team from an in-house position with LexisNexis in January 2023.

Squire Patton Boggs draws on the global resources of the firm to provide clients with comprehensive support across practice areas and jurisdictions. The group fields a ‘very responsive, and technically smart’ Leeds team, headed by asset-based lending expert Thomas Telford and real estate finance specialist Nicholas Bell. Rhianna Eden provides key support in complex acquisition financings, including those with international elements. Recent additions to the team include Kathryn Walters, who joined from Ward Hadaway LLP in August 2023.

Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP fields a team with broad sector expertise, evidencing strength in the education, healthcare, and real estate industries, as well as the key areas of agricultural lending and shipping finance. Nick Scott, who is based in Hull, leads the team, and is experienced in both domestic and international lending projects.

Clarion fields a large and rapidly growing team regularly active on behalf of clearing banks, non-lender banks, asset-based lenders, and investors. Team lead Marie Pugh is active across the UK, and has particular expertise in real estate investment and development finance. Supporting Pugh are Ben Slack, a specialist in asset-based lending, and Philip Dine, who covers a diverse range of real estate finance transactions.

Schofield Sweeney‘s key areas of specialism are secured real estate finance, development funding, asset based lending, and invoice finance. Manjit Virdee leads the team from Bradford, and has particular expertise in acquisition finance. Also key are Karen Crutchley, who is active for both lenders and borrowers, and Pardeep Khela, who is experienced in real estate finance.

Gateley Legal fields a ‘very commercial’ team, experienced in acquisition financings, debt financings, and financial restructurings, in addition to a range of other matters. Anna Mayfield leads the team, which includes ‘exceptional’ practitioner Kerry Gibbons. Gibbons’ practice covers real estate finance, acquisition finance, and general banking transactions.

Gosschalks‘ department includes a dedicated transactional lending team, with expertise in asset based lending and bridging finance, and a banking enforcement team. The transactional group is headed by Paul Plaxton, while Stephen Dillon leads on banking and security enforcement matters. Chris Adams is a key name within the group.

Wake Smith Solicitors Limited‘s Sheffield-based team advises prominent banking clients active in the city and the South Yorkshire region. The group is led by John Baddeley, who has over 30 years’ experience in the practice area. Also key is Rebecca Robinson, who covers acquisition funding and refinancing matters.