Banking & finance solicitors
We are trusted advisers to both banks and borrowers, providing specialist legal advice on banking and finance issues across all sectors.
Overview
Legal advice for banks and borrowers
The Banking & Finance team have been instructed on over 850 new transactions in the last 12 months with an aggregate deal value in excess of £2bn – and our firm is regarded as one of the country’s leading dealmakers with extensive corporate mergers and acquisitions experience.
We act for most of the main funders active in the UK market, including the biggest international banks, mezzanine funders and alternative lenders.
A significant portion of our work involves advising non funder clients in relation to their interaction with banks and financial institutions. We are trusted advisers to many of the firm’s clients, from SMEs to large corporates, on all banking and finance issues that arise in their businesses.
We like the combination of technical ability, commerciality and sector knowledge that the team brings to our clients. There’s a real genuine interest and engagement with the client and we know that the team really care
Our specialists work with funders and businesses at all stages in the economic cycle, from start-up through to specific transactions and from ongoing trading issues to turnaround and restructuring.
Much of our work has multi-jurisdictional aspects and we often work with legal firms across the world in structuring and completing banking and finance transactions.
We are adept at project managing transactions to make the process as straightforward as possible for our clients and are focused on driving deals forward to ensure that we deliver the best outcome possible for our clients in the desired timescale.
Key contacts
The team
Our vast experience of advising businesses of all sizes on banking and finance matters means we also understand their key motivations and needs – this makes us ideal advisers to borrowers and gives us an extra dimension when advising funders.
Services
Our services
The breadth of our experience with financial institutions, funds and lenders, including in-house placements at major UK banks, means we understand what’s important when funding transactions – insight that is invaluable when acting for lenders and borrowers alike.
General corporate and commercial banking
Overview
Advising on day-to-day lending and borrowing matters including new corporate facilities, refinancing and renewal of existing facilities and creation of security. We draft and advise on bank standard documentation, Loan Market Association (LMA) documentation, bespoke documentation and bilateral and syndicated lending.
Acquisition finance
Overview
Advising in relation to various types of transaction, including management buy-outs, management buy-ins, mergers and acquisitions. Our experience includes transactions funded by way of senior, mezzanine and subordinated debt and private equity, regarding complex structures and sizeable deal values.
Property finance
Overview
Advising on real estate finance facilities and creating property backed security for a wide range of sectors including trading businesses, healthcare and rural & agriculture.
Project finance
Overview
Advising on high-value project finance transactions across a range of sectors. We have extensive expertise in dealing with all aspects of projects including bank and capital market funding, security structures, intercreditor arrangements, due diligence and step in arrangements.
Housing finance
Overview
Advising housing providers and lenders on high-value housing finance transactions, bank documentation advice, grant funding agreements and security documentation.
Asset finance
Overview
Advising in all areas of asset finance including acting in relation to invoice discounting and receivables, equipment finance and asset-backed lending transactions. Our expertise includes drafting and negotiating asset finance documentation and advising on this form of funding as part of acquisition finance and turnaround transactions as well as an alternative source of working capital.
Restructuring
Overview
Advising on a wide range of impaired asset solutions including equity restructuring, property participation, security enhancement and security realisation.
Professional negligence
Overview
Extensive experience of advising on professional negligence matters as it affects both those in the banking sector and their customers.
Crossborder transactions
Overview
Advising on international and multi-jurisdictional transactions with Scottish aspects.
Visit International Business for more information.
Green finance
Overview
We were engaged as Scots law advisers on the making available of a three-year revolving credit facility with an uncommitted accordion facility to an LSE-listed company investing in forestry, with impeccable sustainability and green credentials. We were engaged to provide detailed Scots law advice in respect of the suitable Scots law security package and to carry out title diligence in respect of those of the forestry sites located in Scotland.
This was a key lend for our client given its wish to expand into the sustainable forestry sector and to continue to grow its ESG lending proposition and illustrated our market leading renewable energy and forestry expertise.
work
Examples of our work
We don’t simply provide the first class advice you expect from your legal advisers, we provide practical, commercially driven solutions to the issues that you face.
Provision of lending facilities
Marine finance
Acquisition finance (cross border)
Provision of revolving credit facilities
Refinancing acquisition costs (cross-border)
Refinancing property development
Provision of lending facilities
Overview
We advised on the provision of facilities by a major bank to an expanding healthcare provider to finance the development of a new facility. We drafted, negotiated and finalised a bespoke LMA based facility agreement. We also drafted, negotiated and finalised the security, guarantee and subordination documentation, provided advice to the bank on a complex ownership and sale structure and carried out property and construction diligence.
Marine finance
Overview
We advised a ship owner on the funding package to acquire a new vessel, refinance an existing vessel and to refinance the investment and debt in reference to a third vessel. We negotiated and finalised all associated lending security, guidance, international and charter documents as well as managing the complex cross jurisdiction aspects of the transaction.
Acquisition finance (cross border)
Overview
We advised in a transaction involving the acquisition and refinancing of a major company operating in the UK healthcare sector. We acted as Scottish advisers in drafting, negotiating and finalising the facility and property security documents, together with carrying out the property diligence on the Scottish properties. We also provided a Scots law legal opinion and drafted, negotiated and finalised a bespoke ranking agreement.
Provision of revolving credit facilities
Overview
We advised on the provision of revolving credit facilities by a major bank to a range of businesses operating in the food, leisure & hospitality sector. We drafted, negotiated and finalised bespoke revolving credit facility documentation, together with preparing all guarantee, security and ranking documentation and carrying out property diligence on behalf of the bank where required.
Refinancing acquisition costs (cross-border)
Overview
We advised on refinancing the costs of a retail site and the development by it of commercial units housing major high street brands, together with the subsequent sale of the site. We drafted, negotiated and finalised the facility, hedging, security and subordination documentation (which included English law aspects), together with carrying out detailed property and construction diligence on behalf of the bank.
Refinancing property development
Overview
We advised on the refinancing of the development costs of healthcare property and the provision of further loan facilities to fund an extension. We drafted, negotiated and finalised the facility, security and guarantee documentation. We also advised the bank on the complex funds flow involved in the transaction and carried out diligence on the property and the group restructure on behalf of the bank.
“Harper Macleod gives great legal advice, works at pace, provides regular updates on transactions, has brilliant customer service and always delivers.”
“Harper Macleod is viewed as a trusted partner with excellent levels of communication and the ability to convert complex legal terminology into more straightforward language.”
“They are proactive in explaining options to allow the client to make good decisions.”
“They are very skilled and have the client’s interests at the forefront of their advice.”
“There is always someone in the Harper Macleod LLP Team available with the advice and support we need.”
“The Harper Macleod team have always been proactive with legal advice. They offer advice in an easy to understand manner. They also breakdown what the legal issue is, what the risk is and importantly, also what the likelihood is of the risk event happening. This assists in making a commercial decision on whether to accept that risk or to seek mitigation.”
“The Harper Macleod banking team is attentive, commercial and client-focused.”
“The Harper Macleod Banking Team are really approachable. They can be relied upon to quickly address any contentious points and will provide a clear and quick response/resolution.”
“Strong team, good depth, knowledge and experience.”
“I appreciated their attention to detail and regular updates.”
“They are always able to provide key risk analysis and find a commercial solution to issues.”
“Harper Macleod is a truly progressive, forward-thinking firm that clearly articulates the risks. Communication is paramount in these circumstances and this is an area that the firm excels in.”
“Top-class service across the various disciplines in the team, always available and with commercial sense when conducting negotiations on either side of the table.”
“They always deliver in a timely manner and are extremely commercial in their thinking and focus on getting a transaction completed whilst protecting their clients’ interest.”
“Access to the specialist areas of legal work I require to a high standard with local offices, reasonable pricing and good service levels.”
“Individuals are personable, engaging and highly knowledgeable.”
“Their availability, focus on the transaction to get it completed together with their forthcoming legal advice is key.”
“Excellent team, always helpful and efficient.”
Bank of Scotland Real Estate team have established an excellent working relationship with Harper Macleod (Jacqui Fraser) over many years. They have acted on our behalf on a large number of transactions incorporating refinances, new acquisitions and development facilities. The service we receive is excellent and we continue to grow the relationship with both parties enjoying reciprocal business on a regular basis. The cohesive approach between Jacqui, her team and the Bank demonstrates great team working and collaboration, delivering a positive outcome for both existing and new property clients.
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CONTACT US
Call us for free on 0330 159 5555 or complete our online form below to submit your enquiry or arrange a call back.