Banking & Finance
UK Guide 2025 : Northern Ireland
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(028) 9031 4466About
Provided by A&L Goodbody
A&L Goodbody’s Banking and Financial Services team is widely regarded as the market leader in Northern Ireland. This reputation is based on team members having led some of the most significant and complex financing transactions across the financial services market in Northern Ireland. The team includes Partners with significant local and international experience having worked in Belfast, Dublin and London for many years.
The combined Belfast and Dublin teams work very closely on an all-island basis for a large number of domestic and international clients with operations in the North and South of Ireland. We are the only team in Northern Ireland to offer dedicated local financial services regulation expertise.
Our areas of expertise include:
Commercial loan portfolio sales and loan-on-loan financings
Project financing (including energy and infrastructure financing)
Refinancings and restructurings
Unsecured and secured lending
Property finance, including development financing, commercial property acquisitions and social housing)
Acquisition and leveraged finance transactions
Syndicated lending
Capital markets and securitisation
Banking and financial services regulation
Financial services licensing, regulatory capital issues and compliance issues.
Chambers Review
A&L Goodbody houses a market-leading practice that represents lender-side and borrower-side clients. The firm is capable of handling a wide range of complex, high-value matters including recent work on acquisition financing and LIBOR transition. The team also demonstrates considerable strength in the regulatory and compliance aspects of Northern Irish banking.
Work Highlights
- A&L Goodbody acted for the facility agent in Vinci's £100 million financing packagefor its acquisition of Belfast International Airport.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"They are very knowledgeable and capable in dealing with complex project finance transactions."
"The team has clear commercial expertise gained from a variety of transactions."
"A&L have provide commercial and practical advice in complex scenarios. They are able to leverage teams across practice areas as well as across both NI and Ireland."
"They stepped in on a complex transaction and were able to get up to speed very quickly and led the way. We were well-served by the ALG team; they were a pleasure to deal with."
"Issues and implication are pre-empted and discussed. The team has the ability to link corporate expertise and property expertise in ways that are particularly useful."
"They are very knowledgeable and capable in dealing with complex project finance transactions."
"The team has clear commercial expertise gained from a variety of transactions."
"A&L have provide commercial and practical advice in complex scenarios. They are able to leverage teams across practice areas as well as across both NI and Ireland."
"They stepped in on a complex transaction and were able to get up to speed very quickly and led the way. We were well-served by the ALG team; they were a pleasure to deal with."
"Issues and implication are pre-empted and discussed. The team has the ability to link corporate expertise and property expertise in ways that are particularly useful."
Notable Practitioners
Ciaran McAlinney is an esteemed practitioner with enviable expertise in advising clients on cross-border financing mandates. He is adept at advising on project finance, acquisition finance and refinancings, among other matters.
"He is very knowledgeable on market specifics and has a great manner when dealing with clients."
"He is very hands-on, very experienced and a very commercial lawyer."
"He is diligent, thorough and approachable."
Judith Brown is held in high regard for her expert representation of borrower and lender-side clients. Her broad practice includes loan portfolio sales, corporate finance, acquisition finance and real estate finance.
"She is a pleasure to deal with and is excellent at pre-empting issues."
"Judith is an expert in her field and has strong commercial awareness."
"She was a good listener with a positive attitude and a can-do approach."
Louise Bailey counts both borrowers and lenders among her client base. She frequently advises on development and corporate finance as well as refinancing matters.
"She worked diligently to progress under a tight time frame."
"Louise is efficient, quick and thorough."
Christopher Jessup is recommended for his knowledge of the regulations governing the finance market. His expert advice is particularly sought out by payment companies and fintech organisations.
"Chris always demonstrates a strong knowledge of the regulations and combines this with commercial advice and guidance."
"Chris is very knowledgeable and always provides the gold standard of service."
Victoria Taylor is an associate in the finance department. She has experience working on various facilities agreements and transactions for both borrowers and lenders.
"She is thorough and commercially-minded, with a fantastic level of expertise, technical ability and attention to detail."
"Victoria is unflappable."
Ranked Lawyers at
A&L Goodbody
Northern Ireland
Members
Provided by A&L Goodbody
Clients
Provided by A&L Goodbody
Allied Irish Banks plc
Bank of Ireland
Barclays Bank
British Business Bank
Danske Bank
European Investment Bank (EIB)
First Trust Bank
Firstcom Europe Group
HSBC
J.P Morgan Merchant Services
OH (Office) Developments Limited
Oakland Group
Santander
Ulster Bank / RBS
Wells Fargo
Wellwood Propco Limited
Industries
Provided by A&L Goodbody
Banks
Energy
Financial Services
Real Estate Finance