Banking & Finance: Sponsors
Europe Guide 2024 : UK
Band 2
Contact number
+1 212 903 9000Chambers Review
Linklaters exhibits extensive capabilities acting for banks, funds, corporates and sponsors. The team advises on domestic and cross-border matters and demonstrates strength on a wide range of financings, including term loans, bridges and revolving credit facilities and cov-lite loans. Linklaters is able to draw on the firm's significant derivatives, debt capital markets and securitisation capabilities when advising on margin loans and bank/bond combinations. The team has a growing presence in the alternative credit provider space.
Work Highlights
- Linklaters advised UniCredit, Goldman Sachs and other international banks as underwriters and original lenders on the altogether EUR6.6 billion financing for the merger between MásMóvil and Orange Spain, comprising a EUR4.25 billion term loan A, a EUR1.75 billion term loan B and a EUR600 million term loan C.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Linklaters provide consistently high quality and accurate and commercial advice."
"The team's responsiveness, including from partners, is a distinguishing factor that immediately springs to mind."
"They quickly understand the commercial rationale and pressure points. The partners are able to suggest where compromise is reasonable or on market but also defend a corner when needed."
"Linklaters provides strong guidance on difficult issues, particularly giving market and commercial views. The lawyers are very user-friendly and know their stuff."
"I am consistently impressed by the strength and depth of the team."
"Linklaters provide consistently high quality and accurate and commercial advice."
"The team's responsiveness, including from partners, is a distinguishing factor that immediately springs to mind."
"They quickly understand the commercial rationale and pressure points. The partners are able to suggest where compromise is reasonable or on market but also defend a corner when needed."
"Linklaters provides strong guidance on difficult issues, particularly giving market and commercial views. The lawyers are very user-friendly and know their stuff."
"I am consistently impressed by the strength and depth of the team."
Notable Practitioners
Nick Syson is renowned in the market for his wealth of experience assisting banks with large-cap financings. He is adroit at advising on leveraged finance and debt restructuring matters.
"Nick Syson is very well known and regarded and has been active for a long time."
Oliver Sceales is co-head of the firm's leveraged finance practice. He is recognised for his skill in advising well-known sponsors on both mid-cap and big-ticket transactions.
"I simply trust Oliver and his team to run things and never feel that we need to double-check. Oliver instils a culture in his team of being very diligent and making sure to give timely and accurate advice, and he is always there to give a thorough response. No task is too small or too big for him."
"Oliver is highly reliable. He knows his stuff and always delivers."
Co-head of corporate and structured lending, Toby Grimstone is adept at advising on syndicated and secured bank financings. He is regularly instructed by bank and borrower clients and specialises in acquisition and general corporate financing matters.
"Toby was client-focused and protected our interests."
"He is our go-to banking partner. He is great overall, works well with the team and is very dogged, calm and experienced."
"He is the partner I will always call when I have a difficult question."
Oliver Edwards is co-head of corporate and structured lending and specialises in margin lending matters. He is a sought after by banks to advise on cross-border transactions, including leveraged and investment-grade financings as well as secured facilities.
"Oliver is a tremendous lawyer. He is backed up by a great team below him and supported by alternative partners when required, resulting in a seamless deal flow."