Banking & Finance: Sponsors
Europe Guide 2024 : UK
Band 4
About
Provided by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates
The U.K. Banking Group comprises experienced finance lawyers familiar with all aspects of acquisition finance, high-yield and private placements, project and real estate finance, general corporate lending and restructuring. The team represents a wide range of lenders and borrowers/sponsors in some of the largest and most complex financing transactions worldwide. The group is regularly engaged in the development of new financing techniques as well as more traditional approaches. Skadden’s multijurisdictional teams enable us to handle everything from mid-market unitranche financings to the world’s largest acquisition financings.
Chambers Review
Skadden is a global firm with the capacity to handle substantive cross-border work for major sponsors and big-ticket borrowers. The team counts an impressive list of private equity houses among its client base. It works on matters involving high-yield products, in addition to tackling complex transactions in the real estate sector. The team has a strong track record on both leveraged and investment-grade financings, and also excels in handling distressed acquisitions and refinancings.
Work Highlights
- Skadden advised JAB Holding Company on a circa EUR1 billion term loan and a EUR150 million term loan for the holding entity of its interests in JDE Peet's and Keurig Dr Pepper, with the pricing of the EUR1 billion facility being linked to JDE Peet’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions and other sustainability criteria.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Skadden were able to provide actionable feedback in a timely manner."
"The team members are technically skilled and hard-working, but understand what the issue is and the subtext behind negotiations. They offer helpful, sensible and often insightful advice on how to solve problems."
"They had very good awareness of the market practices and I felt that we could rely on their advice."
"The team is nimble and able to move quickly on complex transactions."
"Skadden were able to provide actionable feedback in a timely manner."
"The team members are technically skilled and hard-working, but understand what the issue is and the subtext behind negotiations. They offer helpful, sensible and often insightful advice on how to solve problems."
"They had very good awareness of the market practices and I felt that we could rely on their advice."
"The team is nimble and able to move quickly on complex transactions."
Notable Practitioners
Clive Wells has considerable experience acting for large corporates on investment-grade transactions. His practice involves advising on all manner of financings, including acquisition and structured finance. He has additional experience advising sponsors and lenders.
"Clive is proactive, sharp and a great negotiator."
"Clive Wells is a strong professional with a very client-focused approach."
"He provided clear and structured advice."
Pete Coulton is noted for his representation of private equity sponsors on big-ticket financings. He has experience of leveraged finance matters and is also adept at advising on corporate borrowers on investment-grade transactions.
"He is extremely supportive and helpful in all discussions, and a clear partner to our business."
"Pete is a standout player who doesn't waste time arguing for things that don't matter and keeps the deal on budget and focused."
"Pete is not only knowledgeable about markets and terms but also brings a great calm and ability to find the right compromise for difficult problems."
"His ability to think across different types of assets or deals and apply the correct principles across these asset classes is unparalleled."