Banking & Finance: Lenders: Mid-Market | UK

Ashurst has a well-established team of banking experts that assists both lenders and borrowers on a full range of mid-market financings. The team is also known for its work in the credit funds space as well as for its relationships with leading sponsors. It works across the spectrum of leveraged finance deals, with established expertise in unitranche structures and term loan B facilities. The team additionally offers notable expertise in fund finance as well as Islamic finance matters.

Hogan Lovells has a sought-after banking and finance practice that is able to advise a broad array of clients on both the lender and borrower side. The team receives enviable instructions from traditional banks and debt funds as well as corporate entities. The firm's global footprint enables the team to advise on deals with cross-border elements. It offers specialist advice in the insurance sector, as well as expertise in real estate, asset and project finance.

Proskauer Rose has a standout lender offering with specialist expertise acting for alternative capital providers. The team regularly advises clients on a range of financing matters from acquisition finance to refinancings. The firm's transatlantic practice assists clients with multi-jurisdictional matters spanning the USA and Europe.

Baker McKenzie is an ideal option for clients seeking advice on complex multi-jurisdictional matters including leveraged acquisitions, syndicated lending and project finance transactions. The team attracts an increasing number of instructions from alternative lenders, in addition to its presence on UK bank panels. It specialises in emerging market matters with a growing focus on sub-Saharan African and Turkish markets. The law firm has an impressive portfolio of clients, which also includes leading international corporate borrowers.

CMS is equally at home advising UK clearing banks, alternative lenders and borrower clients on transactions ranging from acquisition finance to debt portfolio acquisitions. It has a developed reputation for acting on cross-border deals with sector expertise in hotels and leisure, oil and gas, and healthcare. The team is additionally noted for its TMT expertise. The firm's prowess in real estate finance and financial restructuring complements the banking and finance practice.

Macfarlanes has notable strengths in handling complex and bespoke mid-market deals for lenders, sponsors and their portfolio companies as well as corporate borrowers. The practice spans the full scope of financing matters from corporate to leveraged and fund finance, complementing its offering with real estate and litigation finance as well as regulatory and restructuring expertise. Macfarlanes is equipped to advise on domestic and cross-border matters, with additional experience advising on the English law aspects of high-yield bonds. The team have also established a strong foothold in the credit fund space.

Mayer Brown handles complex and bespoke deals for lender clients, with additional expertise in borrower mandates. The firm's practice spans the full scope of financing matters, from structured finance to project finance and speciality finance. It has noted expertise in acquisition and leveraged finance --and is well-equipped to advise on domestic and cross-border matters, with additional experience advising on the English law aspects of high-yield bonds. The team is also recognised for its fund finance work.

Addleshaw Goddard acts for a host of lender-side clients on a range of mid-market matters, from investment-grade lending to leveraged finance transactions. It is noted for its particular strength in real estate and project financing. The team has growing capabilities representing corporates and sponsors, in addition to demonstrating expertise across fund finance, asset-based lending and transportation finance. The team has broad sector expertise including retail, financial services and technology.

BCLP retains a number of UK clearing bank panel positions, while also assisting high-profile corporates. The team draws on strengths in a broad range of sectors including healthcare, leisure and gaming, and insurance, to assist clients with a full range of banking matters. Its global network of offices makes it a popular choice for complex multi-jurisdictional financings, on which it also assists overseas banks with mid-cap transactions.

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft is particularly focused on advising direct lenders on mid-market leveraged financings. The team stands out for its ability to advise on cross-border deals.

Dechert is recognised for its strong lender-side practice, and in particular for its work on direct lending. The team is frequently instructed by an impressive roster of well-known alternative lenders. It is also noted for its adept handling of fund financings and emerging market transactions.

Dentons retains strong relationships with traditional lenders and demonstrates capability in cross-border investment-grade and leveraged finance deals, especially in emerging markets. The firm has additional strengths in alternative lender representations and financing transactions across sectors including TMT, oil and gas, and financial services. Dentons is also notable for its respected Islamic finance offering.

DLA Piper has a strong foundation acting for lender-side clients in the acquisition finance space. It handles the full spectrum of financial instruments, assisting traditional and alternative lenders as well as mixed lender groups. The firm also demonstrates strength advising international corporates and private equity clients on complex transactions, drawing on the firm's extensive global network to advise on cross-border deals. The team frequently advises on finance matters in the technology, telecommunications, and oil and gas sectors.

King & Spalding is particularly popular with direct lender clients whom it regularly advises on cross-border acquisition financings. Its repertoire includes experience in revolving credit facilities, term loans and unitranche facilities. In September 2024, the firm hired a market-leading fund finance team from Cadwalader.

The banking team at McDermott Will & Emery has a strong private equity focus and is particularly active for direct lenders on a range of financing structures. Its experience includes term loans, revolving credit facilities and PIK facilities as part of domestic as well as highly international transactions.

Norton Rose Fulbright is noted for its lender-side practice, which covers a diverse scope of financing work for a multitude of domestic commercial banks, including corporate loans and project and trade finance, as well as asset-based loans. In addition to its panel relationships with major financial institutions, the group advises a wide variety of corporate borrowers. The team is also well positioned to advise on Sharia-compliant structures and has recently further increased its Islamic finance offering. The law firm works across a range of sectors including oil and gas, transport and technology and offers an impressive global reach on cross-border deals, where it also advises international banks.

Pinsent Masons is an established player in the mid-market banking space, providing comprehensive advice on real estate finance, acquisition finance and asset-based loans, among other matters. The team attracts a number of cross-border assignments, as well as advising on domestic matters across the professional services, entertainment and healthcare sectors. Pinsent Masons offers expertise across both secured and unsecured transactions. The department continues to advise major UK clearing banks while also being able to act for alternative lenders and its roster of borrower-side clients.

Ropes & Gray has an exceptional team of highly skilled practitioners advising on complex financings for borrowers and sponsors. The team regularly works for investment banks and private equity funds. It continues to be a strong presence in the European leveraged finance market due to its acute understanding of high-yield issues and masterful handling of UK and US hybrid transactions. The firm is particularly noted for its strength in acquisition financing and unitranche matters. It is also recognised for lender-side work, acting for both institutional and alternative lender clients in the mid-market space.

Travers Smith has a deep pool of specialist finance advisors who work with sponsors, lenders and corporate borrowers on mid-market matters. The team has specialist knowledge in the area of fund finance, corporate loans and leveraged acquisition finance. It demonstrates broad sector expertise, continuing to advise on deals in the media, leisure and technology industries, in addition to the retail and infrastructure sectors, among others. The firm handles matters for an impressive client list that includes several high-profile private equity houses and international financial institutions.