Services A-Z     Pricing

Banking and Finance

We act in relation to commercial banking matters, including acquisition finance for corporate transactions, corporate lending, asset-based lending, venture debt and real estate finance (for both investment and development transactions), in each case across a wide range of sectors.


We have a long history of acting for entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals, family offices and owner-managed businesses, whether operating through SPVs (onshore or offshore), joint ventures, partnerships or fund structures. We often act for lenders, in particular for a number of private banks, challenger banks and alternative lenders.

We can help you to structure and negotiate effective lending arrangements and we offer a service which is tailored to suit your needs and the way you operate, whether this requires simple term loans or more complex syndicated loan facilities with appropriate security packages and priority arrangements.

We are also well versed in dealing with refinancing, restructuring, work-outs and insolvency procedures should the need ever arise.

Acquisition Finance

We advise lenders, investors and a wide range of management teams and corporate borrowers in relation to business acquisitions, management buyouts and refinancings.

Working with our colleagues in Corporate and Commercial, Employment, Tax, Real Estate and Immigration we provide business support and advice on all stages of acquisitions, from preliminary discussions to post closing. This multi-team approach helps us to identify the key issues facing our clients and allows us to deliver coordinated practical and commercial solutions.

Corporate and alternative lending

We appreciate that raising capital and building a stable financial base is important for businesses and requires expert legal advice. We are experienced in advising lenders and borrowers across a broad spectrum of corporate borrowing, alternative lending and debt restructuring and guide clients through the options and implementation.

Real Estate Finance

For real estate finance transactions we work closely with our Real Estate, Construction and Tax colleagues to deliver commercial and solution orientated advice, whether in relation to development or investment facilities. We have helped clients across a wide range of sectors, including office, retail, student accommodation, logistics, PRS/ build to rent and residential.

For each real Estate finance transaction our priority is to put together a team of business advisers to allow consideration of all applicable financing options, to incorporate your preferred commercial terms, and to complete all relevant documentation within the planned timescale.

Recent Work

  • Acting for a substantial family-owned property investment and development company in connection with the £20,000,000 re-finance of part of its residential property portfolio in London with a high street lender 
  • Acting for an alternative lender in connection with funding the acquisition of a purpose built student accommodation block in Greater London and taking additional security over a high value Central London HMO 
  • Acting for an alternative lender on the acquisition financing of a country house hotel in the Midlands 
  • Acting for the lender in relation to a £1.1m loan for the purpose of purchasing a hotel in Norwich
  • Acting for the borrower in relation to a £1.38m acquisition finance transaction in relation to the purchase of commercial property in North West London
  • Acting for a residential investment company in connection with the restructuring of its intra-group facilities across fifteen of its group entities
  • Acting for an alternative lender in relation to a development bridging facility secured on a mixed use development site on the South Coast 
  • Advising a developer on its £14m development facility for a mixed use scheme in London with an international bank
  • Advising a lender on its loan-on-loan facilities with a UK challenger bank
  • Advising a property development company in relation to its acquisition of a prime site in London for residential development
  • Acting for an alternative lender in relation to the provision of working capital facilities secured on a portfolio of residential care homes owned by a private equity fund
  • Acting for three offshore borrowers ultimately controlled by an Ultra High Net Worth family in relation to the £40m refinance of four super-prime properties in and around London
  • Advising a Private Family Office on its £143m multi-currency facility with an alternative lender secured on luxury real estate assets in the US, UK and Europe

 

Anthony Macpherson

Corporate, Commercial & Finance

Real Estate Finance

Partner and Head of Department

Christina Kelly

Corporate, Commercial & Finance

Real Estate Finance

Partner

Latest blogs & news

Anatomy of a deal - The 9-step guide to selling your business part 3

In our ongoing series, "Anatomy of a Deal - The 9-step Guide to Selling Your Business," we've been breaking down the intricate steps involved in selling a business to provide clarity and guidance to business owners embarking on this journey.

In the previous instalments, we've covered crucial aspects such as engaging advisors, drafting heads of terms, conducting due diligence, preparing transaction documents, addressing disclosure, and finalising ancillary documents. Now, as we delve deeper into the intricacies of the deal, we'll explore the pivotal steps that take place during the exchange, completion, and post-completion phases.

Anatomy of a deal - The 9-step guide to selling your business part 2

In this part 2 of our Anatomy of a Deal blog series, we delve into the complexities of transaction documents, disclosure, and ancillary documents.

Anatomy of a deal - The 9-step guide to selling your business part 1

Business owners spend many years and a lot of effort building their businesses to the point where they can look to sell it, building a wide range of skills and tactics to deal with issues that arise.  However, the process of buying and selling companies is often outside their experience and can seem overwhelming. In the first part of our three-part series, we'll explore the initial stages of the sale process. From engaging advisors to crafting heads of terms, we break down the critical first steps on the path to selling your business.

Changes affecting financial promotions for High Net Worth Individuals and Sophisticated Investors: what you need to know

As of 31 January 2024, significant changes are set to take effect in the certification process for high net worth individuals (HNWI) and sophisticated investors. These amendments, extending across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, will impact the financial promotions landscape, requiring individuals and firms to adapt to the new rules.

Is your online business caught by the Online Safety Act?

The Online Safety Bill recently received Royal Assent and became law in October this year (the “Act”), at which point the Office of Communications (“Ofcom”) was granted broad powers to regulate online service providers. Essential detail concerning the legislative framework within the Act will be disclosed in the course of consultation and stakeholder engagement concerning the secondary legislation, codes of practice and guidance which will underpin the Act.

Lifecycle of a Tech Startup Series

Our investment and technology teams regularly advise tech startups as they progress from the initial pre-seed stage to being venture-funded enterprises on the cusp of an exit. Whilst the journey of every tech startup is unique, we’ve noticed that certain legal issues commonly crop up, and so we’ve created a case study to shed light on those issues and share our expertise on how to deal with them.

Lifecycle of a tech startup series: Founder Fall Out

KNow Wear Limited has been going from strength to strength and is now looking to expand and market the product overseas. For our founders, this will mean significant time commitments over the next few years as they carry out their expansion plan. Chris has concerns about the business taking time away from his family and he is now looking for a less-demanding role. You, Chris and Sarah have an informal meeting to discuss Chris’ role in the business and the future of KNow Wear Limited.

Lifecycle of a tech startup series: VC Investor

The EMI share options which KNow Wear Ltd granted to Aggie and Edith in episode 12 have really worked to incentivise them; and thanks in large part of their efforts, the company is getting lots of advanced orders for the product. In order to ensure that the company has enough bandwidth to keep up with demand, you, Sarah and Chris have started to think about raising more funds. This is to ensure that the company can produce the number of units it needs to fulfil the orders, and then actually physically fulfil them.

Lifecycle of a tech startup series: Data Protection

In advance of trialling the product with a test group of 100 consumers you, Sarah and Chris are now turning your attention to compliance with data protection legislation, given that the trial phase will mark the commencement of the company processing a significant volume of consumer personal data. Users will need to provide their personal details in order to register an account with KNow Wear and reap the full benefits of the wellbeing wearable via the web-based platform which works alongside it.

Lifecycle of a tech startup series: Incentivising Employees

KNow Wear Ltd is now starting to flourish. The sample products manufactured in Burnley have tested above expectations and the company is looking to take on new staff to build out the sales and development teams. It has a difficult task now however – how does it hire the best staff, when it can’t offer the best salaries?

Pandemic Entrepreneurs – Setting the Pace

The COVID-19 pandemic saw a rise in entrepreneurship, with the Bank of England reporting that contrary to the typical cycle of company creations, which tend to rise in booms and decline in recessions, the number of new companies set up during the pandemic in fact clearly increased.

Lifecycle of a tech startup series: Directors' Duties

KNow Wear Limited has used the investment received to date to further develop the wearable tech product to the extent that it now has a minimum viable product with basic features to introduce to the market. The company has identified a test group of 100 consumers who will test this version of the product and provide feedback. Following the test phase the company will collate the feedback and further develop the product before releasing a final version of the product to the market.

Lifecycle of a tech startup series: Obtaining a Sponsor License

KNow Wear Limited have identified some overseas talent that they would like to hire to help to expand the business. This candidate does not currently have permission to work in the UK and therefore KNow Wear Limited is considering whether it can apply for a sponsor licence from UK Visas & Immigration (“UKVI”). Obtaining a sponsor licence, will then enable the company to go on and sponsor individuals to apply for immigration permission to work in the UK.

Lifecycle of a tech startup series: R&D tax relief

Having raised £500,000 and, in episode 8, hired a software developer, KNow Wear Limited is starting to flourish. As Ben Franklin wrote when the USA was in its infancy, nothing is certain except death and taxes. Knowledge of the UK tax system is valuable for any UK business owner, start-ups can dramatically improve their chances of success by ensuring they claim the various tax reliefs and incentives available. Episode 4 looked at the valuable tax reliefs a company can offer its investors, your focus today is on the tax relief (or repayment) available to companies carrying out research and development activities.

The journey from social media influencer to tech entrepreneur

Social media has revolutionised the way in which we interact with businesses and each other and has shown that it can be a generous friend to business owners and entrepreneurs, helping them to harness a following, build their brand and grow a worldwide customer base. 

Lifecycle of a tech startup series: Employees and Consultants

In our previous blog in our Lifecycle of a tech startup series, KNow Wear Limited secured investment of £500,000. Having completed the raise, you, Sarah and Chris have decided that you need more help in developing and marketing the product. You are looking to create two new roles in the business - the first is a Software Developer to support Sarah’s work and the second is a Head of Marketing.

Lifecycle of a tech startup series: Seed raise

Having decided in episode 4  of our lifecycle of a tech startup series on targeting angel investors to raise £500,000 investment in the business, the founders of KNow Wear Limited researched various angel investor networks which aimed to connect start-ups like yours with angel investors. You applied to pitch at a couple of events and were invited by one network to interview with them in person. The network was very impressed with the business and invited you to pitch at their next event.  

What is an Advanced Subscription Agreement?

If you are involved in investing, either as a startup or an investor, you are likely to come across an advanced subscription agreement. So what is an advanced subscription agreement and what do you need to consider when entering into one? 

Lifecycle of a tech startup series: Tax reliefs

You are aware that the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) are two tax incentive schemes for individuals who invest in early-stage companies. What are the key considerations when determining whether a particular investment is eligible for SEIS/EIS relief?

 

The discontinuation of LIBOR and phasing in of SONIA in the Sterling Markets, what do we know so far?

Global financial markets are preparing to transition away from the use of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and adopt an appropriate alternative risk free rate (“RFR”) by the end of 2021. What are the reasons for the move away from LIBOR, the progress to date in terms of identifying the Sterling Overnight Index Average (“SONIA”) as the most appropriate alternative rate in the Sterling markets, and the steps still required to be taken to ensure such markets are ready for the phasing out of LIBOR by the end of the year

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