Banking & Finance
For your business to grow, you require creative and innovative financial products which are tailored to your individual business’s needs.
We have market leading financial lawyers who have industry-specific experience and a clear understanding of today’s business environment which will give you a critical competitive advantage when you are structuring and negotiating financial transactions.
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We have forged a strong reputation amongst banks, building societies, other major financial institutions and sophisticated borrowers due to our extensive experience and responsiveness across a diverse range of finance-related matters.
Key banking & finance services
We can assist in the following banking and finance areas:
- Asset finance
- Leveraged finance
- Real estate finance
- Project finance
- General corporate lending and borrowing
Banking & finance work examples
Below are some work examples of where we have acted for lenders and borrowers in the banking and finance world.
Advising lenders
- Santander UK plc in connection with the provision of term loan, invoice finance and supply chain finance facilities to The DB Food Group Limited and its subsidiaries;
- HSBC Bank plc on its financing of the leveraged management buyout of a specialist engineering business in the petro-chemical sector using LMA-based documentation;
- Interbay Funding Ltd on its largest acquisition financings, such as a £19m facility to a borrower in order to finance its acquisition of 130+ residential properties in London (which had to be completed within a month) and £22m of fixed and variable rate term loan facilities to finance the incorporation of a general partnership holding a portfolio of over 100 investment properties around Southampton;
- Lloyds Bank plc on a £5m management buyout and demerger of a multinational media and PR agency, involving invoice discounting and working capital facilities from the bank;
- Santander UK plc on all manner of property, acquisition and working capital facilities (with a focus on education, healthcare and hotels), such as the term loan and multi-currency overdraft facilities to finance the management buy-out (by way of a s.110 IA 1986 demerger and reconstruction) of Group Tiger plc (with subsidiaries in the UK, US, Dubai and Germany); the £10m revolving credit facility to AIM-listed Vislink plc to support the £15m acquisition of two US-based companies.
Advising borrowers
- Corrotherm International Limited on the refinancing of its existing NatWest and RBS debt facilities by Clydesdale Bank plc, with a term loan, multi-currency overdraft facility, a forward forex facility, a performance bond / guarantee facility, an import / letter of credit facility and a confidential invoice discounting facility;
- Richmond Cars Limited on £22m of term loans from Metro Bank plc in order to facilitate the expansion of its Hyundai car dealership business and to subsequently finance its acquisition of The Sparshatts group;
- Haskins Garden Centers Limited on a £22.5m refinance funded by HSBC Bank plc, involving a package of development term loan, overdraft and bond facilities;
- Comland plc and its subsidiary, Alfred Homes Limited on senior and mezzanine facilities provided by NatWest and other banks in respect of the construction of developments in the South of England;
- Livingstone Leisure Limited on the HSBC-funded leveraged acquisition of Lightwater Valley Attractions Limited from a Jersey-based company;
- Purple Parking group on a (Sharia-compliant) acquisition facility provided by Bank of London and The Middle East plc to finance a management buy-out and reorganisation and subsequently on a £12m debt facility from NatWest to finance the acquisition of a competitor;
- My Local Group on the contested disposal of more than 40 convenience stores across the UK (as going concerns) to multiple buyers in the retail sector; and
- RB Sport & Leisure Holdings plc and its subsidiaries on the £27m refinancing led by Omni Capital Partners Limited to finish the construction of a 175-bedroom Hilton hotel.
Key banking & finance clients
Below is a list of some of the key banking and finance clients we have worked with over recent years:
- Santander UK plc
- National Westminster Bank PLC / The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- Interbay Funding Ltd and OneSavings Bank plc
- Hampshire Trust Bank PLC
- Yacht Havens Limited
- Haskins Garden Centres Limited
- S.H.B Hire Limited
- Millbrook Healthcare Limited
- Proseed Capital Limited
- Dolphin Homes Limited
- PCF Bank Limited
- Proplend Ltd
- Saffron Building Society
- RB Sport & Leisure
- Marwell Zoo
- Corrotherm International Limited
In-House Counsel
Our team of experienced lawyers is well-equipped to support you in various ways. Whether you require advice on a specific issue, additional resources due to capacity constraints, or a second opinion, we are here to help. Explore our legal counsel page for more information and details on our schedule of seminars, specifically designed for in-house counsel.
How we work with you
Whilst based in the South of England, Paris Smith acts for businesses and families throughout the UK. Technology has enabled us to provide a high level of service to our clients whether they are local to our offices or not. Our advice can be given in many ways:
- Over the telephone
- Via video conferencing
- In face to face meetings
We will talk through how you would like to be contacted and the best ways for us to meet in our early conversations with you.
Get in touch to speak with an expert.
Introducing your key contact
Banking and Finance Services
How we’ve helped our clients
Chambers and Partners Legal Directory 2025
What the team is known for
Paris Smith is highly active on debt finance transactions, offering a full spectrum of banking expertise encompassing acquisition, asset and property finance. It is regularly sought after by retail banking groups, house builders and developers for real estate finance-related work. Paris Smith also acts for UK clearing and challenger banks on leveraged finance, debt facilities and working capital facilities.
Strengths
“Paris Smith provides quality service and is always willing to go the extra mile to support clients.”
“They take time to comprehensively cover all the potential scenarios, ensuring full understanding and demonstrating a very solution-led approach.”
Notable Practitioners
James McNeil
James McNeil is head of the corporate, commercial and finance department at the firm. He advises lenders and borrowers on a variety of matters including term loan facilities, debt refinancing and project finance.
“James has excellent legal expertise but is also highly commercial, and he facilitates introductions where appropriate.”
Legal 500 Directory 2025
Paris Smith LLP splits its banking and finance department across acquisition finance, property finance and project and asset finance teams. Acting for retail banking groups, house builders and developers on real estate finance-related work is a core pillar of the ‘very efficient’ group’s practice, as well as advising UK clearing and challenger banks on leveraged finance issues, debt facilities and working capital facilities. Practice head James McNeil is a key name for all aspects of acquisition, asset, project and property finance transactions. Jonathan Roy has a wealth of experience in M&A and private equity transactions and specialises in acquisition finance mandates.
What our clients say:
‘Highly competent lawyers with an excellent profile in the Solent region.’
‘James McNeil is an excellent corporate lawyer with first rate knowledge but also a high degree of commerciality allied to strong networking skills.’
‘The banking team are very efficient and easy to deal with. The advice is always clear and helpful. ’
‘James McNeil is very dependable and easy to work with. ’
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