Ranking tables

Banking & Finance: Borrowers | Global

UK

The Banking & Finance: Borrowers rankings table below has been designed to provide the most in-depth insights and reviews of the top ranked lawyers and law firms. The firms included in our rankings have been recommended by in-house counsel, other third-party experts and private practice lawyers. Our comprehensive research ensures you have all the information needed when looking to purchase legal services across UK.

All Departments profiles

1

Band 1

  1. A&O Shearman
    1
    A&O Shearman
    Banking & Finance: Borrowers
    2024 | Band 1 | 30 Years Ranked
    Allen & Overy is widely viewed as one of the leading banking practices in London with standout expertise in syndicated lending - a space in which it advises high-profile corporate borrowers and traditional lenders on prominent, often multi-jurisdictional, financing transactions. In addition to its work for banks, the team advises a growing number of debt funds on direct lending mandates. The department is also highly regarded as a leader in the leveraged finance market, offering sterling advice to high-profile asset managers.
  2. Clifford Chance LLP
    1
    Clifford Chance LLP
    Banking & Finance: Borrowers
    2024 | Band 1 | 16 Years Ranked
    Clifford Chance has a significant finance practice, which is sought out by high-calibre corporates, financial institutions and private equity sponsors in the leveraged and investment-grade markets. The team is well positioned to advise on the full range of financial instruments, from European covenant-lite structures to term loan B facilities. The department is additionally noted for its ability to advise lenders in EMEA on high-value transactions and has recently been particularly active in the infrastructure space. The team has long-established experts in the fund finance space, where it advises both sponsors and lenders.
  3. Freshfields
    1
    Freshfields
    Banking & Finance: Borrowers
    2024 | Band 1 | 16 Years Ranked
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a market-leading practice containing a team of finance experts that acts for high-profile corporates and private equity houses. The team is well positioned to advise on cross-border leveraged finance transactions and is regularly instructed on acquisition and take-private financings, refinancing and repricing matters. It is highly experienced in sustainability-linked loan transactions.
  4. Linklaters
    1
    Linklaters
    Banking & Finance: Borrowers
    2024 | Band 1 | 16 Years Ranked
    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.
  5. Slaughter and May
    1
    Slaughter and May
    Banking & Finance: Borrowers
    2024 | Band 1 | 16 Years Ranked
    Slaughter and May is a formidable group with a market-leading borrower-side practice and impressive cross-border capabilities. The team acts for corporate groups on high-end acquisition financings and corporate loans in a wealth of sectors including energy, life sciences, manufacturing, insurance and retail. It has an impressive knowledge of a variety of structures, including certain funds facilities, term loan B's, bridges and combined bond and loan financings. The department is additionally well versed advising on the incorporation of sustainability-linked features into new as well as existing facilities.
2

Band 2

  1. Ropes & Gray LLP
    2
    Ropes & Gray LLP
    Banking & Finance: Borrowers
    2024 | Band 2 | 3 Years Ranked
    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.
  2. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
    2
    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
    Banking & Finance: Borrowers
    2024 | Band 2 | 10 Years Ranked
    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.
  3. White & Case LLP
    2
    White & Case LLP
    Banking & Finance: Borrowers
    2024 | Band 2 | 13 Years Ranked
    White & Case has a solid banking and finance practice with a strong foothold in the private equity space, strengthened by the law firm's cross-border capabilities. The team works regularly with borrowers on complex financings in addition to maintaining strong relationships with major banks. It demonstrates standout strength advising on deals in emerging markets. The team is highly regarded for both its UK and US law capabilities and advisory work for alternative capital providers in matters spanning the credit market. It has notable expertise advising on combined bank/bond issues.
  4. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
    Banking & Finance: Borrowers
    2024 | Band 2
  5. Herbert Smith Freehills
    Banking & Finance: Borrowers
    2024 | Band 2