Leveraged Finance: Lenders: Mid-Market | Europe

Ashurst has an established team of banking experts who work across the spectrum of leveraged finance deals. The group excels when working with private equity sponsors, corporate borrowers and lenders.

Hogan Lovells is recognised for the strength of its lender-focused leveraged finance work. The team works on both syndicated and bilateral transactions for credit funds and banks. It's also recognised for its work for sponsors and borrowers.

Addleshaw Goddard acts for a host of lender-side clients on a range of mid-market leveraged finance matters. The team has broad sector expertise including retail, financial services and technology.

Baker McKenzie is an ideal option for clients seeking advice on complex multi-jurisdictional matters including leveraged acquisitions and syndicated lending. 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.

Mayer Brown handles complex and bespoke deals for lender clients. 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.

The banking team at McDermott Will & Schulte has a strong private equity focus and regularly works with both sponsors and lenders. It is particularly active for direct lenders, advising them 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 works with both borrowers and lenders on leveraged finance transactions. The team's expertise is broad and clients regularly seek the lawyers out for work including acquisition financing and refinancings.

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.

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.

DLA Piper's leveraged finance work see them working with both borrowers and lenders. The team works across a full range of deal types including acquisition financings, refinancings and P2Ps.

Eversheds Sutherland has a notable leveraged finance practice that is best known for its work with lender-side clients. Private credit is a key focus for the group, but it also counts traditional lenders among its clients.

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.

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.

Stephenson Harwood is adept at acting for speciality lenders, and banks on leveraged and acquisition financings. The firm's domestic strength is bolstered by a strong overseas presence. It also has wide sectoral expertise with notable strength in the real estate, shipping and aviation sectors.

Taylor Wessing is recognised for its work with lender clients on a range of deal types. It regularly advises on cross-border acquisition financings.