Banking

We advise arranger, lender and borrower clients on complex transactions instructuring financing. In doing so, we assist our clients at the initial stage of discussing and negotiating the terms of the financing so that the products – and how they are set up – meet their business requirements and comply with regulatory frameworks. We have a broad understanding of the regulatory issues related to prudential requirements, so we also advise on various types of credit risk hedging, including in relation to different forms of participations and guarantees.

Legal services related to acquisitions and their financing are one of the cornerstones of our firm. We have long-standing experience and in-depth knowledge of the debt products used in M&A financing, working closely withour corporate law experts. Our expertise includes corporate and investment financing for acquisitions and buyouts, as well as completely customized solutions.

In acquisition finance, we are involved on both the debtor and creditor sides of the process, from its early stages, including due diligence and negotiation of related agreements, settlement terms, through analysis of the impact of competition regulation to successful settlement.

We have extensive experience advising on projects across sectors, including construction finance for renewables, energy storage, cogeneration, oil and gas, water and waste management, mining, airports, telecoms, hotels, education, as well as networks and railways.

Our advice often covers the project’s entire life cycle, from joint venture formation and due diligence, to complex financial documentation and, depending on the type of project, energy trading agreements, construction and operation and maintenance agreements, or matters relating to the management of hotels, office buildings and other properties, and obtaining regulatory approvals.

Aspart of our long-term relationships with our clients, we are also involved in the process of financing their operational needs. Our team has extensive expertise in operational finance, including in a wide range of financial products that support day-to-day business operations.

Our experience includes working capital financing, SLLs, overdrafts and revolving credit facilities, bank guarantees and letters of credit, and other forms of short- and medium-term financing that help our clients effectively manage their liquidity and optimize operating costs, or obtain appropriate regulatory approvals.

We have unparalleled experience in helping our clients finance aircraft, aircraft engines, rolling stock and fleets of commercial vehicles. We regularly represent lessees and manufacturers, as well as lessors and financing institutions.

In the aviation industry, we advise banks, lessors and airlines on a variety of commercial transactions, ranging from senior and mezzanine loans, sale and leaseback transactions, securitization schemes, aircraft portfolio sales and acquisitions, transactions involving the formation of joint ventures, and airline reorganizations and insolvency proceedings.

In addition to our commercial aviation practice, we have market-leading expertise in business aviation, including sales and purchases, financing and litigation involving private aircraft.

Trade finance plays a key role in supporting our clients' domestic and global growth. We help clients navigate complex financial arrangements such as pre-export financing, supply chain financing and invoice financing. We also provide legal services in relation to payment and security instruments such as bank guarantees and letters of credit.

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Our extensive experience, combined with the technical expertise of our lawyers and commercial awareness, enables us to provide creative and practical solutions.

Our team provides legal services across the entities involved in the securitization process, including the banks and financial institutions which finance the various structures of securitization schemes in the purchase of loan portfolios.

Derivative products are an essential tool for managing the risks associated with financing. Our team advises on the full breadth, and covers the full spectrum of underlying assets, not just the usual interest rate and currency derivatives.

We regularly advise clients on contracts relating to hedging transactions in accordance with domestic and international standards, in particular those of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA).

We provide our clients with comprehensive legal support in financing start-ups, from their formation to obtaining funding from FFF, angel investors and venture (growth) capital. We work with founders, investors and venture capital funds to help set up the legal and financial structures appropriate to the individual needs of the given project.

Our advice includes drafting convertible loan agreements (CLAs), simple agreements for future equity (SAFE), direct entry investment agreements, exit agreements, founders’ agreements and investor entry terms, as well as setting up relationships between founders, employees, including share and option schemes (e.g. ESOPs), and investors.

We also advise on due diligence, intellectual property protection, regulatory issues and ensuring compliance during each investment round through to exit preparation.