Banking & Finance

Commercial. Pragmatic. Personal. That’s our advice in a nutshell.

We bring experience, insights and commercial expertise to all our banking and finance advice.

We advise and are panel lawyers for, amongst others, Metro Bank, Santander (UK), The Charity Bank, Triodos Bank UK, Handelsbanken, Unity Trust Bank and the Lloyds Bank in respect of its lending to the charity and not for profit sector.

In addition to advising banks and specialist lenders, we also support our corporate clients on secured and unsecured borrowing transactions.

But it isn’t simply the depth of our experience that sets us apart, it’s our personal approach. We build relationships and offer solutions.

How we help

We offer specialist support in structured and general corporate banking, social finance, acquisition finance, real estate finance and asset-based lending. We tailor our advice to each client’s needs – bringing in support from specialist teams across our firm to ensure you receive the best possible advice.

We advise borrowers and lenders across a wide range of sectors on syndicated and bilateral lending, invoice discounting arrangements, cross border structures, security and intercreditor issues.

As a long term member of the Loan Market Association we understand the leveraged finance market, the changes within it and the documentation which supports it.

We have a detailed understanding of the funding and structural needs of our charity and not-for-profit clients. We also advise the country's leading lenders to the charity and not-for-profit sector. Like our clients Charity Bank and Triodos, we’re a B Corp, so we understand what it means to be values-driven.

In addition to advising on lending and borrowing we also advise insolvency practitioners, banks, institutional investors, asset-based lenders, LPA receivers, corporate entities and company directors on insolvency law.

A social enterprise that’s going places

In the largest refinancing deal of its kind, we’ve helped a community transport company to grow into one of the UK’s most successful social enterprises.

Bates Wells represents Alantra Partners in acquisition of Catalyst Corporate Finance

Bates Wells advised Alantra Partners, SA (the global investment banking and asset management firm listed on the Madrid and Barcelona Stock Exchanges) on its acquisition of and ongoing partnership in leading UK mid-market corporate finance advisory firm Catalyst Corporate Finance LLP. The transaction valued Catalyst at £30million – settled in a combination of cash and Alantra shares. The transaction, was subject to Alantra Shareholder and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) approval.

Advising Sigmaroc plc on its £34m acquisition funding line with Santander plc

Advising The Charity Bank Limited and Unity Trust Bank plc on a number of bi lateral and club deals to the charity, care home and housing association sector

Advising Metro Bank plc on £10m and £6m rolling stock facilities

Advising Triodos Bank N.V. on a £24m development facility to the care-home sector

Advising Triodos Bank N.V. on a £30m funding line to the higher education sector