Strengths: ‘Penningtons Manches Cooper have a very good, commercial approach.’
Notable practitioners
John Chater: ‘John is commercially minded and deeply knowledgeable with an approachable style that makes challenging topics accessible to clients.’
‘Helen Drayton gives a really good level of support.’
Chambers UK - 2023 edition
The banking and finance team at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP undertakes a range of transactions including real estate finance, acquisition finance, project finance and general corporate banking work. The firm acts for a number of prominent clearing banks and an increasing number of overseas banks. John Chater leads the team and has experience in bilateral and syndicated transactions.
‘The team is very experienced and knowledgeable and have the wider depth in terms of product skills and expertise.’
‘Strong partners and capable juniors with a willingness to meet all deadlines.’
Trade finance: Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP joins the ranking on the strength of lead partners Grant Eldred, who leads the financial services sector group, and trade finance litigation specialist Mark Sachs.
‘The individual we work with most extensively is Grant Eldred who is undoubtedly one of the best in the business for trade finance.’
The Legal 500 - 2023 edition
Clients praise the firm's ‘proficient delivery all round’.
Notable practitioners
John Chater: ‘He gives precise advice and has also a commercial approach. He seeks to find solutions for the client.’
‘He is excellent. He efficiently explains everything in straightforward detail.’
Helen Drayton provides advice on acquisition finance, particularly in relation to MBOs. She also handles development finance and is experienced in financing work across a number of sectors including healthcare and leisure.
Megan O'Meadhra: ‘She had a very collaborative approach, was easy to deal with and accessible.’ ‘Communication is excellent as is the explanation of what matters to the bank in her view.’
Chambers UK - 2022 edition
Reading-based banking and finance specialist John Chater is the main contact at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP. His varied portfolio of work covers acquisition finance (including transactions with a private equity element), real estate investment finance, development finance and general corporate banking...The firm is heavily involved in work for lenders and counts a sizeable number of UK and international banks as clients.
‘Approachable, friendly and willing to engage with both ourselves and the client to ‘hold hands’ and guide, as much as manage the legal aspects.’
‘John Chater has been our main point of contact within the banking and finance team. He has always made himself available, even at very short notice, and no query is ever too much trouble for him. He is extremely knowledgeable and has a superb team around him to offer support in other areas of the firm, regularly introducing other experts from across the firm who are equally adept and responding to any queries we have.’
The Legal 500 - 2022 edition
Experienced in advising lenders and borrowers on a variety of financing work. Areas of work include MBOs, acquisition and education financing as well as bridge refinancing. Draws its borrower clients from the healthcare and retail sectors, among others.
Strengths: Clients say: 'They are technically skilled, but what sets them apart is their commercial aptitude and personable style.'
Other sources note that the lawyers 'go the extra mile to advise, by understanding what the client and the bank are trying to achieve.'
Notable practitioners
Sources highlight John Chater for being 'diligent, technically skilled, personable and able to see things from the client’s commercial, as well as the legal, perspective.' He advises borrowers and lenders on a range of transactions including real estate finance and acquisition finance.
Helen Drayton provides advice on acquisition finance, particularly in relation to MBOs. She also handles development finance and is experienced in financing work across a number of sectors including healthcare and leisure.
Chambers UK - 2021 edition
The firm-wide banking and finance practice not only advises some of the world's most active lending banks, but also has a large roster of large corporate borrowers in the healthcare, real estate, retail, education, construction and social housing sectors.
Helen Drayton, who handles acquisition finance, bi-lateral lending and development finance, works with the London office to assist banks and investors outside of the EEA to enter the UK.
The team are always available and respond quickly to any queries. They have regularly gone the extra mile for mutual clients.
John Chater is approachable, incredibly knowledgeable and has a rare ability to take complex legal matters and describe them in a way that can be easily comprehended.
The Legal 500 - 2021 edition
Banking and finance work at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP includes advising lenders and borrowers on finance agreements as well as support with both contentious and regulatory matters. The team specialises in complex advice on finance agency provisions, handling transactions which often involve overseas jurisdictions. On the contentious side, the practice is well versed in claims based on interest rate swap misselling and LIBOR rigging. Sector specialism on the borrower’s side includes healthcare, retail and social housing. Helen Drayton and John Chater, who was made partner in April 2019, are recommended, while Angela Stallard joined in May 2018.
Real estate finance specialist Sarah Coates is also recommended.
The Legal 500 - 2020 edition
Experienced in advising lenders and borrowers on a variety of financing work. Represents prominent financial institutions in transactional issues, facility agreements and debt refinancings. Particularly active in the real estate and healthcare sectors.
Strengths: One client emphasises its ‘friendly, capable team who have a can-do attitude and are always willing to provide advice and support.’
Another interviewee reports: ‘They are commercial, responsive and approachable.’
Notable practitioners
Richard Eldridge is described by a client as ‘a very creative thinker and someone who constantly thinks of commercial solutions.’ In addition to acquisition and development finance, he also has experience advising on interest rate swaps, particularly within the healthcare, property and technology sectors.
Chambers UK - 2019 edition
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Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC311575 and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under number 419867.
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