‘Linklaters is one of the most prominent law firms in the securitisation space and one of the select few law firms which could advise clients on the most complex transactions. They are very experienced and exposed to the latest developments in the market. Their people are exceptionally talented and a pleasure to work with. In terms of law firms, their ability to be very commercial makes them stand out amongst their peers.’

‘Adam Fogarty is very experienced in the securitisation market and has the ability to explain complex concepts in simpler terms for non-lawyers. Lucy Sidey is an upcoming junior partner that is very dedicated, friendly and generally great to work with. She has been extremely accommodating in the past on commercial arrangements and these relationship efforts as well as the excellent quality of her team is what has made us come back twice in three months for subsequent deals.’

‘Michael Watson is exceptionally dedicated and organised, has a great attitude and excels at dealing with clients. He is very commercial and excels at always seeking to build compromise between the parties. In terms of senior associates across law firms we work with, I have never worked with anyone quite as impressive as him in terms of work ethic and the ability to deliver a successful transaction for his clients. William Bibby does a great job at representing the client’s interest and position while seeking to come to a consensus.’

‘A strong team, giving lots of options on partner and associate coverage. Broad skill set means they can cover a wider range of deals without continually bringing in specialists from other departments.’

‘Andy Vickery, Tom Quoroll, Alex Shopov, Reza Taylor – all very strong but offer different characters giving a client the ability to choose the right personality for the job. I don’t believe any other law firm can offer a group of finance lawyers capable of operating as specialists in public structured debt and also generalists able to cover corporate debt, leverage, REF and derivatives, each to a high standard.’

‘The Linklaters team has been at the front and centre of the legal work instructed by my securitisation team, showcasing ability to deliver complex transactions in a timely and orderly fashion, across public and private financings. In particular, their ability to leverage their deep understanding of our internal constraints when solving for our challenges has been outstanding. It is a pleasure working with a team with such strong team work and collaboration skills. ’

‘They are commercial and have a strong knowledge of the market and our structures which is extremely valuable to us. Most importantly, we value the way that they work with our advisers – they are very collaborative and work with us on transactions so that we achieve the goal of closing the transaction together. As a direct comparison, we have worked with other lawyers representing arranging banks recently and Linklaters compare very favourably – we noticed more collaboration when working with the Linklaters team and no “drama”.’

‘Adam Fogarty: leads our transactions and is a great sounding board for any issues that might arise on any given transaction. Such a responsive partner. We appreciate that we are not his client but nevertheless he always seeks to understand our position so that he is able to represent his clients most effectively bearing in mind everyone’s objective to get the transaction over the line. We very much value his expertise, opinion and sound judgement as well as great working style and are very pleased to have him and his team working on our deals.’

‘Very responsive, very professional, good at helping clients navigate tricky clauses and topics, and very collaborative.’

‘Approachable as well as knowledgeable. Sensitive to our commercial pressures and tight turnaround times.’

‘Easy to reach, personally non-hierarchical, experienced and with an informal feel.’

‘Peter Voisey is always available and has built a very capable and experienced team that is able to cope with many transactions across several asset classes. We have a long-term working relationship with the Dentons team – they know what is important for us and focus accordingly.’

‘Dentons has one of the most dedicated securitisation practices in the market, where client service is at the heart and you always feel incredibly well looked after.’

‘Peter Voisey – always available to chat when needed, dedicates a tremendous amount of time to managing transactions in an efficient manner and always happy to discuss where helpful.’

‘The Dentons corporate trustee team is highly experienced and competent. They have provided excellent support on various complex transactions, a number of which have run to very tight timelines. Staffing on deals is often at a senior level which has helped ensure that points are correctly articulated and backed up.’

‘Catriona (Kitty) Lloyd is excellent – commercial, understands the technical nuances that matter to us, hard working and very personable.’

‘Attentive, diligent and always trying to understand the client and their needs.’

‘Peter Voisey and team are second to none when it comes to securitisation expertise.’

‘Peter Voisey is the standout partner and provides outstanding counsel in all secured funding instruments.’

‘Michael Poulton is exceptional and so are Jenny Sugden, Lauren Land and Victoria Salisbury. ’

‘The HSF structured finance team is great – so helpful and easy to work with!’

‘Our main contact is Michael Poulton. He’s brilliant at cutting through complex issues and helping us get deals over the line.’

‘Hogan Lovells has a standout practice in securitisation, particularly with respect to consumer assets, with their UK and German offices taking a clear lead on sustainable finance in securitisation also.’

‘Julian Craughan does a fantastic job of managing transactions in an efficient manner and helping with structural challenges. Steven Minke stands out amongst associates in the securitisation world for his commitment in the face of challenges and relationship building.’

‘What I appreciate the most is their approach to propose solutions or compromises viewed as balanced for the parties – this contributes to set a serene negotiating atmosphere and to promote efficiency. Also for me it is very important to be reassured by my legal counsel. The way to achieve that is to hear a clear description of the challenges and feel that my lawyers know what they are talking about without changing their mind too quickly or too often if challenged a bit. Also I find it important from an ethical perspective to have the same views on the issues and the market practice whatever party the legal firm is advising. Hogan Lovells meet all these criteria and this is very rare.’

‘The team is a group of exceptional individuals, very human and pleasant to work with. This is important as what counts first in business are human relationships. From a technical point of view, HL’s team is very competent and understands accurately the challenges and the objectives of the bank and its clients. This is a good starting point to find relevant solutions and deliver successful transactions.’

‘The partner is both technically knowledgeable and commercial. Team is always responsive.’

‘When working with Hogan Lovells we get the feeling that they are very focused on us and the transaction. While they do excellent work, they are also very commercial and help get the deal over the line (contrary to other law firms who love to dig in their heels). There is excellent coverage from the partner and very capable associates.’

‘Very approachable and commercially minded securitisation team providing high-quality legal advice. Proactive, responsive and having the appropriate level of staffing. Contrary to other firms, there is a sufficient level of senior associate/counsel/partner involvement with junior associates/trainees not appearing to be left to their own devices. Hogan Lovells also has very experienced securitisation lawyers across Europe which makes it more efficient to work with them on cross-border transactions.’

‘Tauhid Ijaz manages to combine high-quality legal advice on very complex structures with a pragmatic and commercial approach to getting the deal done which is much appreciated by clients.’

‘A very client-focused practice which is not just focused on executing transactions but also giving a good overall client experience.’

‘Patrick Leftley, Jeremiah Wagner and team provide a unique combination of outstanding legal knowledge, creativity, commercial acumen and client support. They have supported my business from founding through startup to scaleup and their contribution has been fundamental to our success to date.’

‘Very strong reach worldwide. High quality of team. Deep domain expertise. Capacity to meet tight deadlines.’

‘Knowledgeable and hardworking teams.’

‘Ronan Mellon was very constructive in dealing with complex issues.’

‘Excellent, commercial understanding, great communications, accessible.’

‘Experienced team, who I can rely on for consistency and a high-quality approach – solid appreciation of commerciality in their application. I have previously engaged with the top four and find the team at Simmons strengths are as good as any.’

‘A long relationship with Amer Siddiqui. I value the experience and professionalism he brings in his approach from the smallest to big complex matters. Amer is calm in pressure negotiations and has enabled us to deal with strength in negotiations. His annual collaboration with AFME UK Residential Mortgage Finance Seminar is worth noting and is a good insight into the growth of the offering since he joined Simmons.’

‘The firm is recognised as a leader in its field and we know we are in safe hands when they act for us.’

‘Partner Michael Lorraine commands the respect of his peers and his calm and authoritative approach helps transactions proceed smoothly.’

‘The team are knowledgeable, creative and thoughtful about key issues. I have found them to be excellent thought partners on new deals as well as situations facing challenges.’

‘Experienced, approachable, practical and commercial.’

‘The team have a deep knowledge of the market, a collaborative and assured style, and work hard to solve issues in a practical and commercial way.’

‘We use the Weil’s structured finance team as manager counsel for our CLOs and appreciate the team’s knowledge and experience. They work well with all parties and are quick to resolve any issues (or potential issues) that come up during a transaction.’

‘We appreciate the work of Jacky Kelly (partner) and Luke Stowe (associate) and value their views/input. Collectively, we work well with the entire team and would recommend them.’

‘Chris McGarry and Adam Farrell have led on deals both for us and representing the investment bank arranging our deals. The work has always been of a high quality; the team is well staffed and there is good senior lawyer engagement on the matters which is reassuring to see. The team are particularly adept on ESG matters relating to CLOs.’

‘We always see Chris McGarry and Adam Farrell having excellent engagement on deals which is sometimes missing from other firms.’

‘Hands-on, and very knowledgeable in this niche field with actual previous experience at stake.’

‘A personable and bright team that goes the extra mile. Good diverse mix of team members and skill sets.’

‘Well-connected team in the industry.’

‘Tom Falkus (partner): Always good-humoured and solution-oriented.’

‘The AG team has provided exceptional support on a number of complex transactions. The consistency of advice provided enables us to progress deals with confidence. We are also very grateful for the pragmatic approach taken by the team, and the very clear communication that we can rely on. The team goes above and beyond to work through client questions and concerns, which does not go unnoticed.’

‘Olga Friedman has repeatedly provided exceptional advice on very complex transactions. She is both gifted and diligent – the ideal combination! Olga is an incredibly valuable asset within her team, who adeptly steers clients through the transaction process, confidently and competently dealing with all parties.’

‘Excellent teamwork. Strength in depth. 100% commitment to the client’s cause – really going the extra mile to achieve a result the client wants.’

‘The team has excellent knowledge and experience to be able to provide insightful, commercial and practical advice on securitisation matters.’

‘Taymour Keen is the client partner who we work with. He is one of the best lawyers I’ve ever worked with. His knowledge and experience on securitisation-related matters is second to none. You can rely on him to get a deal done even when there are time constraints, offer practical solutions when problems arise and retain a good eye on details that affect our business. More generally, he’s a pleasure to work with, is down to earth and respected by colleagues and counterparties.’

‘Baker McKenzie’s structured capital markets team have excellent all-round capability in structured and also conventional capital markets transactions, whether bonds or loans. Their capability to assist agents and trustees on those capital markets deals is for me what makes them stand out. There’s a good variety of lawyers and sub specialisations within the team too. I think Bakers are unique in having such a team compared to other law firms in London.’

‘Simon Porter and his team work seamlessly together to provide practical, pragmatic and timely advice. They are always willing to go the extra mile to support me as a client.’

‘Simon Porter is second to none when it comes to providing legal advice and support to me and my team. I know that many of my competitors use him too yet his level of support and advice makes me feel like I am his only client!’

‘Simon Porter and Sarah Porter – both excellent trustee lawyers, measured and sensible in approach.’

‘The Baker McKenzie securitisation team combine a depth of technical knowledge with wide practical experience – their advice is focussed on the best outcomes for us as their client.’

‘Jeremy Levy is a knowledge expert in the field of securitisation and has consistently provided value-adding advice in the area of invoice factoring over the past four years. Jeremy is an agile thinker who has provided innovative solutions to transitioning divested businesses out of factoring programmes on several occasions.’

‘Deep knowledge of the securitisation market and documentation with a real commercial vision and intent going beyond the pure legal issues and trying to adapt the legal terms to the commercial reality.’

‘Jeremy Levy was excellent, providing high-quality and timely advice with deep legal expertise.’

‘The Dechert team is very responsive, always going the extra mile to make sure they get the full extent of the answers for their clients. They take into account what our needs are, the specific fund structures and how our teams work. It often occurs that they flag things to us which would be critical for us before we have found them. They remember what has been important in the past, whether on similar transactions or in general, making sure that we can be confident throughout the process.’

‘Aaron Scott is very knowledgeable and approachable, he is also very good at making sure that Rory (the associate in the team) really gets a chance to show us how good he is. It is rare to see a partner that is so confident in what he does and brings to the table that he is happy to also let more junior team members shine.’

‘DLA is our most frequently appointed external counsel for providing structured derivatives to warehouse and public securitisation transactions. They have built a strong position in this area and have an excellent commercial understanding of our needs.’

‘Marcus Lovatt has been a key contact for us for many years. He combines a strong intellect with a convivial manner and excellent transactional instincts.’

‘Very strong commercial acumen that stretches far beyond the base legal service. Close integration between internal disciplines leads to a seamless client experience.’

‘Stephen Moller, a senior partner in the firm, is exceptional. His ability to deal with highly complex issues and provide a variety of solutions is unparalleled. Having worked with all manner of firms inside the Magic Circle and beyond, I have yet to find a lawyer of the calibre of Mr Moller.’

‘The team is very responsive and on top of the securitisation transaction. They are very competitive in terms of pricing with good quality of work advising the trustee role. The technical knowledge is solid and commercially sound to resolve legal issues very efficiently.’

‘Peter Knust as partner and Yannis Erifillidis as of counsel are very good at advising the trustee role, they know what the trustee looks for and think steps ahead to minimise multiple rounds of exchange of comments. They are technically strong in securitisation and new updates of the industry, they bring new knowledge to trustee practice that’s highly appreciated. The quality of work and responsiveness make them stand out from the competitors.’

‘Fieldfisher is very efficient in delivering high-quality legal services thanks to its exceptional team.’

‘The individuals generally stand out by the high quality of their work, the strong commitment to their clients, and their efficient service delivery. Special mention to Dougall Molson, who provides us with an unrivalled service in our direct lending business.’

‘Fieldfisher has identified accomplished thought leaders in securitisation and financial structuring to provide top-in-class expert advice on the development of a complicated financial instrument.’

‘Sebastien Reger consistently exceeds expectations, providing deep insights and meaningful expertise in innovative solutions to sophisticated problems. Sebastien regularly over-delivers compared both to our expectations and relative to his peers in the industry.’

‘The team is very agile and can work on a range of matters. They are very solution-focused and commercial while still ensuring that they give top legal advice.’

‘They are willing to challenge the status quo and competitors’ views while having deep experience in the sector. The partners are very responsive and solutions focused. Claire Bridcut is especially user-friendly.’

‘Efficient and highly capable team.’

‘Very strong abilities and knowledge on receivables financing sector. Have broad geographic capabilities, strong knowledge on regulatory matters.’

‘The securitisation team – Merryn Craske, Elif Eke, Oindrila Bhowmik, and Gulmin Cosar – are great to work with and overall very knowledgeable on trade receivables securitisations. Particularly Merryn is a leading expert in EU and UK securitisation regulation.’

‘Great technical knowledge, very responsive.’

‘Merryn Craske, Elif Eke – great technical knowledge, very responsive.’

‘Incredibly strong team with understanding of not only securitisation, but other relevant areas such as derivatives and corporate finance. The result of this is a team which is more well-rounded and experienced compared to its competitors.’

‘Richard Jones is exceptional, one of the top partners in his field. David Thomas is an exceptional associate. He stands out from the other associates due to his overall understanding, eye for detail and commercial awareness. His advice is always sensible and pragmatic.’

‘A strong firm for real estate and real estate finance. More recently showing strength in REF and structured finance.’

‘Will Trotman – client-focused, thoughtful and hardworking. Everyone likes working with Will. He is enthusiastic and keen to build his practice. Recognises his and the firm’s strengths and weaknesses. Honesty is important when building relationships between client and advisers.’

‘Eversheds is a leading UK law firm in the equity release sector. They have supported us in creating a European funding vehicle that effectively finances operations in multiple jurisdictions, such as France, Germany, Poland, Italy, and the Netherlands. This bespoke originate-to-securitise structure uniquely enables the origination of later-life assets and their seamless transfer to UK SPVs. The novelty of this setup demands considerable legal expertise, and the practical approach taken by Eversheds, bolstered by robust local legal support, was crucial to its success.’

‘Alex Mehdevy and his structured finance team have collaboratively developed a pan-European platform capable of effortlessly orchestrating the financing of later-life assets across multiple European jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction presents its unique complexities, and Alex’s approach – marked by solid legal expertise coupled with practical solutions – is notably impressive.’

‘The partner is extremely hands-on and commercial. He is able to support us not just legally, but also in terms of scoping financing solutions. He always tells us what we need to hear, rather than what we want to hear; and his counsel is invariably correct – saving us from some costly mis-steps over the years.’

‘Excellent knowledge and experience of the market, regulatory drivers and requirements, and securitisations in relation to equity release mortgages.’

‘Alex Mehdevy – very open and approachable. Explains complex aspects in an easily comprehensible way.’

‘Alex Medhevy is excellent. He has a strong understanding of the market and has worked to understand how we operate which means that he can quickly get to the right answers without necessarily needing multiple workshops with multiple attendees. Highly trusted.’

‘Gide has an excellent structured finance practice in London with a great depth of expertise.’

‘Dimitrios Logizidis is an exceptional partner: His curiosity, motivation and his open mind make him the go-to lawyer when there is a new opportunity that requires thinking outside of the box. He has seen an impressive number of transactions and of clients and handles tense situations very well. He is very diplomatic and despite his experience, he remains humble. He is reliable and will help close on time. Alex Tompkins and Rosalie Johnstone are excellent associates in the securitisation team. They are very responsive and will anticipate your needs. They point out for you what you need to be looking at and they are very organised and straightforward which is very useful when you have several closings simultaneously.’

‘Great experience, technical competency, and client dedication.’

‘Dimitrios Logizidis has wide experience and client dedication.’

‘Hardworking and approachable team with deep legal expertise.’

‘Dimitrios Logizidis was exceptional in managing the transaction and providing advice in a commercially sound manner.’

‘I worked with Gide on a complex securitisation of household electricity receivables transaction. The transaction was innovative on various fronts. Gide provided great support. I was very happy to work with them and believe they deserve recognition.’

‘I enjoyed working with Dimitrios Logidizis (partner) and Jérémie Bismuth (counsel), with support from Imane Bellafqih (associate). Dimitrios is very smart. He is available whenever needed and follows the transaction closely. He thinks thoroughly with a problem-solving mindset and provides valuable input to progress the transaction. Jeremie is hands on. He is very responsive and knows the African securitisation market inside out. He works hard and was the transaction leader, bringing the transaction to close.’

‘Exceptional securitisation practice I am happy to have on either side of the table. Broad and extensive market and product knowledge and clear ability to execute efficiently.’

‘Richard Fletcher (partner) and Ryan Moore (senior associate) are a pleasure to work with, highly experienced and knowledgeable of specific fund financing products and the broader market.’

‘Pragmatic and knowledgeable team. Easy to speak through situations to find workable solutions.’

‘Richard Fletcher is extremely knowledgeable and keen to help.’

‘Richard Fletcher (partner) and his team provided a seamless approach to our recent transaction, meaning that we could rely on and trust the practice to steer us. We had a significant level of contact with the partner and always felt that he was available should we require his input. We felt that the associate on the transaction was well managed yet able to move at pace. The quality of the advice and the ease at which we could work together made dealing with the practice both productive and enjoyable.’

‘Richard Fletcher (partner) is an outstanding legal adviser, with both exceptional technical knowledge of his area and a commerciality that has guided us through several transactions. Richard is a pleasure to work with and we have every confidence that the advice we receive and the work conducted on our behalf are first class.’

‘The securitisation and structured finance team of Macfarlanes is one of the best in the London market. Great combination of transactional and businesss skills and regulatory expertise (notably in relation to the EU/UK Securitisation Regulation).’

‘Richard Fletcher and Andrew Perkins are among the leaders in the London securitisation market. They have excellent relationships with credit funds, and assist them in relation to structured finance mandates and complex securitisation structures involving investment funds and SPVs. They are fantastic and it is always a pleasure to work with them.’

‘I have found their securitisation practice to be second to none. The team provides in-depth, well-thought-out advice which is commercial at the same time. The quality of work, including drafting, is very high. Drafts are clear, incorporating new concepts clearly from the get go, reducing friction and transaction timing. They also have a deep bench, allowing the correct level of resourcing and attention.’

‘The partners are also very hands-on and involved, way more than what experienced elsewhere. The team also produces high-quality commentary and briefing notes on real issues that matter, showing in-depth understanding of the product and pertinent issues. Lastly, would highlight the team as probably one of the most diverse out there.’

‘I would highlight Sushila Nayak. She’s been a standout partner providing great advice, fighting our corner intelligently when needed, but also very commercial, able to see the big picture and not get bogged down in needless arguments. All this allows for a very smooth execution of transactions, safe in the knowledge that all bases are covered. She’s extremely responsive and hardworking, running a team that keeps delivering for us.’

‘Large practice but deemed good value. ’

‘Very responsive and personable. Clearly deeply knowledgeable.’