With strength-in-depth in London, key UK regional centres including Manchester, and abroad, CMS is well-positioned to provide ‘cost-effective’ advice to corporates, funds and lenders on mid-market acquisition finance mandates both domestically and in a cross-border setting. The firm is active in key targeted sectors, with team head Patrick Donegan particularly noted for his ’clear and sensible advice’ to funds in the infrastructure space and Charles Kerrigan recommended for his skill at handling financing work for lenders and borrowers in the TMT sector. Other key practitioners include the ‘smart and ego-free’ Tom Siggers; the ’very approachable and helpful’ John Dawson; and Olivia Crundwell, who has the ‘ability to explain complicated ideas in simple terms’.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The firm is well staffed, always accessible, has deep knowledge and provides cost-effective advice.'
  • 'Patrick Donegan is pragmatic and straightforward to deal with; he provides  clear and sensible advice.'
  • 'Tom Siggers is smart and ego free. He focuses on getting the deal done and is a pleasure to work with.'
  • 'John Dawson has very high standards of professionalism and he is very approachable and helpful.'
  • 'Olivia Crundwell: Rare gift of a planet-sized brain and ability to explain complicated ideas in simple terms, and to draft them clearly and concisely. Prodigious work ethic and extremely capable.'

Key clients

  • Limerston Capital
  • Horizon Capital LLP
  • Synova LLP
  • Queens Park Equity
  • DIF
  • Davidson Kempner
  • August Private Equity LLP
  • Macquarie Asset Management
  • Three Hills Capital Partners
  • CBPE Capital

Work highlights

  • Acted for the lenders in the leveraged acquisition financing of Caledonia Private Equity’s acquisition of a majority stake in the European division of AIR-serv, comprised of Airvending Ltd and AIR-serv Netherlands B.V.
  • Advised Hallmarq, a portfolio company of longstanding client August Equity, on new term and revolving credit facilities arranged by HSBC.
  • Acted for Horizon on the debt financing arranged by HSBC to support its leveraged buyout of Ridge and Partners LLP.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Patrick Donegan

Other key lawyers

Charles Kerrigan, Anne Chitan, Kerry Langton, Ruth Marken, Mark Moseling, Alex Patience, Tom Siggers, John Dawson, Tom Hughes, Olivia Crundwell