Clifford Chance LLP is 'still at the top of the market, with great strength in depth'. The firm handles all forms of public and private residential and commercial real estate financing, as well as pan-European portfolio acquisitions and financing, marketplace lending platforms, forward flow arrangements, structured SME financing, auto and fleet securitisations, credit cards, consumer loan and receivables financing, repackaging and restructuring. Practice head Maggie Zhao, who is a standout adviser to both originators and arrangers, leads a group replete with talent and experience. Market veteran Kevin Ingram focuses on debt securitisation, principal finance, and ABCP deals; Christopher Walsh, who has in-depth experience in structured debt transactions, handles complex NPLs; Jessica Littlewood leads the busy European cash CLO practice; global head of financial markets Emma Matebalavu specialises in mortgage finance; and Simeon Radcliff, who is recommended for trade receivables deals, recently handed a first-of-kind sustainable securitisation in Kenya. Emerging talent Adam Craig frequently acts for issuers and arrangers in public securitisations and private bilateral financings.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Key clients
- Morgan Stanley
- Credit Suisse
- Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
- ING
- Standard Chartered
- NewDay
- Shawbrook
- Close Brothers
- HSBC
- 118 118 Money
- NatWest Markets
- Cerberus
- Rothesay
- Fortress
Work highlights
- Advised Sun King on a first-of-its-kind, bank-led and entirely Kenyan-Shilling-denominated $130m sustainable securitisation transaction. The transaction leverages Sun King’s existing and future Kenyan customers’ payments for solar products to raise funding for further growth and expansion.
- Acted for Lloyds Bank plc on a significant public securitisation of unsecured personal loans intended to achieve off-balance sheet treatment to support Lloyds' balance sheet optimisation project. The transaction involved a private bidding process to secure an anchor investor.
- Advised Citi and Standard Chartered Bank on the first commercial mortgage-backed securitisation transaction in Europe since May 2022. The transaction, by Last Mile Logistics CMBS 2023-1 UK DAC, is an agency CMBS of a £289.8m commercial mortgage loan advanced by Citi to various Blackstone sponsored entities.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Maggie Zhao