The ‘well-organised and client-oriented’ group at Stephenson Harwood have been increasingly involved in pan-European deals, and has been increasingly active advising borrowers at a strategic level on many recapitalisations and refinancings. Practice head James Linforth and Paul Hayward-Surry, recommended for his expertise working with lenders in the commercial real estate, housing and leisure sectors, are its top partners.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Well organized and client-oriented.’
‘The team was responsive and provided commercially sound advice.’
‘Stephenson Harwood go above and beyond in their service. The firm and their employees are proactive, and work to meet their clients needs in any transaction they are involved with. The knowledge the combined team has is a particular strength, and the ability to offer guidance and insight at an efficient pace. I've worked with a number of different of individuals and can say their abilities to consistently build relationships is impressive and goes beyond other firms.’
‘Proactivity and strong relationship management are what makes them different. Additionally, being able to provide speedy but easily comprehensible advice and guidance.'
‘Very responsive and they provide excellent value for money. They have expertise in all the essential areas that are required for real estate financing. They ensure that transactions are resourced properly.’
'Deep understanding of the industry with a commercial approach to bridge the gap.'

Key clients

Barings Real Estate
The Hill Group
Immobel Capital Partners

Work highlights

Advised Hill Group on their £220m RCF, the first ever Sustainability-Linked Loan to a UK housebuilder.
Advised Barings on a sustainability-linked development facility to Round Hill Capital to refurbish the Rembrandt Park One building in Amsterdam (to improve its ESG performance)
Advised Immobel Capital Partners (a new client) on a financing provided by Lloyds Bank in connection with the first asset for Immobel's Green Office Strategy located at White Rose (a green office campus situated just outside Leeds City).

Lawyers

Leading individuals

James Linforth

Stephenson Harwood

James heads up the firm's general banking and finance team. He is a leading real estate finance lawyer, but James also has broad expertise in corporate lending and acquisition finance transactions. James has over 25 years' of Real Estate Finance experience, acting for lenders and borrowers in relation to all kinds of real estate development and investment financings. James has been ranked as a Leading Individual in both Chambers and Legal 500 for many years and he has led on some of the highest profile central London real estate financings in recent years. These include acting for the borrowers in relation to the development financing of the Paddington Cube and the financing of the giant mixed use scheme, Bankside Yards, as well as the acquisition financing of Goldman Sachs' EMEA HQ. On the lender side, James regularly acts as a trusted advisor to Wells Fargo, OCBC, Bayern LB, HSBC and Mass Mutual/Barings in relation to significant acquisition, development and refinancing transactions. Clients say "James is a fantastic lawyer for wide-ranging and practical advice on commercial real estate transactions" with a “friendly, calm and reasoned approach” that is “very proactive and goes above and beyond expectations”.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

James Linforth

Other key lawyers

Paul Hayward-Surry

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