England - North West • Finance

Shoosmiths LLP

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Shoosmiths LLP‘s ’efficient and friendly’ team is led from Manchester by Liz Sweeney, who ‘provides an exceptional service’, and has strong expertise handling significant transactions in the region, including those that are high-value and structured in nature at a national and international level. The practice ably advises reputable clients such as Time GB Group on matters involving loan facility agreements which fund large-scale acquisitions. Debra Cooper, noted as ’stand out’, has particular strength in work involving real estate finance. Sam Jadhav is a senior associate to note.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘An excellent team with the ability to manage transactions from start to finish. They always keep all parties informed throughout the whole process.'

  • ‘Liz Sweeney provides an exceptional service and goes above and beyond what is required. Nothing is too much trouble.’

  • ‘Debra Cooper and the team are always approachable and practical in their day-to-day dealings, as well as in providing targeted advice at good value.’

  • 'Debra Cooper stands out in her proactive approach.’

  • ‘The team is very professional and experienced and provides a high level of service at all levels.’

  • ‘A high quality of work provided in a quick, efficient and friendly way. They are proactive and provide solutions rather than problems. Particular mention is owed to Liz Sweeney and Sam Jadhav.’

Key clients

  • Time GB Group Limited
  • GJS (Circle) Investments Limited
  • Topland Jupiter Limited
  • Kellen Homes GM Limited

Work highlights

  • Acted for Time GB Group Limited on the amendment and restatement of its existing facilities with a European private investment house to fund a corporate acquisition of a luxury caravan/bungalow site.
  • Advised GJS (Circle) Investments Limited on a £62.3m funding from Greater Manchester Combined Authority for the construction of the Three60 Building in Manchester.
  • Advised Kellen Homes (GM) Limited on a £12.58m funding from Greater Manchester Combined Authority for the construction of 167 houses for the scheme known as Mill Vale, Middleton, Manchester.

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.

Liz Sweeney

Liz Sweeney

Hall of fameShoosmiths LLP

Liz is a banking and finance partner with over 20 years’ experience. She is head of the Manchester banking team and the wider banking north (which consists of teams in Manchester, Leeds and Edinburgh). She is a well known and respected banking partner in Manchester and is recognised as one of the leading real estate finance lawyers outside of the City. Liz works on a wide range of high profile real estate finance matters (often with complex capital structures) as well as advising on acquisition finance, funds finance, social housing finance, sustainable finance, leveraged finance and general corporate lending matters (both domestic and cross border). She is known for being highly experienced and having a constructive approach to deals. She is experienced in acting both for the lenders and borrowers, bringing a balanced view to transactions. Clients include most of the major UK clearing banks as well as other financial institutions, alternative lenders, institutional investors, public bodies and corporates. Sectors that Liz is passionate about include financial services, funds finance, real estate finance, living sector, PRS, PBSA, student accommodation, hotel and leisure, residential development, BTR, sustainable finance, ESG, social housing finance, further education, healthcare, retail and manufacturing. Recent transactions include: acting for a major North West student accommodation developer on senior and mezzanine investment facilities relating to PBSA of over £80,000,000; acting for a leading South African retailer (Truworths plc) on £100,000,000 facilities relating to the operation of the Office shoe retail chain; acting for a major high street bank on £30,000,000 senior and mezzanine facilities, including a complex intercreditor agreement and hedging, relating to the acquisition of a retail park; acting for a leading developer on residential development funding of £75,000,000; advising Select Property Group on a £54,000,000 senior funding from Lloyds Bank plc and Wells Fargo Bank, and a £30,000,000 mezzanine funding from Pramerica Real Estate Capital to finance the acquisition and development of two luxury student accommodation schemes; acting for Crown Street (Manchester) Limited - a Renaker company on aggregate funding of £128,000,000 loan in relation to two high-rise residential developments in Manchester; advising luxury hotel developer and operator Hotel la Tour on £22,000,000 development financing from Coutts & Co of a new landmark hotel in Milton Keynes; advising a care home developer and operator on £12,000,000 development facilities for a new care home; acting for the GMCA and GMHF on various projects including real estate finance loans and grant funding agreements in the further education sector.

Rising stars

Sam Jadhav

Sam Jadhav

Shoosmiths LLP

  Sam is a Banking and Finance PrincipalAssociate based in the Manchester office, with experience in a range of debt finance work including real estate finance, acquisition finance and general corporate lending. He acts for borrowers, banks and financial institutions. Sam’s recent work includes: acting for a major North West property developer on development facilities of £128 million to fund the construction of residential skyscrapers in Manchester; acting for a major North West student accommodation developer on senior and mezzanine investment facilities of over £30,000,000; acting for a major high street bank on £24,000,000 senior and mezzanine facilities relating to the acquisition of a retail park; acting for a property developer on the £40,000,000 refinance of around 80 properties; acting for a North West property developer on the £17,500,000 refinance of its mezzanine debt; and acting for a major high street bank on a £5,000,000 revolving credit facility to a PLC borrower.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Liz Sweeney

Other key lawyers

Debra Cooper, Alice Casey, Sam Jadhav