A well-earned reputation as one of the top law firms for banking and finance.

Our banking and finance team handles UK borrower mandates and has acted on several of the most high-profile transactions in the market.

We have stand out practices in acquisition and leveraged finance, real estate finance, funds finance and are one of a handful of specialists in the energy sector. We offer a truly unique joint banking and funds service, which gives us a deep understanding of both sectors and sets us apart from others in the field.

Many of the team have spent time working in strategic in-house legal roles or with the City of London and international law firms.

All this has earned us the trust of clients including Cairngorm Capital Partners, Lonsdale Capital Partners, NatWest, Macdonald Hotels, The Malcolm Group, STV plc, Serica Energy plc, and SMS plc - as well as top tier rankings for Banking and Finance in both UK legal directories, Chambers and Legal 500.

Our banking partners are recognised for their work across the UK:

• Jonathan Heaney is in The Legal 500 Hall of Fame and ranked Band 1 in Chambers.
  
  
• Dawn Reoch, John Kennedy, Alan Cassels are each recognised as a “Leading Partner” in Legal 500.

Key Contacts

Areas of Expertise

Acquisition Leveraged Finance

We routinely act as lead counsel on complex international and UK-wide transactions. Our corporate borrower offering is complemented by the strength of our private equity practice, which opens up access to the very best market insight through its impressive dealmaking activity which for the sixth year running has earned the firm top ranking in Business Insider’s legal adviser deal table.

Real Estate Finance

We advise lenders, borrowers, funds and real estate investment trusts on a range of complex real estate finance issues. Burness Paull was the only Scottish firm to be involved in the development of the Loan Market Association's real estate financing documentation and market practice guidelines.

Supported by insight from the firm's wider Real Estate team, we can support you in the financing of housebuilding, hotels, student residential accommodation, offices, care homes and other major developments.

Project and Infrastructure Finance, Energy and Natural Resources

Working closely with the team of experts across our wider energy practice, our clean energy finance team advise funders and developers on clean energy transactions involving a wide range of technologies, including onshore and offshore wind, tidal, battery storage, solar, hydrogen and hydro. In addition to traditional project finance structures, our team advise on Holdco financing and other more bespoke debt structures.

The firm's highly-regarded Projects team advises on infrastructure projects using PFI, PPP, NPD, hub, MIM and other bespoke structures projects, as well as undertaking secondary market deals and providing project-related advice on schools, hospitals, roads, and regional Hubs.

Oil & Gas Finance

Upstream financing: For many years we have advised the borrower management teams of independent oil & gas companies of all sizes operating in the UK Continental Shelf in their dealmaking activity. We support our clients in their global ambitions and have successfully completed deals in Niger, Egypt, The Middle East, the US and Canada collaborating with best-in-market firms when we require to.

Oilfield services: We act for lenders and borrowers as an integrated part of the most active deal team in Scotland. Our corporate finance team has acted for private equity investors and corporates in oilfield services M&A at all stages in the oil & gas market cycle and at all levels in the supply chain, from logistics to drilling. In addition to legal advice, our clients often look to us for strategic guidance on deal financing options too.

Securitisation/Receivables Finance

In what was previously a closed market, Burness Paull has offered a fresh look and a more commercial perspective for clients who have benefitted from the team's strategic understanding of how to structure and run transactions to take the pain out of deals.

Fund Finance

Our joint banking and funds offering is truly unique in the market because we act on both banking and funds aspects of a transaction. The clear leader in the market, Burness Paull is the only Scottish member of the Funds Finance Association and can deliver the full range of cross-border funds services. Learn more about our Funds practice here.

International Finance

We work with domestic and international lenders, investors, and developers with a particular focus on Germany and the US. Burness Paull's banking and funds lawyers understand the cultural differences and focus on what's required to ensure your deals are done as efficiently and smoothly as possible.

Related News, Insights & Events