An emphasis on mid-market deals, often with a cross-border element, is core to Addleshaw Goddard’s asset-based lending practice. The firm has a particularly strong regional presence and has seen a steady stream of work in the corporate advisory space. Mike Davison heads up the team and is a seasoned expert, acting for the full range of lenders from clearers to large international banks in both new lending matters and mandates involving distressed businesses. James Tarleton is known for advising borrowers and has a niche in the intersection between ABL receivables and structured products. Based in Manchester, Lauren Priest-Stephens regularly leads on complex refinancing matters. Kayleigh Brady is active in supporting fintechs and start-ups on receivables financing.

Mayer Brown International LLP has a stellar track record in complex domestic and cross-border ABL financings spanning the mid-market and above. Drawing on the firm’s wider strengths in securitisation and structured finance, trade finance projects and real estate finance, the practice excels at deals where the ABL financing sits alongside other financial products. Alex Dell oversees the team and is highly recommended for his experience with major lenders, with recent instructions including representing Sound Point Capital Management, LP in the provision of up to USD 200 million of back leverage to Artis Finance Group. Simon Fisher focuses on secured ABL transactions, with particular expertise in large syndicated deals. Ravi Amin is a go-to for cross-border mandates across the US and Europe. Dual-qualified in England and Wales and New York, Victoria Thompson advises on the entirety of ABL transactions, including restructuring and insolvency and borrowing base facility aspects. Dominic Griffiths is another key practitioner, while Veronica Lee also comes recommended.

Crowell & Moring U.K. LLP are well-positioned to advise on the structuring of asset-based facilities, both pre- and post-restructuring. Practice head Andrew Knight draws upon over two decades of experience to handle particularly sophisticated transactions, including those involving super senior ABL facilities. Knight continues to grow out the practice, with a marked emphasis on leveraged finance transactions and hybrid deals. Seye Olufunwa also comes recommended and is adept at supporting the team on securitisations.

Mills & Reeve LLP has significantly strengthened their asset-based lending team with the addition of Manchester-based Simon Prendergast from Dentons in May 2024. Prendergast has longstanding experience on a range of ABL deals, including sponsor-backed deals, hybrid deals combining ABL lending facilities with senior debt and revolving borrowing base facilities. In the Norwich office, the ‘very knowledgeable’ Zak Virgin advises on non-contentious restructurings of ABL and on recovery and exit mandates. Alisia Gariban, who joined with Prendergast, supports the team across a wide array of financing transactions.

Drawing on its international offices, Norton Rose Fulbright‘s banking and finance practice boasts impressive ABL capabilities, advising lenders on major transatlantic transactions, including structured ABL financings which integrate DCM and conventional lending. Michael Black, who one client praises for being the ‘best in the field of cross-border asset-based lending’, leads the team. Black has deep relationships with key banking clients and is steadily growing the team’s borrower client base. Alex Dunn stands out for her expertise in advising financial institutions on secured asset-based facilities.

Sitting within the finance and structured finance department, the predominantly Birmingham-based Pinsent Masons LLP’s asset-based lending team is well positioned to advise on a range of products, from bilateral and syndicated ABL facilities to non-recourse receivables purchase facilities. Edward Sunderland oversees the team and has particularly strong relationships with clearing banks, challenger funders and large corporate borrowers. Victoria Baker garners plaudits for her ‘extensive knowledge of ABL’, including back-to-back funding and when it sits alongside leveraged finance. Manchester-based Adam Patel is another name to note, supporting the team on the full gamut of deals.

Shoosmiths LLP is known for its ‘strong ABL background’, and stands out for its robust presence in the domestic market, with a particular emphasis on bilateral ABL deals. The practice also benefits from the firm’s wider capabilities in restructuring for financing agreements with entities in administration. The team, which thrives in the mid-market, is overseen by Jon Bew, who is relied upon by local and national banking clients. Alongside Bew, Natalie Barnes regularly leads on transactions and has recently been more active in representing borrowers.

Squire Patton Boggs‘ ‘technically excellent’ team has a workload consisting of cross-border mandates as well as complex syndicated transactions for a range of funders including conventional banks, specialist lenders and alternative capital providers. ‘Brilliant’ practice head Paula Laird has extensive experience advising on structured ABL deals. Alice Moserova also comes recommended for supporting the team on transactions with multijurisdictional elements.

Bermans maintains its reputation in the asset and invoice finance market for providing a ‘hands-on and personalised service’ to advise commercial finance and alternative finance companies to fund SME businesses. Liverpool-based practice head Alex Chapman is well-versed in advising invoice financiers on funding acquisitions and buy-outs. Chapman also routinely advises on back-to-back receivable finance facilities. In the Manchester office, David Gledhill is noted as a ‘trusted advisor’, handling non-contentious matters, including those that are related to insolvencies. On the contentious front, Jonathan Berkson, head of the ABL Litigation team, represents finance companies in the high court.

Sitting within Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner‘s broad commercial lending department, the asset based lending practice specialises in mid-market lender transactions. Practice head Emma Howdle-Fuller handles domestic and cross-border ABL mandates. Shanan Dunstan regularly handles matters involving inventory financing facilities for major global corporations and financial services companies.

Having merged with PDT Solicitors in January 2024, Cripps bolstered its asset-based lending expertise and now showcases a robust presence in the South. The firm acts for a number of asset based lenders and financiers alongside fintech funds. The ‘dedicated’ team is co-headed by Horsham-based Noel Ruddy and Dawn Shadwell. Ruddy is well-positioned to handle financing transactions involving acquisitions, while Shadwell focuses predominantly on ABL-related refinancings and restructurings.