Christopher Lewis
Chris is a Senior Associate in the Banking and Finance team. He specialises in a range of debt finance work, including secured and unsecured, bilateral or syndicated lending both on a national, and international level.
Chris has a wealth of experience and contacts from previous roles in a top tier Banking & Finance team in Cardiff and in-house counsel at a leading financial services group.
He has particular experience in acquisition and leveraged finance, advising on non-standard lending transactions involving complex structures and security. He acts on behalf of either lenders (be they banks, private equity or other funds) or corporate borrowers.
Chris has extensive experience acting for lenders in respect of reviewing security and facility documents with a view to recovery. His experience covers a wide range of insolvency scenarios including appointing administrators and LPA receivers.
He was recently described as a ‘Rising Star’ in the 2019 Legal 500 rankings in relation to banking and finance.
Chris project managed this deal really well and ensured the complications with overseas jurisdiction, intercreditor arrangements and offer documents, were dealt with swiftly and commercially. His communication with the borrower’s advisers was tactful and ensured all parties were fully aware of what was required within the bank’s legal parameters.
Ashley Charlton, Relationship Director, HSBC Bank PLC
- Acting for a roadside retail corporate borrower in respect of a £30m bridging loan facility to fund a strategically important acquisition.
- Acted for an independent private equity house in relation to a £5m debt facility from a national bank to fund a management but-out of an environmental consultancy business.
- Advised private equity backed buyer in relation to £7m senior debt and hire purchase facilities relating to acquisition.
- Advised a buyer and private equity house in relation to £16m secured facility and loan notes for acquisition.
- Advised national bank in respect of updating its suite of mortgage documentation.
- Acting for a global logistics company, in relation to £75m facility to fund the company’s general working capital.
- Acting for a software company in relation to provision of security from UK subsidiary relating to $53m credit facility.
- Acted for various banks and lenders undertaking reviews of security in respect of recovery in relation to at risk businesses.
- Acted for Barclays Bank/KPMG in respect of appointing administrators to rail plant business.
- Acted for independent surveyors with regards to their appointment as LPA receivers over large portfolio of properties.
- Acquisition and leveraged finance
- Development finance
- Real estate finance
- Corporate finance
Career
- Senior Associate, Capital Law Limited (May 2020 – present)
- Associate, Capital Law Limited (May 2018 – April 2020)
- Solicitor, Capital Law Limited (Oct 2016 – 2018)
- Solicitor, Acuity Legal Limited (2015 – Oct 2016)
- In House Counsel, Target Group (Jun 2015 – Dec 2015)
- Paralegal (Banking & Finance), Eversheds LLP (2009 – 2015)
Education
- Cardiff University: LPC (2008 – 2009)
- Swansea University: GDL Law (2007 – 2008)
- Swansea University: History, BA (2004 – 2007)
Memberships / Trustee Positions
- The Law Society of England and Wales
- Loan Market Association
Languages
- French