Carey Olsen‘s lawyers are praised by clients for ‘going the extra mile to help out on the overall deal and seeing the big picture of the transaction‘. The group has wide-ranging expertise that includes real estate finance, ESG-related finance, including pricing structures, restructurings and fund financings. Taking the lead is Robin Smith, whose clients span the States of Jersey, financial institutions and funds. Kate Andrews is a core member of the team with significant experience in debt restructurings, acquisition and fund finance. Peter German  is noted for real estate transactions, restructurings, REITs and debt listings. Counsel Fiona Dalton  is another name to note for real estate finance, bringing to bear knowledge in Jersey property unit trusts.

Mourant handles the full range of financing transactions, including Islamic and fund finance, areas of particular growth for the group in 2021. Augmenting the transactional practice is a strong financial services regulatory team, where Simon Gould  and Sarah Huelin take the lead. Counsel James Daniel is building a strong finance practice and has significant experience advising borrowers and lenders. Mark Chambers  is the name to note for fund finance. Heading the team is Gareth Rigby , who focuses on real estate finance, with a specialism in Jersey property unit trust structures.

‘Relied upon to provide sensible, pragmatic solutions to issues when they arise and to deliver on time‘, Ogier‘s team handles cross-border and local finance transactions, particularly pertaining to funds, leveraged and real estate finance, restructuring and corporate recovery. The group is jointly led by Katrina Edge , who also heads the firm’s global banking and finance practice and has driven a number of initiatives in the sustainable finance arena; and Simon Felton , whose financial institution practice combines banking knowledge with expertise in capital markets. Bruce MacNeil  is known for cross-jurisdictional banking and finance deals. Also of note are James Lydeard and 2022 partner Kate McCaffrey .

At Appleby, lawyers are noted for assisting borrowers and lenders, including multinationals, banks, private equity houses and sovereign wealth funds on cross-border finance transactions, utilising the firm’s offshore office network. The team is skilled in real estate finance, fund finance, leveraged finance, as well as handling insolvency and restructuring issuers. It is regularly instructed to handle the finance aspects of major public M&A deals. Managing partner James Gaudin  leads the department, and has significant expertise in financing transactions, as well as corporate restructurings and cross-border insolvencies. Iain Millar joined from Mourant in July 2021, bringing with him a broad skillset that includes Islamic financing mandates. Christophe Kalinauckas is admitted in Cayman and Jersey, enabling him to handle a wide variety of offshore finance matters.

Bedell Cristin‘s team advises a strong selection of lenders on acquisition finance transactions, with a particular specialism in real estate finance. The team is led by Alasdair Hunter , who is well-known to US and European investment banks, asset managers and credit funds, as well as handling enforcement, restructuring and insolvency issues. Tim Pearce chairs the global banking and finance practice at the firm, assisting borrowers and lenders. Mark Dunlop is knowledgeable in financial products. Senior associate Malcolm Ellis is known for a variety of deals including syndicated facilities and property financings.

Collas Crill has a good track record in Islamic finance matters, acting for lenders and borrowers on a range of transactions; a practice that fits well into the firm’s wider real estate finance practice. The team is well-integrated into the firm’s global office network, often cooperating with clients in the British Virgin Islands. Matthew Gilley has a niche in cross-border real estate financings. Associate Alexander Price  is up-and-coming within the team, which is led overall by Mike Williams. Christine Fox has joined Walkers.

According to clients, ‘where many overseas counsel can seem to provide more problems than solutions, Maples Group is quite the reverse‘. The firm, which is solidifying its presence in the Channel Islands, has a strong US private equity client base, which it advises on fund finance matters, as well as deals involving leveraged, real estate and Shariah-compliant finance, the latter being a specialism of practice head Mark Crichton. Paul Burton  is strong for leveraged and structured finance transactions. Simon Hopwood  is knowledgeable in UK REIT structures. Becoming of counsel in December 2021, Amy Black is another name to note.

The ‘high-quality and collaborative‘ Walkers team has a broad practice spanning real estate, secured, and leveraged acquisition finance, as well as debt capital markets, restructuring and enforcement issues, and Shariah-compliant finance transactions. Taking the lead is Nigel Weston, who has strong ties to Middle Eastern clients. Alexandra Corner  is a banking and finance generalist, also chairing the firm’s diversity and inclusion committee for the Channel Islands. Jon Le Rossignol is an expert in non-contentious debt restructurings. Tristan Maultby is appreciated by clients for being ‘very organised and very hands on with transactions‘. Christine Fox joined the firm from Collas Crill.

Lawyers at Viberts ‘understand their area of expertise and give sage advice‘, with recent expertise handling novel transactions including in relation to crowdfunding. Real estate finance structures are a notable area of specialism. Christopher Scholefield leads the firm’s relationship with Lloyds Bank, while James Lawrence focuses on bonds and securitisations. Heading the team is Paul Wilson. Promoted to senior associate in February 2022, Eleanor Colley is increasingly active in the real estate finance space.

Edward Scott and Co is a boutique finance firm focusing on high-value transactions for blue chip clients. The practice is led by founding partner Edward Scott, noted for his expertise in Jersey real estate finance. Counsel Kirsten Faichnie has expertise in structuring investment vehicles.