International law firm Stephenson Harwood has boosted its banking practice with the partner hire of James Linforth. James joins the firm from SNR Denton, where he was Head of the Banking and Restructuring Group. He brings with him broad experience in banking transactions, with a particular focus on real estate finance, acquisition finance, corporate lending, and restructuring and is described by the Legal 500 as “a first-class lawyer”. James joins an existing banking team at Stephenson Harwood of over twenty lawyers in London. The firm acts for over fifty banks including all of the four top UK clearing banks.
Jayesh Patel, Head of Banking at Stephenson Harwood, commented “The appointment of James is part of our strategy to build a pre-eminent banking practice with the ongoing recruitment of leading individuals across the market.”
James Linforth added “Joining Stephenson Harwood is an exciting opportunity to help build and enhance a banking practice with an extremely experienced and focused team. The firm’s standing in the market, its strong banking client base and commitment to grow the practice made it an extremely attractive proposition for me to join.”
James regularly advises banks in relation to a wide variety of secured domestic and cross-border debt financings. His experience includes acting for banks in relation to financing listed plcs, ranging from public to private transactions to high profile debt restructurings. In real estate finance, he has in depth knowledge and experience and acts for borrowers as well as lenders. He also advises on the financing of major private/public partnership regeneration projects as well as the restructuring of distressed residential and commercial real estate development and investment financings. In corporate lending, James is active in advising lenders to private equity backed companies in the technology sector. His experience also covers the comprehensive asset-based lending sector and private equity bridge facilities, as well as unsecured syndicated loans and other more mainstream facilities. Recent transactions include; advising HSBC PLC in relation to the acquisition of five shopping centres from the CPI Retail Active Management (CReAM) Fund; advising Wells Fargo Capital Finance on financing the $100m Public to Private (by scheme of arrangement) acquisition of Trafficmaster plc.
