Chris Brierley
A Banking and Finance partner, specialising in leveraged acquisition finance and corporate banking, property finance and healthcare and social housing related financing. Other areas of expertise within the team include asset based financing and leasing, project finance and PFI/PPP, capital markets and derivatives and insolvency and restructuring.
Tel: +44 (0)870 733 0596
Email: chris_brierley@wragge.com
Services: Finance
Business sectors: Financial Services
What do clients say about you?
A major clearer I worked with on a recent management buy-out said, "Chris and his team worked seamlessly with us, demonstrating the technical expertise and commercial experience upon which Wragge & Co has built its reputation over many years".
On completing several deals for a major offshore private bank it praised my ability to handle the most complex of transactions. As the client put it, "Chris and his team have provided excellent advice in a clear and timely fashion. It is probably fair to say that the deals would not have proceeded without them."
Legal 500 also describes me as someone that 'always delivers no matter how complicated the deal'.
What do clients value in your approach?
The way I work with them as a trusted adviser. It's an approach that is backed up by significant market knowledge, legal expertise and years of experience. I've acted on some of the most complex deals and with clients from a wide range of industry sectors. This includes the refinancing of a multi-national group where the bulk of cash flows emanated from China, and structuring a development finance lending product for a major clearer. I also acted for a major investment bank on senior and mezzanine facilities to a major leisure operator and owner.
Most challenging job you've ever done?
Every job has its challenges whether legal, commercial or structural, or due to issues such as time pressures or a lack of commercial alignment. The key is to work through them to find a resolution and ensure that, as far as possible, each party achieves its commercial objectives. For example, a common area for significant negotiation is Intercreditor agreements, especially with the renewed reluctance of mezzanine funders to agree levels of subordination to senior funders pre-credit crunch.
What about outside the UK?
The majority of my work has an international element, as does that of the wider team. In the case of groups which are being acquired or funded by our clients, customers or borrowers can have either sales, distribution or manufacturing operations in Europe, the Far East or the USA.What's your definition of going the extra mile?
We operate in a highly competitive environment and so client service is paramount and has to be consistent. In transactions that are stressful and involve unsociable hours, the best service clients can receive is be given advice tailored to the commercial context, highlighting the options, the risks of each option and a recommended approach.
It's crucial to have an overall understanding of the deal, as well as the business, financial and commercial side, to enable the client to focus on other areas. Part of this will also demand an understanding of the sectors a client lends within and where to bring in relevant specialists from our cross-firm network.
What else makes the team special?
We are recognised as a "highly respected and successful partner-led practice" (Legal 500) and "well placed to handle some of the more complex and sophisticated instructions in the market" (Chambers 2012). The team provides what one client describes as "magic circle quality but with a refreshing personal touch".
More than just legal technicians, we provide a highly commercial and solutions-driven approach, which is backed-up by the diverse skills and expertise of a cross-firm team.
Experience
- Advising HSBC on its multi-million pound senior debt financing of Lifeways Community Care Limited including mezzanine funding from Aries Capital (May 2011)
- Advising Lloyds TSB Bank plc on its multi-million pound senior debt financing for the acquisition of Farsound Engineering Limited (July 2011)
- Advising The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc and HSBC Bank plc on their club facilities to Enara Finance Limited - a major healthcare business (November 2011)
- Advising Lloyds TSB Bank plc on its multi-million pound senior debt financing for the management buy out of Key Safety Limited (May 2011)
- Advising a major clearing bank on its multi-million pound financing of the development of several GP polyclinics (January 2010 to November 2011)
- Advising a major healthcare business on its £100 million club refinancing of its senior and mezzanine facilities (August 2011)
- Advising Sanctuary Housing Association on a number of complex financings. These include the funding and security structure in connection with its £250 million bond and subsequent tap issues (May 2010)
- Advising a major investment bank's European property fund in connection with senior debt acquisition funding for the acquisition of Exchequer Court St Mary's Axe London
- Advising a major German based fund in connection with senior debt acquisition funding for a major regional law firms prime UK offices
- Advising Area, the US property fund, in connection with a senior debt acquisition and subordinated debt funding for a major retail park (2010)
- Advising HSBC Private Bank Jersey in connection with its senior debt financing of a number of real estate assets for its client utilising a Sharia compliant structure (May 2011)
- Advising a major private international corporate in connection with its £350 million syndicated facilities (2009)
Professional experience
- Partner 1997 to present
- Qualified Wragge & Co LLP 1988
Specialisms
Leveraged acquisition finance and property finance
Business sectors
Healthcare, social housing
Education
- Birmingham University LLB (Law with French), 1981-1985
- Chester College of Law, 1985-1986
- Clifton College Bristol, 1977-1981
Memberships
Law Society
Languages
French
