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Banking and finance lawyers

Whether you are structuring a new facility, refinancing existing debt or exploring new opportunities, we offer not just legal expertise, but the empathy and commercial insight to support you.

In finance, precision matters. But so does perspective. At Withers, our banking and finance lawyers deliver both. We offer expert legal advice to private capital clients with an approach that combines emotional intelligence and commercial acumen.

Our team works with family offices, private banks, credit funds and high-net-worth individuals across the globe. Our legal services support financing in areas such as real estate, fund lending, private credit and cross-border transactions. Our clients also include entrepreneurs, philanthropists, sports teams and cultural institutions, each with their distinct financing needs.

We understand that any financial strategy is about aligning capital with ambition. That is why we begin by listening to your goals, the perspectives of each stakeholder and your risk appetite. Only then do we craft financing solutions that are best placed to support your interests. 

We support clients at every stage of the financing journey:
  • Facility structuring and capital deployment
  • Development, investment and acquisition finance
  • Working capital and Capex facilities
  • Refinancing, restructuring and rescue lending
  • Exit preparation and succession planning

Our clients

  • Private banks
  • Debt funds and alternative lenders
  • Borrowers across sectors including real estate, art, aviation, and shipping
  • Security agents and trustees
  • Family offices, families and high-net-worth individuals
  • Founders and business owners
  • Charities, foundations and cultural institutions
  • Sports teams and clubs

Thinking internationally 

Our international banking lawyers work across Europe, the US and Asia-Pacific, helping clients structure cross-border finance with efficiency and confidence.

As part of a firm with over 200 partners worldwide and multilingual capabilities, we deliver relevant advice across time zones and jurisdictions.

We advise on a wide range of financing transactions, including:

  • Real estate development and investment finance
  • Fund and subscription line finance
  • Asset-backed and receivables finance
  • Sports and media finance
  • Healthcare and infrastructure lending
  • Private credit and syndicated finance structures

What sets Withers apart 

  • High EQ, high IQ: we listen before we advise, adapting to your style and shaping advice around your priorities.
  • Lender and borrower insight: we have advised across the table, anticipating concerns, shortening negotiations and protecting outcomes. 
  • Partner-led service: senior engagement from day one—no handoffs, no bureaucracy.
  • Cross-border fluency: our finance lawyers operate across jurisdictions, helping you overcome complexity with clarity.
  • Private capital expertise: we understand the sensitivities of personal wealth, institutional strategy and regulatory nuance.
  • Understanding of institutional banking: the Withers team is comfortable with deals of institutional size and complexity.
  • Bespoke solutions: our advice is tailored to reflect the unique nature of our clients and their ambitions. 

A multilateral agency

Advising a multilateral agency on its US$40 million framework facility which was available to qualifying Kyrgyz participating banks and financial institutions in the form of credit-lines (including mortgage loans, SME loans and consumer finance loans) by the agency to the local financial institutions or through the agency making minority equity investments in the local financial institutions. The purpose of this was to improve financial intermediation in the Kyrgyz Republic and to assist in the development of the non-banking financial intermediation sector.

Bidders 'spinning out' of NHS body

Acted for a number of bidders 'spinning out' of an existing NHS body where the NHS body became a commissioner of services and our client the service provider.

Consortium of general practitioners

Acted for a consortium of general practitioners to establish a partnership to provide 'out of hours' and other GP services to a number of UK NHS Primary Care Trusts.

UK schools projects

Acted on various UK schools projects - in particular the establishment of Academies to take over the operation of failing schools and negotiating the development arrangements under the Building Schools for the Future Programme which often involve the re-negotiation of existing PFI arrangements.

Joint venture between care homes operator and social landlord

Acted for a joint venture between a care homes operator and a registered social landlord in its successful bid to take over the operation of a portfolio of care homes previously owned and managed by a local UK authority. (this involved advising on the financing of the bid).

Over $50 million Commodity Murabahah Islamic financing facilities

Represented RHB Bank Berhad, Singapore Branch in the over $50 million Commodity Murabahah Islamic financing facilities for a leading hotel owner and operator, to be secured by a mortgage over the hotel property as well as corporate and personal guarantees and debt subordinations.

Advised banks and borrowers in Singapore on project financing

We have advised banks and borrowers in Singapore on project financing for the development of hotel/office/shopping complexes, residential estates, highways, pipelines, petrochemical plants and other industrial developments, and financing for the acquisition of hotels, hospitals, plantations, commercial and industrial buildings and complexes and the takeover of companies, secured against all kinds of assets and guarantees, in jurisdictions such as Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam, and others.

International school in Singapore

We acted for a bank in the financing to an international school in Singapore for the construction of an additional building to its existing campus.

SGD$87.56 million state land acquisition

We acted for an international school in the financing of SG$87.56 million from DBS to acquire state land, and construct and develop a new school building in Singapore.

US$32 million loan for the indirect acquisition of stakes in Indonesian coal mining company

We acted for Oceanpro Investments Limited as borrower on its US$32 million loan facilities from a major bank. This loan was used for the purpose of indirect acquisition of stakes in an Indonesian coal mining company, PT Kutai Bara Nusantara.

US$600 million loans for purchase of 90% of shares in PT Berau Coal

We acted for PT Recapital Advisors in respect of its US$600 million loans from the Singapore branch of a major bank. The loans were taken in connection with the purchase by a Recapital subsidiary of 90% of the shares in PT Berau Coal.

Financing, re-financing, acquisition and leasing of a Boeing 737-800

We acted for an Irish aircraft leasing company in the financing and subsequent re-financing, acquisition and leasing of a Boeing 737-800 aircraft leased to an Indonesian operator and subleased to that Indonesian operator’s newly established Malaysian subsidiary. The aircraft was financed through a warehouse facility with a Swiss bank and later refinanced via a term loan with a French bank in Singapore.

Freeze-pack plant in Zimbabwe

We acted for the management of a US$50 million freeze-pack plant for fresh vegetables in Zimbabwe.

AES Corporation, Aquila and El Paso

We advised AES Corporation, Aquila and El Paso on various power projects, including project company acquisitions and disposals in the UK, eastern Europe and Africa on the following projects: Aquila in connection with its $2.1 billion acquisition of Midland Electricity plc; and El Paso on the disposal of its minority interest in the Kladno power project in the Czech Republic and its exit from a power project in Fife, Scotland.

Citibank International Plc

We advised Citibank International Plc, an affiliate of Citibank N.A., on its adherence to OPIC Framework Guarantee Facility Agreement (Global Housing II Program) between Citibank N.A., as facility agent, and Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), an agency of the United States of America. This was to enhance and expand their lending services to clients located in the OPIC priority countries including Vietnam, Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Algeria, Philippines, Armenia, Botswana, Ghana, and others.

The financing of a steel galvanising plant

We acted for a major Indian bank in financing a steel galvanising plant in Nigeria.

Consortium of general practitioners

Acted for a consortium of general practitioners to establish a partnership to provide 'out of hours' and other GP services to a number of UK NHS Primary Care Trusts.

Republic of Croatia

We advised on a grant agreement between the Republic of Croatia and the International Bank for Reconstruction and development. This included advising on the project implementation agreement and overall financing structure in connection with a global environment facility trust fund grant for renewable energy projects in Croatia.

€40 million loans to Sogefi

Sogefi are a manufacturer of components and filter systems for the automotive industry. We acted for Sogefi in relation to two loans of €40 million in total, which were made by a major bank to finance their research and development programme.

Advised banks and borrowers in Singapore on project financing

We have advised banks and borrowers in Singapore on project financing for the development of hotel/office/shopping complexes, residential estates, highways, pipelines, petrochemical plants and other industrial developments, and financing for the acquisition of hotels, hospitals, plantations, commercial and industrial buildings and complexes and the takeover of companies, secured against all kinds of assets and guarantees, in jurisdictions such as Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam, and others.

Carta Isnardo Spa

We acted for Carta Isnardo Spa in the tendering procedure and further negotiations of a supply contract for the resurfacing of roads in Kosovo.

UK Cabinet Office

Acted for a facilities management company in tender to provide conferencing and related services to the UK Cabinet Office.

A multilateral agency

Advising a multilateral agency on its €250 million Western Balkans and Croatia Financing Framework for banks and non-banking financial institutions, including leasing companies.

Feasibility, development and implementation of photovoltaic projects for AEE Renewables Plc

AEE Renewables Plc is a German-based integrated project developer of photovoltaic and hydro power energy systems. Withers has represented AEE Renewables on all aspects of the feasibility, development and implementation of its photovoltaic projects in Germany, UK and Turkey.

Financing the privatisation of the airport in Prishtina, Kosovo

We advised a Turkish bank in financing the privatisation of the airport in Prishtina, Kosovo via a public private partnership with a Turkish and French consortium. This included advising on the PPP Agreement, the ‘bankability’ of that document, and the relevant direct agreement.

$85 million financing package for marine oil receiving terminal

We represented the IFC, FMO and DEG on an $85 million financing package for the construction of a marine oil receiving terminal, and a petrol distribution network in Turkey.

Mexican telecoms project

A telecommunications equipment manufacturer providing customer financing for the construction of telecom fiber networks in Mexico and other Latin American countries engaged us to advise.

EPC contract advice to retro-fit coal fired power stations with 'green' technology

We advised an American specialist engineering contractor on EPC contracts to retro-fit existing coal fired power stations with 'green' technology. These contracts were based on various FIDIC, NEC3 and bespoke terms. We also offered additional advice on joint venture arrangements with other specialist contractors.

An aircraft investment company

We advised an aircraft investment company on the purchase from Sumitomo Bank of 2 Cayman Island companies as lessors of two Boeing 767-204 ER and on their operating leases with a South Asian national carrier.

Citibank International Plc

We advised Citibank International Plc, an affiliate of Citibank N.A., on its adherence to OPIC Framework Guarantee Facility Agreement (Global Housing II Program) between Citibank N.A., as facility agent, and Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), an agency of the United States of America. This was to enhance and expand their lending services to clients located in the OPIC priority countries including Vietnam, Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Algeria, Philippines, Armenia, Botswana, Ghana, and others.

IFC

We advised IFC on a $90 million telecoms project financing in the Dominican Republic.

Major international bank

We advised a major international bank in the financing of six aircraft sold by a major US airline to a leasing company and then to Swedish limited partnerships.

A multilateral agency

Advising a multilateral agency on its €250 million Western Balkans and Croatia Financing Framework for banks and non-banking financial institutions, including leasing companies.

US$147 million mining project in Russia

We advised a multilateral agency on a US$147 million financing for a mining project in Russia.

Biofuels plant development

Withers have represented a developer of a biofuels plant in St Petersburg, Russia.

€70 million project loan for EBRD

We advised EBRD in connection with a €70 million project loan for an industrial gas facility in Russia.

Astelit

We represented Astelit, a Ukrainian telecommunications company controlled by Turkish GSM operator Turkcell, on a $540 million financing (at such time the largest private financing in Ukraine) to expand its mobile network.

Citibank International Plc

We advised Citibank International Plc, an affiliate of Citibank N.A., on its adherence to OPIC Framework Guarantee Facility Agreement (Global Housing II Program) between Citibank N.A., as facility agent, and Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), an agency of the United States of America. This was to enhance and expand their lending services to clients located in the OPIC priority countries including Vietnam, Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Algeria, Philippines, Armenia, Botswana, Ghana, and others.

Mexican telecoms project

A telecommunications equipment manufacturer providing customer financing for the construction of telecom fiber networks in Mexico and other Latin American countries engaged us to advise.

US telecommunication companies asset acquisitions

We assisted US based and NYSE listed telecommunication companies in various assets acquisitions in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.

Our team

Jon Bond

Jon Bond

Partner | London

Jon Bond

Partner | London

Banking and finance

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Guan Feng Chen

Guan Feng Chen

Consultant | Singapore

Guan Feng Chen

Consultant | Singapore

Banking and finance

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Sergio Anania

Sergio Anania

Partner | Milan

Sergio Anania

Partner | Milan

Banking and finance

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Patricia M. Lee

Patricia M. Lee

Partner | New York

Patricia M. Lee

Partner | New York

Corporate

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Luca Denora

Luca Denora

Partner | New York

Luca Denora

Partner | New York

Corporate

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