Overview

Our London office at Holborn Gate, 330 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7QH, supports lenders, sponsors, corporates and asset owners on international finance and asset-based transactions governed by the law of England and Wales. This page summarises the core product types, commercial and legal considerations for cross-border deals, and practical steps to manage execution risk and enforceability in asset-backed structures.

Core services and product coverage

Practically focused international finance work typically spans:

• Corporate and investment-grade lending: bilateral and syndicated facilities, intercreditor arrangements and borrower security packages.
• Asset finance: aircraft, shipping, rail and other transport finance; receivables and inventory financing; title-based and trust-based structures.
• Leveraged and acquisition finance: debt packages for M&A, including covenant design and security structures.
• Real estate and structured real estate finance: development funding, forward commitments and lease-based financing.
• Structured and export finance: use of credit enhancement, export credit agency support and multi-jurisdictional security routing.
• Restructuring and insolvency planning: intercreditor workouts, enforcement strategy and distressed asset transfers.

Structuring and risk considerations

Key legal and commercial issues that arise repeatedly in international asset-based transactions include:

• Choice of law and jurisdiction: governing law for the facility, security interests and enforcement forum affect predictability and remedy availability.
• Perfection and priority: ensuring security is adequately created, registered where required and effective in each relevant jurisdiction.
• Title, possession and transferability: for moveable assets (aircraft, vessels, receivables) consider flagging, registration and contractual assignment mechanics.
• Regulatory and licensing constraints: lender and borrower regulatory regimes (including FCA and sectoral regulators) may dictate documentation and consent requirements.
• Tax and withholding exposures: cross-border payments, VAT and stamp duties can alter economics and structuring choices.
• Insolvency hazards and enforcement timing: national insolvency regimes influence remedies and creditor coordination in cross-border enforcement.

Practical checklist for transaction execution

1. Confirm governing law and identify all jurisdictions where assets are located, registered or used.
2. Map required filings and registrations for security perfection (registries, aviation and maritime registers, PPSRs where relevant).
3. Agree intercreditor mechanics and enforcement triggers early in lender syndication.
4. Obtain and review corporate authority, title certificates, insurance policies and any third-party consents.
5. Assess regulatory approvals and notification requirements for lenders, borrowers and service providers.
6. Model tax and withholding impacts; plan for gross-up or escrow arrangements if necessary.
7. Document contingency arrangements: enforcement agents, repossession logistics and liquidation or sale routes.

Jurisdiction and sources

Primary official sources and guidance for England and Wales:

• legislation.gov.uk (statutes and statutory instruments)
• Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
• Bank of England
• HM Treasury and HM Revenue & Customs
• Companies House and Insolvency Service
• UK Export Finance (UKEF) for export credit support

Note: property and security law can differ in Scotland; Northern Ireland has a separate legal system. Advice should reflect the law of the relevant jurisdiction and local registries.

General information only; not legal advice and not a substitute for advice on a particular matter.