Browne Jacobson appoints new head of banking for Manchester to spearhead growth

Browne Jacobson has appointed Graham Ball as the new head of its banking and finance team in Manchester.

The appointment follows a period of sustained growth for the firm’s national banking practice which is on track to deliver 20 per cent growth for the 2021/22 financial year.

Graham has considerable experience advising both lenders and borrowers on all types of debt finance including acquisition finance, asset based lending, real estate finance, debt restructuring and general corporate lending. He also has extensive experience advising corporate clients and private equity houses on sponsored transactions.

Graham has been listed as both a “key lawyer” and “recommended” in the UK Legal 500 in the last three years and joins from the Manchester office of Squire Patton Boggs where he was a legal director in its Financial Services and Banking Team.

Paul Ray, National Head of Banking and Finance at Browne Jacobson, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Graham whose arrival is a great boost for our banking practice.

“Building our Manchester presence and business is a key component of our overall growth strategy.

“With over two decades of experience in the banking sector Graham has all the credentials needed to build on the presence and credibility we have established over the last few years and fulfil our ambition of having a top tier banking practice in Manchester.”

The appointment is the first in a series of significant appointments Browne Jacobson is looking to make as it plans to expand its operations in Manchester following a period of sustained growth which has seen the office post 9 per cent revenue growth for 2020/21, marking a 74% increase in revenues for the office since 2017/18.

Dai Durbridge, Head of Browne Jacobson in Manchester, added:

“We are delighted to have Graham come on board.

“It has been a challenging 18 months for everyone but our appetite for growth and investment in our teams since we first opened in Manchester nearly ten years ago has never waned.

“As a firm and office, we continue to go from strength to strength and it’s an exciting time to be joining us.”

Graham Ball, Manchester Head of Banking said: 

“I am delighted to be the firm’s new head of banking in the North West.

“The potential to grow the banking practice in the region even further was a major factor in my decision to join the firm and I am very excited at the challenge that lies ahead.”

Browne Jacobson’s banking team has extensive expertise in all aspects of banking and finance from corporate lending transactions, real estate financing, acquisition and leveraged finance to asset based lending, debt refinancing and restructuring work. It acts for a wide range of public and private sector clients including some of the UK’s leading banking institutions, local authorities, and housing associations.