Birmingham
paul.ray@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)121 237 3998
Paul acts for UK and international banks and other funders, corporates ranging from high growth to FTSE 100 companies, institutional investors, entrepreneurs and management teams. Paul advises on the full range of banking and finance transactions including those involving LMA syndicated facilities and has particular strength in advising on funding into the acquisition finance, health and residential sectors.
Paul has an excellent reputation as a solution-driven and commercial lawyer. Legal 500 2021 says, ‘Paul Ray is an excellent lawyer; he points out areas to think about that others would miss. Always presents a problem with a series of solutions, which is quite rare. The service is first class, every time.’
Paul’s clients include NatWest, Lloyds Banking Group, Clydesdale Bank, Santander and HSBC, and is listed as a leading individual in the UK Legal 500 and Chambers legal directories.
Paul is an active and well-known banking and finance lawyer in the Midlands whose commitment to the region is evidenced by his previous membership of the Access-to-Finance sub-group of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP and launch of an access-to-finance website for SMEs in the West Midlands region.
Advising HSBC UK Bank Plc on its funding of the acquisition of the Cecil Jones group and Pearn’s Pharmacies Limited by leading national pharmacy group, Knights Chemist.
Advised the partners of leading accountancy firm Cooper Parry on the agreement for Dutch firm Waterland Private Equity, to invest in the business.
Advising Virgin Money (Clydesdale Bank Plc) on its development finance facility to Cornerstone Healthcare Group to develop a £10m 74-bed specialised care centre in Wincanton.
Advising Investec on its funding of the PE backed (Vespa Capital) buyout of SelectScience.
"He is reliable, straightforward, and he knows his stuff. He is a pleasure to deal with."
"Paul Ray is an excellent lawyer; he points out areas to think about that others would miss. Always presents a problem with a series of solutions, which is quite rare. The service is first class, every time."
Over the last 12 months, the team which is made up of 14 specialist banking lawyers advised on over 300 transactions across various sectors including healthcare, private equity, financial services and tech. The deals have a combined value of £1 billion.
Our banking & finance partners, Paul Ray and Jonathan Edwards, give an update on an important legal development that has been proposed in the finance sector.