Asset Finance & Asset Based Lending

Service overview: Asset finance solicitors

  • Asset finance can be a great way of securing the funds you need to invest in things for your business, without having to dig into your savings or working capital. As an alternative to traditional bank lending, we work with you to find innovative financing structures for complex needs.
  • You can finance any asset, but asset finance is most common in shipping, aviation, plant and machinery, and the film industry.
  • The main types of asset finance structures are secured lending, and leasing, or a combination of both. Operating leases and finance leases are the most common forms of lease.
  • International transactions may be sourced and supported by export credit agencies.
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What we do: Asset finance solicitors

Our finance solicitors can support you from the credit and underwriting process, through to drafting the facility agreement and making sure security is in place.

We regularly advise clients on multiple factors of asset finance and asset-based lending. It’s vital that you understand the legal implications which are commonly involved with these lending facilities, as well as the relevant tax and accounting issues.

We’ve advised on a wide range of matters, including:

  • Secured lending transactions and commercial debt financing
  • Acquisition, disposal and financing of asset portfolios
  • Lease agreements such as equipment leasing (including HP and sale and leaseback) and operating leases, maintenance and insurance standards, and residual value advice
  • Incorporating special purpose vehicles (SPVs)
  • Structured tax-based transactions
  • Export credit agency (ECA)-supported financing and liaising with the ECGD
  • Security arrangements including mortgages, assignments of rights and insurances, and share charges
  • Regulatory and compliance advice
  • Receivable finance facilities
  • Aviation finance
  • Consumer credit and consumer hire
  • Block discounting
  • Introducer agreements
  • Agency agreements

Loans from financial institutions are very common forms of asset-based lending, especially when they concern your assets as security. Watch our video on how to handle commercial loan agreements and what to look out for:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwlM6y_v_M0Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Commercial Loan Agreements – Harper James Solicitors (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwlM6y_v_M0)

Our work ranges from complex structured transactions to regulatory and compliance advice, and concerns a wide variety of asset types, such as:

  • Commercial vehicles
  • Fixtures
  • Marine medical equipment
  • Aircraft
  • Trains
  • Industrial plant and machinery

Who we help: Businesses of all sizes throughout the UK

We can help various parties involved in asset finance and lending, including:

  • Manufacturers and asset owners
  • Operators and lessors
  • Domestic and cross-border financiers
  • Heavy and light rolling stock leasing companies (ROSCOs)
  • Leasing companies
  • Financial institutions and lenders
  • Export credit agencies
  • Investment vehicles including private equity houses

Why choose Harper James? Our asset finance solicitors’ experience

We’re proud of our commercial approach when giving advice and understand the constraints of the industry to provide you with industry standard advice.

Harper James is a modern law firm with a difference. Our innovative remote operating model means that you can access expert City-grade legal advice from partner-level solicitors at a fraction of the cost of traditional law firms. Our senior solicitors are all recruited from top 100 UK law firms and have worked on a variety of complex lending transactions in a range of industries. Most of our senior solicitors have more than 10 years post-qualifying experience.

Find out about our asset finance team:

Abby Watson

Corporate Solicitor

Abby Watson is a corporate solicitor, specialising in private equity investments, mergers & acquisitions, EMI share schemes, corporate finance and governance and more.

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Adam Kudryl

Corporate Partner

Adam Kudryl is a Partner and Corporate & Commercial Solicitor at Harper James Solicitors, specialising in strategic investments, acquisitions and sales.

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Shubhu Patil

Corporate Solicitor

Shubhu specialises in early-stage fund raisings, shareholder arrangements and M&A. Prior to joining Harper James she worked at Mills & Reeve and before that at Addleshaw Goddard and Slaughter and May.

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Stephen Evans

Corporate Solicitor

Stephen is an experienced corporate lawyer, with a career including time at DLA Piper and Pinsent Masons. He specialises in mergers and acquisitions and private equity work.

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Jas Bhogal

Corporate Partner

Jas is a corporate partner at Harper James Solicitors, advising on corporate governance, mergers & acquisitions, venture capital & investments.

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Kate Wright

Commercial and Corporate Solicitor

Kate is a commercial and corporate lawyer, advising businesses from start-ups up to global companies on everything from investment and franchising to sale and purchase transactions, exits and much more.

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Pricing plans

Our three transparent pricing packages are designed to give you the widest possible access to high-quality legal advice, whatever the size and nature of your business:

City

Straightforward access to senior solicitors at a competitive rate.

An affordable solution for businesses needing one-off legal support. Receive ‘City’ partner-level expertise at a fraction of ‘City’ prices.

Enterprise

Have legal peace of mind for £189 per month with additional support from £99 per hour.

A monthly subscription legal support package specifically designed for start-ups and smaller businesses.

On-Demand

Providing you with priority access to a dedicated panel of highly experienced solicitors.

Fully account managed quarterly subscription service for businesses with more complex legal needs.

Learn more about our pricing plans

What our clients say

We pride ourselves on delivering an excellent service for clients, but don’t just take our word for it.

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What next?

Please leave us your details and we’ll contact you to discuss your situation and legal requirements. There’s no charge for your initial consultation, and no obligation to instruct us. We aim to respond to all messages received within 24 hours.

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A national law firm

We mainly work remotely, so we can work with you wherever you are. But we can arrange face-to-face meeting at our offices or a location of your choosing.

Our commercial lawyers are based in or close to major cities across the UK, providing expert legal advice to clients both locally and nationally.

Birmingham
Floor 2, Cavendish House, 39-41 Waterloo Street, Birmingham, B2 5PP
Cambridge
Stirling House, Cambridge Innovation Park, Denny End Road, Waterbeach, Cambridge, CB25 9QE
London
10 Fitzroy Square, London, W1T 5HP
Manchester
13th Floor, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, M1 4BT
Oxford
Harwell Innovation Centre, 173 Curie Avenue, Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QG
Sheffield
2-5 Velocity Tower, 1 St Mary’s Square, Sheffield, S1 4LP