Fiona leads our Banking and Finance team. She has advised on some of the most prominent structured finance deals in the Scottish market, and frequently acts alongside English and US legal firms on the Scottish aspects of multi-jurisdictional finance transactions.
She advises on a wide variety of matters, such as conventional secured and unsecured loans to Scottish companies; cross-border corporate funding; real estate finance; and debt restructuring. She also acts for major UK and foreign financial institutions on structured multi-jurisdictional debt capital markets and securitisation deals (including RMBS, CMBS and whole business), covered bonds structures, and other innovative funding techniques. Fiona acts for sellers and purchasers of commercial and residential mortgage loan books (both performing and non-performing), and has advised on some of the largest and most complex portfolio trades involving Scottish assets.
Securitisation & Mortgage / Commercial Loan Book Trading
- Advising Santander UK plc on the Scottish aspects of its Holmes Master Trust Programme, Fosse Master Trust Programme, EUR35b Covered Bond Programme and other standalone securitisation transactions.
- Advising Barclays Bank plc in relation to the Scottish aspects of a number of securitisations including most recently Pavillion Mortgages 2024-1 PLC and the establishment of the Gracechurch Mortgages plc residential mortgage-backed note programme.
- Advising various building societies, including Yorkshire Building Society, Leeds Building Society and Coventry Building Society, on the Scottish aspects of their global Covered Bond Programmes.
- Advising Paratus AMC Limited in relation to the Scottish aspects of the securitisation of owner-occupied and buy-to-let mortgage portfolios from 2021 to date, and on various warehouse funding arrangements.
- Advising Vida Bank Limited in relation to the Scottish aspects of its various Tower Bridge securitisations, warehouse funding and forward flow arrangements, and portfolio sales.
- Advising LiveMore Investments in relation to the Scottish aspects of its inaugural securitisation of later life mortgages in 2024.
- Advising Kensington Mortgage Company Limited (part of Barclays Bank Group) in relation to the Scottish aspects of various mortgage warehouse fundings, including Sloane Square, Trafalgar Square and various securitisations including Finsbury Square, Gemgarto and RMS and on the Scottish aspects of its sale to Barclays Bank plc.
Property Finance
- Advising Bank of America Europe DAC in relation to the Scottish aspects of a secured facility to CERF IIUKL3 Propco Limited secured on a portfolio of UK logistics assets including 3 in Scotland.
- Advising HSBC as Arranger in relation to the Scottish aspects of a multi-million sterling facility agreement to finance a portfolio of 16 operational purpose-built student accommodation assets in the UK.
- Advising Lloyds Bank plc in relation to the Scottish aspects of facilities for a portfolio of STEM Parks.
- Advising BNP Paribas in relation to the Scottish aspects of senior and mezzanine financing of a portfolio of commercial properties, to, inter alia, two Blackstone sponsored SPV propcos secured on a portfolio of UK real estate assets.
Corporate Financing
- Advising JPMorgan in relation to the Scottish aspects of syndicated bridge term loan facility agreement for The Weir Group PLC.
- Advising Bank of America in relation to the Scottish aspects of a range of secured facilities to Scottish PLCs.
- Advising Hunter Boot Limited in relation to the Scottish aspects of its funding arrangements.
- Advising Bank of America, N.A. in relation to the Scottish aspects of an amendment and restatement of facilities to Diageo plc.
