Christopher Lewis (Capital Law)

Christopher Lewis

Principal Associate
Banking & Finance

Chris is a Principal Associate in the Banking and Finance team. He specialises in a range of debt finance work, including secured and unsecured, bilateral or syndicated lending both on a national, and international level. 

Chris has a wealth of experience and contacts from previous roles in a top tier Banking & Finance team in Cardiff and in-house counsel at a leading financial services group.

He has particular experience in acquisition and leveraged finance, advising on non-standard lending transactions involving complex structures and security. He acts on behalf of either lenders (be they banks, private equity or other funds) or corporate borrowers.

Chris has extensive experience acting for lenders in respect of reviewing security and facility documents with a view to recovery. His experience covers a wide range of insolvency scenarios including appointing administrators and LPA receivers.

He has led on various corporate banking transactions, including provision of a multi-million revolving credit facility on a Loan Market Association basis. He frequently advises lender and borrower clients on complex debt structures involving senior and mezzanine debt. He provides specialist banking advice to the wider corporate team and is a key point of contact for many of our institutional lender and borrower clients.

He was recently described as a ‘Rising Star’ in the 2024 Legal 500 rankings in relation to banking and finance.

Chris project managed this deal really well and ensured the complications with overseas jurisdiction, intercreditor arrangements and offer documents, were dealt with swiftly and commercially. His communication with the borrower’s advisers was tactful and ensured all parties were fully aware of what was required within the bank’s legal parameters.

Ashley Charlton, Relationship Director, HSBC Bank PLC

  • Advising a private equity firm in relation to a multi million refinance of existing revolving credit facilities made available to a utility solutions company. This involved negotiation of a standby liquidity credit facility provide by the private equity firm and amendment and restatement of the existing senior facility.
  • Advising WestBridge in relation to their investment in and capitalisation of a newly formed company incorporated on behalf of WestBridge for the acquisition of an intellectual property specialist. This involved drafting and negotiating a senior facilities agreement with the debt funder to incorporate a senior acquisition term facility and capex facility as well as advising on the investor loan note instruments.
  • Acting for a global environmental consultancy, in its acquisition of GoBe Consultants and the related multimillion refinance, which involved putting in place security over Irish and US subsidiaries.
  • Acted for national energy company in respect of a €72m term facility from an international bank to finance investments in mining and electricity generation.
  • Acted for each of the Welsh rugby regions in respect of a pass through loan that the Welsh Rugby Union had originally agreed with NatWest Cymru.
  • Advised national bank in respect of updating its suite of mortgage documentation.
  • Acting for a global logistics company, in relation to £75m facility to fund the company’s general working capital.
  • Acting for a software company in relation to provision of security from UK subsidiary relating to $53m credit facility.
  • Acting for a roadside retail corporate borrower in respect of a £30m bridging loan facility to fund a strategically important acquisition.
  • Advising Arasam Ltd on the acquisition of two iconic buildings in the centre of Cardiff.
  • Acquisition and leveraged finance
  • Development finance
  • Real estate finance
  • Corporate finance

Career

  • Principal Associate, Capital Law Limited (Apr 2023 – present)
  • Senior Associate, Capital Law Limited (May 2020 – Mar 2023)
  • Associate, Capital Law Limited (May 2018 – April 2020)
  • Solicitor, Capital Law Limited (Oct 2016 – 2018)
  • Solicitor, Acuity Legal Limited (2015 – Oct 2016)
  • In House Counsel, Target Group (Jun 2015 – Dec 2015)
  • Paralegal (Banking & Finance), Eversheds LLP (2009 – 2015)

Education

  • Cardiff University: LPC (2008 – 2009)
  • Swansea University: GDL Law (2007 – 2008)
  • Swansea University: History, BA (2004 – 2007)

Memberships / Trustee Positions

  • The Law Society of England and Wales
  • Loan Market Association

Languages

  • French