Claire Wheatley
Partner
Construction and Engineering | Corporate | Financial Services | International | Real Estate | Property Conveyancing
About Claire
Claire is a qualified barrister and solicitor. She enjoys drafting, negotiating and business development, with equal skills in each.
Claire specialises in banking work – including property finance (investment and development), acquisition finance, corporate finance, project finance, art finance and capital markets – acting for borrowers and lenders, including all the main UK Banks.
She has been rated as a leader in her field in the Chambers’ directory, with one client commenting “she gets straight to the heart of the matter”.
She has over 35 years’ in-depth knowledge and experience of banking, including secured and unsecured lending, leveraged finance, intercreditor issues, securitisations and restructuring.
In recent years, Claire has specialised in property finance and has been extremely successful in building strong relationships with numerous lenders (including international banks), property companies, entrepreneurs and small/medium sized companies.
Claire has particular expertise in the hotel and leisure, social housing, health and education, care home, church and art funding sectors.
Claire also advises on complex structures, including junior, mezzanine and senior finance. She has drafted the suite of banking and security documents for a challenger bank (which is now well established) and for an international bank.
Claire has acted on transactions from USD 600 million to a £100,000, covering art, property and corporate across various sectors.
Claire has financed Ronny Scott’s, Floridita restaurant, the Baltic Exchange, acted for a consortium that operated the tri-service helicopter flying school (involving buying helicopters from Bell and Eurocopter, in tandem) and raising USD107 million secured on a portfolio of 19 well known paintings.
Claire also completed one of the first large commercial loans in Budapest for a consortium of previously state owned banks to fund a hotel complex.
Claire has also drafted Philip Morris sponsorship agreements for a range of Formula 1 racing car drivers, acted for HMG on the water privatisation and on the Chanel 4 application for their new licence.
Claire is used to operating in new and exciting areas and disciplines.
“Claire is always available and willing to help, she goes beyond just completing the instruction and has assisted the bank whenever requested, usually at very short notice. Claire also worked closely with the bank’s legal team in India and they were impressed with the advice and support she provided. Claire is also happy to introduce you to her network of professionals.”
“What is great about Claire, is she always goes about her business with a smile on her face and I personally recommend her services.”
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