Christopher Lewis

Principal Associate | Debt Finance

Chris is a Principal Associate in our Debt Finance team. 

Chris specialises in diverse debt finance, handling secured and unsecured, bilateral or syndicated lending at both national and international levels.

He has extensive experience and prior roles in a top-tier Banking & Finance team in Cardiff and as in-house counsel at a leading financial services group.

Chris excels in acquisition and leveraged finance, navigating non-standard lending transactions with complex structures and security. He represents lenders (banks, private equity, or funds) or corporate borrowers, offering profound insights into insolvency scenarios, recovery strategies, and corporate banking transactions.

He has led on diverse corporate banking transactions, facilitated a multi-million revolving credit facility on a Loan Market Association basis. Offering expertise in intricate debt structures with senior and mezzanine debt, he is a vital contact for institutional lender and borrower clients, providing specialized banking advice to the broader corporate team.

Acknowledged as a ‘Rising Star’ in the 2024 Legal 500 rankings for banking and finance,

Expertise

  • Private equity and leveraged finance
  • Corporate finance
  • Development finance
  • Real estate finance
  • Restructuring and insolvency
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Recent work

APEM Group Limited
Acted for APEM Group Limited in relation to an amendment to an existing facility with Clydesdale Bank PLC to allow for changes to existing financial covenants and proposed acquisitions.

Victorian Sliders group
Advised the Victorian Sliders group in relation to a refinance of its existing CBILS financing arrangements with Lloyds Bank plc. We negotiated overdraft and term loan facilities made available by HSBC, supported by a suite of security and guarantees provided by the group companies. We put in place subordination agreements in respect of other existing shareholder debt.

Welsh Rugby Regions
Advised the Welsh Rugby Regions (Cardiff, Scarlets, Ospreys and Newport) on the amendments to their facilities with the Welsh Rugby Union, as well as two new loan agreements to, and new security taken over, Scarlets Regional Limited and Cardiff Blues Limited.

Ooodles Finance Ltd
Advised Ooodles Finance Ltd in respect of EUR Secured Series A Bonds issued to The Lending Smart Fund 1. As part of the bond issuance, Ooodles Finance Ltd entered into an intragroup loan agreement and Ooodles Group Ltd granted various security over various assets and its shares in Ooodles Finance Ltd.

Cardiff and Vale College
Advised Cardiff and Vale College in relation to a new multimillion pound revolving credit facility provided by Santander UK plc.

WestBridge
Advised WestBridge Fund III on the funding aspects for the acquisition of Tryzens Holdings Limited. This involved negotiating debt bridging loan notes and a senior facility provided by ThinCats, which included a senior term facility, an uncommitted accordion facility and super-senior revolving credit facility. This transaction involved the accession of an Australian subsidiary. We were actively involved on the Australian cross-jurisdictional elements in the transaction especially in relation to financial assistance approval.

Ascona
Advised Ascona on its acquisition of Plev Limited, which owned the Bridgwater Road Service Station. We advised Ascona on utilising their existing facility with Crestline to fund the acquisition which involved working on accession documents and updating the subordination agreement.

HSBC UK
Advised HSBC UK Bank plc in relation to a shareholder restructure of Victorian House Window Group Ltd, which necessitated amendments to the existing facility agreement between the Borrower and HSBC.

Santander UK
Advised Santander UK plc on an amendment and restatement of an existing revolving credit facility made available to Edward Davies Commercials (trading as MS-RT) to increase their existing revolving credit facility exposure.

Welsh Government
Provided advice to the Welsh Government regarding the issuance of a £11 million loan letter to the Development Bank of Wales. This strategic financial assistance is part of an innovative scheme established to offer substantial support to Welsh homeowners grappling with mortgage challenges.

Testimonials

  • Capital Law advised us on a recent loan refinancing transaction. Their team demonstrated professionalism and expertise throughout the process, ensuring the transaction was completed efficiently and on time, and maintaining excellent communication throughout. I would be happy to recommend their services to anyone seeking reliable support for their funding needs.

    Richard Pugsley | Vice Principal (Corporate Resources)
    Cardiff and Vale College

  • To the awesome Capital team, you have been phenomenal in your representation of us in the face of mind boggling idiocy. We are extremely grateful for your diligence, professionalism and good humour throughout this process. We look forward to the next one and couldn’t conceive of finding a better business partner to work with us over the next few years.

    Shane Higgon | Finance Director
    Ascona Group

  • I just wanted to convey what a great job the Capital Law team and specifically Chris Lewis did in helping me get the transaction to completion. There were a number of last minute issues, but Chris went out of his way to help me to find commercial solutions as I worked with stakeholders in the borrower company to find a solution.”

    Claire Sedgwick | Deputy Fund Manager, Property
    Development Bank of Wales

  • Chris Lewis and the banking team at Capital Law have been instrumental in helping us with this deal. Their commercial and pragmatic advice was invaluable, ensuring a smooth, timely and professional experience. We are grateful for their continuing support and look forward to working with them again.

    Myrddyn Hughes | Senior Relationship Director, Corporate Centre – South Wales
    Santander UK Corporate and Commercial Banking