What people say about us

Penningtons Manches Cooper is ideal for those who want to work in an open, inclusive environment with a clear structure for career progression.

Andrea Law, HR director

Experienced in advising lenders and borrowers in a variety of financing work. Often acts on mandates in the healthcare, travel and leisure and property sectors. 

Strengths: ‘They are quick, efficient and commercial.’

‘They are very good in terms of the advice we get and more importantly, the speed of turning around things.’

Notable practitioners

Richard Eldridge specialises in representing both lenders and borrowers in finance transactions in the healthcare, real estate and technology sphere. Market sources say he ‘is commercial, understands the entrepreneurial language and is incredibly responsive.’

Chambers UK - 2017 edition

Experienced in advising lenders and borrowers on a variety of financing work. Particularly active in the real estate and healthcare sectors, in which it has gained a number of new clients, including Boys & Girls Nursery and M&P Developments. 

Strengths: Sources describe the team as ‘exceptionally commercial, very prompt, efficient and flexible in terms of negotiation.’ 

Notable practitioners
Richard Eldridge wins praise for being ‘very knowledgeable’ and ‘is very highly regarded for his ability to get things done quickly and pragmatically.’ He acts for both lenders and borrowers on a range of matters, recently advising Industrial Chemicals on the financing by Lloyds Bank of the acquisition of a combined heat and power plant.

Chambers UK - 2018 edition

Experienced in advising lenders and borrowers on a variety of financing work. Represents prominent financial institutions in transactional issues, facility agreements and debt refinancings. Particularly active in the real estate and healthcare sectors.

Strengths: One client emphasises its ‘friendly, capable team who have a can-do attitude and are always willing to provide advice and support.’

Another interviewee reports: ‘They are commercial, responsive and approachable.’

Notable practitioners
Richard Eldridge is described by a client as ‘a very creative thinker and someone who constantly thinks of commercial solutions.’ In addition to acquisition and development finance, he also has experience advising on interest rate swaps, particularly within the healthcare, property and technology sectors.

Chambers UK - 2019 edition

Strengths: ‘Penningtons Manches Cooper have a very good, commercial approach.’

Notable practitioners

John Chater: ‘John is commercially minded and deeply knowledgeable with an approachable style that makes challenging topics accessible to clients.’

‘Helen Drayton gives a really good level of support.’

Chambers UK - 2023 edition

Experienced in advising lenders and borrowers on a variety of financing work. Areas of work include MBOs, acquisition and education financing as well as bridge refinancing. Draws its borrower clients from the healthcare and retail sectors, among others.

Strengths: Clients say: 'They are technically skilled, but what sets them apart is their commercial aptitude and personable style.'

Other sources note that the lawyers 'go the extra mile to advise, by understanding what the client and the bank are trying to achieve.'

Notable practitioners
Sources highlight John Chater for being 'diligent, technically skilled, personable and able to see things from the client’s commercial, as well as the legal, perspective.' He advises borrowers and lenders on a range of transactions including real estate finance and acquisition finance.

Helen Drayton provides advice on acquisition finance, particularly in relation to MBOs. She also handles development finance and is experienced in financing work across a number of sectors including healthcare and leisure.

Chambers UK - 2021 edition

Rich Eldridge leads Penningtons Manches LLP’s ‘professional and diligent’ team, which includes associate John Chater. The team advised Northumberland Development Land, part of the Carebase group, on two term loan facilities.

Penningtons Manches LLP stands out for its ‘professional acumen, efficient delivery and diligent approach’. Helen Drayton’s clients rate her ability to ‘always see the transaction from their perspective’.

The Legal 500 - 2016 edition

Penningtons Manches LLP acts primarily on the borrower side for clients in the healthcare, real estate, leisure and technology sectors, where the team advises on major project financing and transactional activity. Rich Eldridge heads the group, which includes James Went, and John Chater, who ‘responds quickly’ and ‘has a good commercial approach’.

Penningtons Manches LLP [Cambridge] is ‘very knowledgeable and easy to deal with, responding quickly and always willing to talk through existing and prospective deals’. The firm has several of East Anglia’s go-to practitioners in Cambridge-based Helen Drayton and real estate finance specialist Sarah Coates (who is ‘extremely pleasant, practical and willing to go the extra mile’). ‘The quality of advice is superior’, say clients of Drayton’s team.

[Property finance] The team at Penningtons Manches LLP is headed by Mark Phillips and Peter McElligott, and has experience with financings in a wide range of real estate sectors, including student housing, residential housing, retail parks and hotels and leisure. Reading-based John Chater is also recommended.

The Legal 500 - 2017 edition

Penningtons Manches LLP's banking team is 'very responsive and practical in its approach'. Rich Eldridge heads the team and is noted for 'combining intellectual ability with commercial awareness'. Also recommended are Helen Drayton, who is 'a pleasure to deal with - very thorough, offering practical and relevant advice'; and the 'very proactive' John Chater.

[Property finance] Sarah Coates, who is a specialist in real estate finance, is also highly recommended.

The Legal 500 - 2019 edition

The banking and finance team at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP undertakes a range of transactions including real estate finance, acquisition finance, project finance and general corporate banking work. The firm acts for a number of prominent clearing banks and an increasing number of overseas banks. John Chater leads the team and has experience in bilateral and syndicated transactions.

‘The team is very experienced and knowledgeable and have the wider depth in terms of product skills and expertise.’

‘Strong partners and capable juniors with a willingness to meet all deadlines.’

Trade finance: Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP joins the ranking on the strength of lead partners Grant Eldred, who leads the financial services sector group, and trade finance litigation specialist Mark Sachs. 

‘The individual we work with most extensively is Grant Eldred who is undoubtedly one of the best in the business for trade finance.’

The Legal 500 - 2023 edition

Banking and finance work at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP includes advising lenders and borrowers on finance agreements as well as support with both contentious and regulatory matters. The team specialises in complex advice on finance agency provisions, handling transactions which often involve overseas jurisdictions. On the contentious side, the practice is well versed in claims based on interest rate swap misselling and LIBOR rigging. Sector specialism on the borrower’s side includes healthcare, retail and social housing. Helen Drayton and John Chater, who was made partner in April 2019, are recommended, while Angela Stallard joined in May 2018.

Real estate finance specialist Sarah Coates is also recommended.

The Legal 500 - 2020 edition

The firm-wide banking and finance practice not only advises some of the world's most active lending banks, but also has a large roster of large corporate borrowers in the healthcare, real estate, retail, education, construction and social housing sectors.

Helen Drayton, who handles acquisition finance, bi-lateral lending and development finance, works with the London office to assist banks and investors outside of the EEA to enter the UK.

The team are always available and respond quickly to any queries. They have regularly gone the extra mile for mutual clients.

John Chater is approachable, incredibly knowledgeable and has a rare ability to take complex legal matters and describe them in a way that can be easily comprehended.

The Legal 500 - 2021 edition

Reading-based banking and finance specialist John Chater is the main contact at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP. His varied portfolio of work covers acquisition finance (including transactions with a private equity element), real estate investment finance, development finance and general corporate banking...The firm is heavily involved in work for lenders and counts a sizeable number of UK and international banks as clients.

‘Approachable, friendly and willing to engage with both ourselves and the client to ‘hold hands’ and guide, as much as manage the legal aspects.’

‘John Chater has been our main point of contact within the banking and finance team. He has always made himself available, even at very short notice, and no query is ever too much trouble for him. He is extremely knowledgeable and has a superb team around him to offer support in other areas of the firm, regularly introducing other experts from across the firm who are equally adept and responding to any queries we have.’

The Legal 500 - 2022 edition

Clients praise the firm's ‘proficient delivery all round’.

Notable practitioners
John Chater: ‘He gives precise advice and has also a commercial approach. He seeks to find solutions for the client.’

‘He is excellent. He efficiently explains everything in straightforward detail.’

Helen Drayton provides advice on acquisition finance, particularly in relation to MBOs. She also handles development finance and is experienced in financing work across a number of sectors including healthcare and leisure.

Megan O'Meadhra: ‘She had a very collaborative approach, was easy to deal with and accessible.’ ‘Communication is excellent as is the explanation of what matters to the bank in her view.’

Chambers UK - 2022 edition

Penningtons Manches LLP is experienced both in acting for and against banks, including advising business clients that have suffered loss, individuals who have been mis-sold products, and former employees; and the team has particular expertise in high-profile swaps litigation. Alex Fox is business and finance disputes head, and Rustam Dubash and David Niven are also highly regarded. Dan Hyde has an established white-collar practice that encompasses commercial fraud, business crime and contentious financial regulation.

The Legal 500 - 2019 edition

It wasn't the easiest part of our lives but we had the greatest of confidence in you and your team ... The amazing work and effort you did for her is benefiting her immensely - we will always be indebted to you.

The purchase of the bungalow was a great help but the extension has improved her independence so much - she's now able to ‘be the teenager’ she should be. She has her own space to rest and relax, the ‘gym’ (as we can't call it a physio room any more!) is great and her ‘discreetly adapted’ bathroom has provided so much more support that, although I still need to help, she really is almost independent! Plus last year we had a new fitted kitchen so she can use all the elements with little support.

Mrs D

We really appreciate your hard work and everything you did for our daughter and for our family as a whole. We couldn't have pulled this off without you. You have always been there, providing trustworthy advice and keeping us on the right track …. you worked very conscientiously and helped our daughter to save her future.

We trusted you from the beginning and were right to do so!

Mrs G

We know that we could not have made it through this often emotionally painful process without your professional but most of all very tactful support. We are truly grateful for you having been there to facilitate the long-winded and complex legal procedure. From the very beginning, we have felt like we were in good hands and this final resolution has only confirmed our first impressions.

We would also be grateful if you could thank all the experts involved (as well as counsel of course) who have shown us kind consideration and careful support when needed.

Mrs S

I can’t thank you enough for all you have done – you have changed all of our lives.

Mrs R

[My child] hasn’t been able to have a shower or bath for years because we just didn’t have the space at home but he has missed this because he loves water. Now he can and this has been life-changing for him and we are so grateful.

Mrs P