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Our expertise
We are a team of more than 500 professionals, with the depth of experience which makes us genuine experts in our fields. Together, gunnercooke’s people have strength across just about every corporate discipline and sector. We provide legal, commercial and strategic advice that delivers real value to the clients we work with, which span from multinational enterprises through to unicorns and non-for-profit organisations. Our breadth of expertise covers some of the most interesting and important emerging disciplines, from ESG and charity law, to blockchain and competition.
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International Offices
gunnercooke has 12 offices globally including the UK, Scotland, US, Germany and CEE, with further plans for growth in the coming years. These offices enhance the existing in-house capability of our dedicated international teams and dual-qualified experts that cover China and Hong Kong, Spain, France, Italy, Brazil and Portugal. Our team has experience working across 101 different countries, speaking 30 languages and are dual-qualified in 15 jurisdictions. Our expertise means we can offer large teams to carry out complex cross-border matters for major international clients.
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Our story
gunnercooke is the fastest growing corporate law firm in the UK, now making its mark globally. We comprise a rapidly growing number of experts spanning legal and other disciplines. Clients benefit from flexible options on fees to suit their needs, access to a wider network of senior experts throughout the relationship, and legal advice which is complemented by an understanding of the commercial aspects of running a business.
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Expertise
Rob is a highly experienced, skilled and well respected corporate banking lawyer. He is known for his clear, direct and commercially focused approach to complex finance transactions. Rob’s expertise combines technical excellence, sector knowledge, commerciality and risk assessment. He prides himself on the speed of delivery and quality of his advice, his innovative thinking and business acumen.
Rob has significant experience in leveraged finance (primarily in the mid-market to sub-£10,000,000 transactions, and including MBOs, MBIs and IBOs), real estate finance (including the acquisition, development and refinancing and forward funding of a broad range of real estate assets), asset based lending and receivables finance, debt restructuring and corporate re-organisations and general corporate banking transactions.
Rob’s clients include financial institutions, asset based lenders, invoice discounters, funds/trusts and corporate borrowers. Rob acts for clients across the North West, nationally and internationally.
Rob is featured as a “leading individual in the North West” in Legal 500.
Rob Advises
- Banks and financial institutions
- Building societies
- Asset based lenders
- Corporate borrowers
- Real estate investors
- Private equity houses
Experience Highlights
- Advising a North West based corporate client in relation to the primary syndication of £60,000,000 senior loan, revolving credit and invoice finance facilities with HSBC Bank plc and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc;
- Advising a leading financial institution in the provision of £32,500,000 senior debt facilities to an off-shore partnership structure for the purposes of acquiring an investment portfolio of real estate assets;
- Advising a hedge fund on the finance documentation relating to the establishment of a £140,000,000 real estate fund investing in property in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, France and the Czech Republic;
- Advising a North West based real estate company in the provision of £55,000,000 syndicated senior debt facilities; and
- Advising a leading financial institution in the provision of £20,000,000 senior debt facilities to a North West based corporate in connection with financing the construction of a new motorway service station.
- Acting for Greater Manchester Combined Authority in relation to the provision of loan facilities to Bruntwood Scitech Limited.
- Acting for Santander on the provision of acquisition term loan and working capital facilities to Ornamental Trees Holdings Limited for the purposes of financing the acquisition of Ornamental Nursery Holdings Limited and Ornamental Trees Limited.
- Acting for Santander on the provision of term loan facilities to Strawberry Star (London) Limited to refinance its existing loan facilities.
Career History
Previous Law Firms
- Pannone LLP, Partner: Head of Corporate Banking & Finance (2005 – 2014)
- Halliwells LLP, Solicitor (2004 – 2005)
- Addleshaw Goddard LLP, Solicitor (1999 – 2004)
- DLA, Solicitor (1996 – 1999)
- Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, Trainee Solicitor (1994 – 1996)
Education
- The University of Nottingham, Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons)
- College of Law: Chester, Legal Practice Course (Distinction)
- Solicitor
Expertise
Back to top
Rob is a highly experienced, skilled and well respected corporate banking lawyer. He is known for his clear, direct and commercially focused approach to complex finance transactions. Rob’s expertise combines technical excellence, sector knowledge, commerciality and risk assessment. He prides himself on the speed of delivery and quality of his advice, his innovative thinking and business acumen.
Rob has significant experience in leveraged finance (primarily in the mid-market to sub-£10,000,000 transactions, and including MBOs, MBIs and IBOs), real estate finance (including the acquisition, development and refinancing and forward funding of a broad range of real estate assets), asset based lending and receivables finance, debt restructuring and corporate re-organisations and general corporate banking transactions.
Rob’s clients include financial institutions, asset based lenders, invoice discounters, funds/trusts and corporate borrowers. Rob acts for clients across the North West, nationally and internationally.
Rob is featured as a “leading individual in the North West” in Legal 500.
Rob Advises
Back to top
- Banks and financial institutions
- Building societies
- Asset based lenders
- Corporate borrowers
- Real estate investors
- Private equity houses
Experience Highlights
Back to top
- Advising a North West based corporate client in relation to the primary syndication of £60,000,000 senior loan, revolving credit and invoice finance facilities with HSBC Bank plc and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc;
- Advising a leading financial institution in the provision of £32,500,000 senior debt facilities to an off-shore partnership structure for the purposes of acquiring an investment portfolio of real estate assets;
- Advising a hedge fund on the finance documentation relating to the establishment of a £140,000,000 real estate fund investing in property in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, France and the Czech Republic;
- Advising a North West based real estate company in the provision of £55,000,000 syndicated senior debt facilities; and
- Advising a leading financial institution in the provision of £20,000,000 senior debt facilities to a North West based corporate in connection with financing the construction of a new motorway service station.
- Acting for Greater Manchester Combined Authority in relation to the provision of loan facilities to Bruntwood Scitech Limited.
- Acting for Santander on the provision of acquisition term loan and working capital facilities to Ornamental Trees Holdings Limited for the purposes of financing the acquisition of Ornamental Nursery Holdings Limited and Ornamental Trees Limited.
- Acting for Santander on the provision of term loan facilities to Strawberry Star (London) Limited to refinance its existing loan facilities.
Career History
Back to top
Previous Law Firms
- Pannone LLP, Partner: Head of Corporate Banking & Finance (2005 – 2014)
- Halliwells LLP, Solicitor (2004 – 2005)
- Addleshaw Goddard LLP, Solicitor (1999 – 2004)
- DLA, Solicitor (1996 – 1999)
- Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, Trainee Solicitor (1994 – 1996)
Education
- The University of Nottingham, Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons)
- College of Law: Chester, Legal Practice Course (Distinction)
- Solicitor
Testimonials
"Rob Fawke of gunnercooke LLP is reputed for his experience handling corporate banking and real estate finance matters. He remains sought after by traditional lenders. Clients say that he is 'extremely responsive in terms of producing documentation and is reliable for hitting deadlines'."
Chambers UK
2020"Rob Fawke is extremely approachable, personable and helpful and he always makes time to talk through transactional issues."
The Legal 500
2020"Rob Fawke is very experienced, is a class act and is really top drawer; he has an excellent understanding of the wider picture of any transaction, and he is able to give clear, focused, detailed and practicable advice."
The Legal 500
2020"Rob Fawke is very responsive, turns requests around quickly, and is commercial in his approach."
The Legal 500
2020"Rob is one of the top names in the Manchester market, with clients being impressed at his expert industry and legal knowledge and that his commercial views and general advice allow them to be able to make decisions with confidence on complex matters."
Chambers UK
2015"Rob is first class. He is very approachable and personable, with great technical knowledge and his advice is very user-friendly."
Chambers UK
2014"Rob is commercial, sensible and very deal focussed. He is good at providing practical, no-nonsense business focussed advice."
The Legal 500
2014