Paula Laird

I head up the Asset-based Lending team, which deals with asset based lending, asset finance and securitisation. We act for many of the leading financial institutions in this sector, advising on some of the most innovative deals such as cross-border asset based lending transactions.

Tel: +44 (0)870 733 0594

Email: paula_laird@wragge.com

Best brains in ...

Asset based lending and asset finance transactional work, including complex and cross border work.

Highlight of your career so far?

Being selected by several clients to do their first transactions of a particular type e.g. funding public-to-private transactions and complex cross-border transactions.

Most challenging job you've ever done?

Advising a funder on a syndicated cross-border asset backed lending transaction involving two simultaneous MBOs in different European jurisdictions. The transaction involved difficult financial assistance, cross-collateralisation, security and labour law issues in four different jurisdictions. This required us to advise on the best solutions available to structure the transaction and overcome some tough issues. The timetable was also extremely protracted due to the complexity of the transaction.

What about outside the UK?

We regularly advise on complex asset based lending transactions including pan-European transactions and UK, US and European transactions.

What's your definition of going the extra mile ……. And when have you done it?

The Whitehead Mann transaction for GE Commercial Finance had to be completed within a very tight timescale. We had two weeks between receiving instructions and the announcement of the offer to agree all documentation and to advise our client on its first transaction of this type. It was completed and announced to the stock exchange by 8am, following several nights of working all through the night.

Best example of a creative legal solution?

We have wide-ranging experience across a wide range of transactional asset finance work. This enables us to utilise techniques from a variety of structured asset finance transactions to ensure our client achieves optimum security. For example, using a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the assignment of receivables in a cross-border asset based lending transaction and advising on how to achieve the best security by title financing rather than more traditional lending techniques.

How do you get under the skin of a client's business?

We try to be as closely aligned as possible with our client's business. We have a genuine understanding both of the businesses we advise and the markets in which we are advising on. We ensure we keep close to developments within the industry. This enables us to deliver legal advice in a commercial context.

What's your single greatest contribution to Wragge & Co's corporate responsibility?

Advising on the leasing of a helicopter to deliver much needed supplies following the Tsunami in Asia.

What's been written or said about you that you're most proud of?

'The service was of magic circle quality with a refreshing personal touch' - Adam Scarrott formerly General Counsel GE Commercial Finance.