Partner Article

Knights appoints banking and finance specialist

GROWING regional professional services business Knights has banked an experienced banking and finance partner, to meet the needs of the firm’s expanding client base.

Mark Duncan who joins Knights’ corporate team this month, has more than 15 years’ experience in banking and finance law, working on both the borrower and lender side on several major acquisitions, project financings and facilities agreements.

In addition to working as a private practice lawyer in London, Mark has also worked as senior in-house counsel and legal director to major FTSE listed companies in the pharmaceuticals, energy and transport sectors - and was the lead internal counsel on two separate multi-billion dollar credit facilities in the last year.

“I want to expand Knights’ current offering to include banking and finance support,” said Mark, who will be based at the Knights’ Cheltenham office.

“Having worked both in-house and in private practice I feel I have an intimate understanding of what is required from the client side on these matters. I have worked on a daily basis with the treasury and finance teams at large companies for the past eight years and have been able to glean a real insight to the issues which are important for businesses today.

“I was attracted to Knights because of the company’s unique proposition - it’s very different to a traditional law firm; it’s dynamic, forward-thinking and has a lot of potential to grow even more without any compromise in the quality offered.”

Knights is the fastest-growing professional services firm with seven offices across the UK and smashed its target to recruit 100 new professionals by the end of 2016 in the first quarter of this year.

Mark Anton-Smith, Knights’ Cheltenham office leader, said: “We’re incredibly pleased to have Mark working from the Cheltenham office supporting clients in London and further afield.

“He is a heavyweight in terms of experience in helping businesses securing finance and structuring deals - having led major acquisitions and divestments, international contract bids and corporate and tax restructurings for companies across the UK.

“Mark is just one of the 125 professionals to join the team nationally this year and our ambitious plans for growth won’t stop there. Our alternative business structure means we can offer other services in addition to legal advice for clients and this holistic approach is proving popular with clients.”

Knights is a UK top-70 law firm with more than 375 professionals and a £40 million turnover. The firm has offices in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Cheltenham, Chester, Hale, Derby, Oxford and Colchester.

For more information visit www.knights1759.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Knights Professional Services .