Simon Graham

Partner

Simon is a transactional banking, restructuring and insolvency lawyer who advises private banks, private lenders and high-net-worth individuals, charities and other borrowers on secured and unsecured loan arrangements. He has particular expertise in real estate finance, private placements and loans secured against art, investment portfolios, receivables and intellectual property.

Simon delivers expert advice to a wide range of clients, including private and international banks, individuals, landed estates, privately owned businesses, schools, charities, Oxbridge colleges and livery companies. He has extensive experience advising trustees, both corporate and individual, as well as lenders to trustees. He has established long-term relationships with clients across these sectors and loves problem solving – finding innovative solutions to various financing challenges.

Simon is recognised as an expert in real estate finance (both investment and development) and private placements, and advises clients on all types of debt financing arrangements, including art finance.

Simon is a member of Farrer & Co’s Banking team, delivering expert advice to both borrowers and lenders. An acknowledged expert in real estate finance and the private placement of bond issues, Simon advises clients on all types of debt financing arrangements.

Simon regularly works with offshore structures, trusts and companies, as well as on matters involving overseas jurisdictions. He is experienced in handling cross-border issues and complex corporate and trust structures, and is valued by clients for his ability to bring together specialist banking expertise, regulatory knowledge and wider firm resources to deliver solutions that meet each client's needs.

Simon often advises lenders and borrowers in relation to construction and development financing – for example, a school or charity enhancing its property portfolio, or a family office redeveloping an investment property.

Financial Services

Simon regularly advises private and international banks on lending issues, both onshore and offshore. He is experienced in dealing with a wide range of assets offered as security, including real estate, limited partnerships, investment portfolios and art. He also advises creditors with borrower defaults, taking enforcement action and making recoveries.

Private Businesses

Simon advises privately held companies on their commercial banking arrangements as well as shareholder debt, subordination arrangements and loan notes. He works closely with shareholders, directors and other stakeholders to ensure that the terms of the finance document don’t stop the business from fulfilling its plans, growing, and ultimately repaying its debts.

Individuals & Families

Simon has extensive experience advising high-net-worth individuals and understands the complex and sensitive nature of their funding requirements. He takes care to understand the wider context surrounding each transaction and draws on specialist advisers from the firm’s diverse practices when needed.

Education

Simon’s clients include many of the UK’s leading schools and universities, including Oxbridge colleges. He supports trustees and governing bodies of these and other charitable institutions in evaluating their funding options (including through private placements) and guides them through the process of leveraging assets or income streams to finance development initiatives or enhance endowments.