Christopher Agius

Christopher Agius

Senior Partner

Banking & Finance / Real Estate Finance Team

Talk to Our Banking & Finance or Real Estate Finance Team

Christopher Aguis is a Senior Partner in our Banking & Finance Team.

Chris joined Acuity Law as a Partner in September 2021, having previously led teams at Hugh James, Harrison Clarke Rickerbys and Capital Law.

Chris has significant experience as a real estate finance lawyer and has has been extensively involved in representing market-leading banks throughout his career, acting for clearing banks, building societies, as well as many challenger banks.  In addition, the Real Estate Finance Team also act for borrowers when navigating funder due diligence requirements.

The Team acts in all manner of transactions including refinance development investment, SIPP, healthcare, charity, social housing and mezzanine funding.

Chris’s practice also encompasses acting for Funders and Fixed Charge Receivers when loans are in default.  As a result, the Banking and Finance Team can offer a service for the entirety of a loan.

Chris’s practice has been built on the principles of identifying problems, suggesting commercial solutions and backing them with commercial advice. He places excellent service and relationship management at the heart of everything he does and has developed a strong reputation advising banks, funders, and borrowers in all manner of funder transactions. 

Chris’s clients include amongst others, Principality Building Society, Julian Hodge Bank Limited, Pluto Finance and the Development Bank of Wales.

 

Expertise
  • Acting for funders lending to commercial businesses, developers, third sector organisations and the care sector
  • Acting for Clearing Banks and many challenger banks, including Principality Building Society, Development Bank of Wales, Julian Hodge Bank Limited, Pluto Finance and others
  • Particular skill in lending to the third sector, maintaining relationships with funders such as Triodos Bank and WCVA
  • Acting for borrowers navigating funder due diligence
  • Acting in the insolvency sector, with strong relationships with LPA receivers and the wider insolvency community

Work Highlights

Acting for the Welsh Government in the provision of an £18 million loan facility to the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) to assist in the urgent re-financing of the Covid Large Business Interruption Scheme (CLBILS) loans that had been taken out by the four Welsh professional rugby regions: Cardiff Blues, Dragons, Scarlets and Ospreys. Chris led a team of advisers in the negotiation of a bespoke facility and security-taking process.
Providing City of London Law Society Certificates of Title for a purchaser and its funders in a transaction for the disposal of 9 Marinas across England and Wales.
Acting for Principality Building Society in a £26.5 million refinance and redevelopment of a landmark building in Ealing, London.
Acting for a provider of assisted care apartments in the £25m re-finance of two apartment blocks, providing advice on the LMA loan facility and providing the funder with two City of London Law Society Certificates of Title.
Advised Julian Hodge Bank Limited on a multimillion-pound£9 million reorganisation of debt from an existing Borrower Group of companies into a single, tax-efficient vehicle.
Advised a company acquiring the share capital of two property letting companies. The acquisition was being funded by a £4,600,000 loan facility. The Banking & Finance team led on both the funder’s property and banking due diligence.
Advising a private fund on the recovery process, including insolvency advice, in relation to an eight-figure loan in default. This advice culminated in referral to an insolvency practitioner and ongoing advice throughout the appointment of administrators.

Accolades

Chris is listed as Next Generation Partner by the Legal 500 for his work in Banking & Finance

Legal 500

The Real Estate Finance Team is ranked Band 2 by Chambers and Partners

Chambers & Partners

The Real Estate Finance Team is ranked Tier 2 in the Legal 500

Legal 500

Testimonials

Chris Agius is always professional and offers a first class service.

Acuity has a spread of knowledge and experience across their team that always ensures we receive a top-class service.

They understand our business, and the support they provide is superb.