Paris Smith & Randall LLP has recruited City lawyer James McNeil.James joins Paris Smith & Randall’s leading Company Commercial Department as an Associate from the London office of Addleshaw Goddard LLP.James has broad City experience of banking and finance, acting for many of the leading providers of senior and mezzanine debt finance.He has acted on the financing of a wide variety of assets, from prestige office buildings and portfolios of industrial and retail properties to hotels, cinema complexes and other recreational facilities.James has advised on the majority of financing structures which are commonly used, including acting for agent and arranger banks on syndicated transactions, lenders on bilateral debt, senior, mezzanine and quasi-equity, conduit lenders and loans for ultimate securitisation. Furthermore, he has acted on loans to all types of borrowers, both domestic and overseas, including UK or offshore property companies, investment funds, partnerships, joint ventures and unit trusts. James’ experience extends to business and corporate clients who need to utilise debt finance in order to operate their businesses including developers and managers of retail outlet stores, manufacturers and house builders.He said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me as Paris Smith & Randall intend to be the number one port of call in the South for businesses seeking top quality legal advice in finance and banking matters.”Douglas Cooper, LLP Partner and head of Company Commercial Department, said: “James has hit the ground running and is proving to be a great asset as we raise the bar even further on the quality of service provided in transactional and non-transactional work to our clients.”James trained at the London office of Sinclair Roche & Temperley, had five years as an associate in the real estate finance team at the London office of Dechert LLP and then joined Addleshaw Goddard LLP.He went to Haberdashers Askes' school in North London and is a graduate of Durham University.

Paris Smith & Randall LLP has 180 staff and an annual turnover of more than £10m. It has 24 LLP partners and 72 lawyers.