Lawrence Stephens appointed to Atom bank solicitor panel

31 July 2024

• Addition of Lawrence Stephens means borrowers benefit from more choice

• Panel expansion comes as Atom bank looks to do more commercial lending to UK SMEs

Atom bank, the UK’s first app-only bank, has appointed Lawrence Stephens to its commercial lending legal panel.

Expanding the commercial lending legal panel means borrowers will enjoy greater levels of choice when choosing a firm to act for Atom bank and potentially themselves. Targeted initiatives such as this are part of a broader programme of work by the digital lender to improve sanction to drawdown times, while increasing capacity as the bank drives further lending activity in the commercial space.

Lawrence Stephens is an ambitious and fast-growing law firm whose proposition is firmly aimed at privately owned/private equity-backed entrepreneurial businesses and disruptors, including challenger banks, alternative lenders and similar institutions.

Its real estate finance and banking teams advise over 50 different lenders and acts for both funders and borrowers, including working with regulated banks, unregulated senior lenders, intermediaries, brokers, developers, as well as regulated and unregulated mezzanine lenders and bridging companies.

John Donnelly, Head of Loan Originations at Atom bank, said:

“We are delighted to have added Lawrence Stephens to our commercial lending legal panel. The firm's expertise will be invaluable to our borrowers and their brokers, ensuring that they receive the smooth and rapid service we aim for.

“Atom bank is growing and originating more commercial loans than ever before. We are committed to delivering the products and services needed by SMEs, so by expanding our panel we are able to ramp up lending while ensuring borrowers benefit from more choice when it comes to the acting lawyers.”

Ajoy Bose-Mallick, Head of Banking at Lawrence Stephens, commented:

“Atom Bank is a significant disruptor in the lending space and we’re delighted to join their commercial lending panel. As well as being very much part of our financial institutions world, we also feel we’re very aligned to their straightforward and open culture. We very much look forward to working together and growing with them.”