Shane McDonald

Partner, London

Biography

‘Shane McDonald is highly knowledgeable but very accessible at the same time. Everything you want in a lawyer!’
(Legal 500 UK, 2025)

Overview

Shane McDonald is a partner in the Firm's Global Debt Finance Practice in London. With over fifteen years of experience, Shane regularly advises leading financial institutions and direct lenders on a range of domestic and cross-border public and private leveraged acquisitions and infra-structure transactions, including acting on combined loan and high-yield bond financings. Shane's practice covers the full spectrum of loan products, from syndicated cov-lite incurrence-based TLB facilities through to unitranche and maintenance based covenant facilities, including super senior, senior secured and PIK debt instruments. Shane also has extensive experience on real estate and NPL financings. 

Bars and Courts
England and Wales, Solicitor
Education
LLB
Monash University
BA
Monash University
Languages
English

Experience

Acquisition Finance: Syndicated Bank Lending/High Yield Bonds

  • The mandated lead arrangers in connection with the financing of Triton Partners' acquisition of V&N Group, a leading multi-utility service provider.
  • The initial purchasers and lenders in connection with the financing for the combination of Assemblin and Caverion, both portfolio companies of Triton Partners, to create a leading Northern European technical service and installation group.
  • The mandated lead arrangers in connection with a financing for PHM Group Holding Oyj, a property maintenance and management services group with presence in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. PHM Group is majority-owned by Nordic private equity investor Norvestor.
  • The mandated lead arrangers in connection with the refinancing of OMERS Private Equity's acquisition of Alexander Manns Solutions, one of the world’s leading providers of talent acquisition and management services.
  • The initial purchasers and lenders in connection with the refinancing of Burger King France S.A.S., a portfolio company of Bridgepoint Capital.
  • The initial purchasers and lenders in connection with the refinancing of Assemblin Group, a portfolio company of Triton Partners, a leading Scandinavian technical service and installation group.
  • The initial purchasers and lenders in connection with the refinancing of Rubis Terminal, a business that is part-owned by I Squared Capital.
  • The mandated lead arrangers and initial purchasers in connection with various financings and refinancings by ION Analytics. ION Analytics is composed of two prominent names in capital markets data, content and intelligence: Dealogic and Acuris, providing proprietary analytics and insights, through integrated data and workflow software for financial markets participants.
  • The mandated lead arrangers and initial purchasers in connection with various financings and refinancings by ION Markets. ION Markets provides software, data and analytics for the trading operations of financial market participants.
  • The financing aspects of Lone Star Funds' acquisition of Imerys Roofing, one of the leading roofing suppliers in the French construction market.
  • The financing aspects of Lone Star Funds' acquisition of Stark Group, the largest Nordic distributor of building materials, and its subsequent bolt-on acquisition of Saint-Gobain Building Distribution Deutschland.
  • The financing aspects of Lone Star Funds' acquisition of the Xella Group, a Germany-based market leader in building solutions, and its subsequent bolt-on acquisition of Ursa Insulation, a leading European insulation provider.
  • The financing aspects of Lone Star Funds' acquisition of Esmalglass- Itaca Grupo, a leading producer of intermediate tile products sold directly to ceramic tile manufacturers, and its subsequent bolt-on acquisition of Ferro Tile Coatings to form the Altadia Group.
  • The financing aspects of Lone Star Funds' acquisition of MRH Group, the UK’s largest independent operator of service stations.
  • The financing aspects of Lone Star Funds' acquisition of N&W Global Vending (renamed Evoca), a European-focused vending machine business.

Acquisition Finance: Unitranche/Direct Lending

  • Financing Sources in connection with the refinancing of Nordic Capital's portfolio company, The Binding Site, a global leader in specialist diagnostics.
  • Financing Sources in connection with the financing of Nordic Capital's acquisition of Sortera AB (publ), a waste management company incorporated in Sweden.
  • Financing Sources in connection with the financing of Sanos, an Investcorp portfolio company, and a leading provider of specialized clinical trial services to the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.
  • Financing Sources in connection with financing the acquisition by Investcorp of Stowe Family Law, a leading technology-enabled UK family law firm.
  • Financing Sources in connection with the financing of Zacco Group, an Investcorp portfolio company, and a leading global provider of brand protection solutions.
  • Financing Sources in connection with financing the acquisition by A&M Capital Europe of Carton Pack, a leading international provider of packaging solutions.
  • Financing Sources in connection with financing the acquisition by A&M Capital Europe of Stok, a leading value-added packaging distribution company in Denmark with a growing international presence.
  • Financing Sources in connection with financing the acquisition by Sun Capital Partners of Sports & Leisure Group, a leading manufacturer of artificial grass systems.

Corporate Finance

  • The mandated lead arrangers in connection with a refinancing for Motus Capital Proprietary Limited, South Africa's largest automotive retailer.
  • The initial purchasers and lenders in connection with a refinancing for TGS ASA, a global leader in energy data and intelligence, offering advanced technology solutions across the energy value chain.
  • The financing aspects of Vale's joint venture with Anglo America in Brazil.
  • The sole lead arranger and lender, in connection with a Senior-Debtor-in-Possession (DIP) credit facility provided to certain subsidiaries of Hornblower Holdings LP in connection with their commencement of Chapter 11 proceedings in the US Bankruptcy Court.
  • The mandated lead arrangers in connection with a financing to Ball Corp., a leading provider of innovative, sustainable aluminum packaging for beverage, personal care and household products.
  • The lead arranger in connection with a financing made available to certain affiliates of Indivior plc, a pharmaceuticals company specializing in the treatment of opioid addiction.
  • The mandated lead arranger and lenders in connection with a financing made available to the Expro Group, a full-cycle energy services expert.