Emma Folds is a partner in the Debt Finance practice and specialises in complex domestic and cross-border financing transactions. She advises banks and other financial institutions, and borrowers, on investment grade lending, acquisition and event-driven financings and restructurings.
Recognised as a Band 1 lawyer for Corporate Finance: Big Ticket by Chambers and a Leading Partner in both Acquisition Finance and Bank Lending by Legal 500, Emma is a trusted adviser to lenders on some of the market's most significant corporate financing transactions.
Investment Grade / Corporate Lending
- advising the lenders to HBX Group on its €1.6 billion post-IPO facilities.
- advising Baltic Classifieds Group plc on its debut investment grade financing post IPO
- advising the lenders in relation to dual tranche revolving credit facilities of c.€13 billion (in aggregate) for Nestlé, the world's largest food and beverage company
- advising the lenders in relation to the €1.95 billion revolving credit facilities for Coca Cola Europacific Partners plc
- advising the lenders on a £2.1 billion revolving credit facility for British Telecommunications plc
- advising the banks on the US$2.5 billion refinancing for the WPP Group
Acquisition Finance
- advising the Arranger in respect of the financing for the £4 billion public offer by ABB Group for Rotork plc
- advising the lenders on the US$5.75 billion bridge facility and a US$2.5 billion term facility in connection with the US$8.5 billion acquisition by the Irish building materials group CRH of US based Arcosa
- advising the lenders on the £750 million bridge-to-capital-markets financing supporting ageas SA/NV's acquisition of Esure Group plc
- advising the lender on the US$600 million acquisition bridge financing for Tate & Lyle's acquisition of CP Kelco
- advising the lenders on the €250m bridge facility for the acquisition by YouGov plc of the Consumer Panel Services business of GfK SE
Restructuring
- advising the lenders to Synthomer plc on the refinancing of more than €800 million of revolving and term facilities, which included the first drop-down transaction structure by a UK-listed company
- advising the steering committee of revolving credit lenders in relation to the €4.5 billion recapitalisation of credit services provider Intrum AB, implemented by way of a pre-packaged Chapter 11 and a Swedish reorganisation, involving 17 jurisdictions. Impact Deal of the Year– Restructuring at the IFLR Europe Awards 2026
- advising the term lenders in relation to the restructuring of 7 Steel UK (formerly Celsa UK)
- advising Matalan plc in relation to its Covid-19 related CLBILS facility and related negotiations with first and second lien noteholders
- advising the bilateral lender in relation to enforcement against a high net worth individual
News and client work
Contact details
- Clifford Chance, London
- +442070062231
- Email me
Career & qualifications
- Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford (MA - Modern History) 1994
- Admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales 1998
- Trainee Solicitor and Qualified Solicitor at Wilde Sapte, subsequently Denton Wilde Sapte - 1996 to 2000
- Joined Clifford Chance 2000
- Partner since 2006
Awards and citations
- Band 1, Corporate Finance: Big Ticket
Chambers UK 2026 - Leading Partner, Acquisition Finance
Leading Partner, Bank Lending: Investment Grade Debt and Syndicated Loans
Legal 500 UK 2026 - “An excellent lawyer who is very skilled technically. She’s the real deal - she’s an experienced partner with an ability to manage and steer negotiations extremely well.”
"Emma is a shining star who has impressed our entire in-house team with her unparalleled knowledge of the finance space."
Chambers UK 2026 (Corporate Finance: Big-Ticket)
- "Emma is detail-oriented, meticulous and one of the most experienced lawyers in the field."
"Emma is the heart and soul of our relationship, and our first port of call. We can always pick up the phone to her."
"Emma is a super impressive banking lawyer."
Chambers UK 2026 (Corporate Finance: Big-Ticket)
- "Emma Folds is always very thorough and knowledgeable when addressing client queries. You know you're in safe hands when she is handling your transaction."
Legal 500 UK 2026 (Acquisition Finance) - Emma Folds was featured as an industry leading finance expert
Legal Business 2023 - Emma Folds ‘knows the market very well’ and is a popular choice advising on new money loans for investment grade corporates, as well as in a refinancing context.
Legal 500 2023 - Emma is fantastic; thorough, meticulous, and takes the time to explain things well.“
Chambers 2023 - "She is incredibly knowledgeable, technically skilled and a superb negotiator."
Chambers 2023 - "Emma is a pleasure to work with. She is very thorough and knowledgeable."
Chambers 2023 - "Emma Folds is a hugely experienced lawyer with a very deep understanding of the direct lending market, which enables her to give strong commercial advice about the appropriate position to take on key points." "Emma is extremely sharp and in complete command of all of the detail and commercial considerations of complex legal issues.“
Chambers 2022 - The extremely sharp' Emma Folds has a strong reputation among many leading banks, which are appreciative of her 'complete command of all of the detail and commercial considerations' on both sponsor-led leveraged, as well as investment grade-driven acquisition financings.
Legal 500 2021 - Emma Folds is a 'brilliant finance lawyer' whose broad finance practice includes a considerable amount of lender side investment grade syndicated financing work.
Legal 500 2021 - "She's super bright, very thorough and excellent technically."
Chambers 2021 - "Emma is one of the most organised and methodical lawyers I have ever known. She is all over transactions and also all over everything that goes with it. She is great at communicating with you at all stages of a deal and is really good at explaining things in a very simplistic format."
Chambers 2021 - Emma Folds has a respected corporate lending and debt restructuring practice and is praised for her representation of banks and alternative capital providers. Clients say: "She gives you immense confidence and is very straightforward at explaining things to people with varying degrees of knowledge. She has a calming easy manner and is responsive and always available.“
Chambers 2020