Harper Macleod scales up banking & finance team to meet high-value demand

05 Nov 2025

Due to an increasing demand for legal advice on high-value and cross-border funding transactions, law firm Harper Macleod has significantly grown the size of its banking and finance team, including a new partner. 

New partner Liana Di Ciacca joins with more than 15 years’ experience on a wide range of complex and high-value debt finance transactions. Edinburgh-based Liana strengthens Harper Macleod’s banking and finance offering in the east of Scotland. Liana advises both funders and borrowers on high profile Scots law matters as well as cross-border and international transactions. 

In addition, the team welcomes two newly qualified solicitors who have recently completed their two-year fixed traineeships. A further two new solicitors join from international law firms, as well as four new fixed seat trainees as part of this year’s graduate intake, join the growing team. 

This growth takes the size of the team to 17, advising clients in Scotland, the UK and beyond, on Scots law aspects of acquisition finance, asset-based lending, real estate finance, development finance, ship finance, project finance, securitisation, receivables, restructuring and insolvency. 

In the last year, Harper Macleod’s banking and finance team completed transactions with an accumulative value of £5.5bn. It is one of the largest and most active teams of its kind in Scotland, with recent transactions including: 

• advising Fred. Olsen Renewables as part of the development of phase four of the Crystal Rig windfarm in Dumfries and Galloway, one of the largest windfarms in Europe;
• acting for Scottish National Investment Bank on its funding of the construction of Shetland’s first residential properties for mid-market rent to address the lack of affordable housing on the island; and
• advising a major international insurance company in relation to the provision of £700m bonding facilities in the energy sector and associated security and intercreditor documentation. 

The team is regularly instructed by mainstream clearing banks, blue-chip lenders, investors, funds, borrowers, challenger banks and alternative lenders. 

The team is led by partner Tony Cameron. Tony said: “Scotland’s increasing attractiveness as a place to do business is shown by the consistently high levels of foreign direct investment compared to the rest of the UK. This means transaction levels are strong. Increasingly, this means more high-complex and cross-jurisdictional activity. Both Harper Macleod’s, and our banking and finance team’s standing in the market, means we are well-placed to continue to support these types of transactions. 

“Liana’s arrival adds another dimension to the team due to her significant experience in international transactions where there is a Scots law element. Similarly, we’re very proud to be able to provide career development opportunities for our newly qualified solicitors and new trainees.”