Paula Laird
United Kingdom
Squire Patton Boggs
60 London Wall
London, England
EC2M 5TQ
Tel: +44 207 655 1255
Email:
paula.laird@squirepb.com
Web:
www.squirepattonboggs.com
Paula has expertise in the most complex structured ABL and asset finance transactions, both domestic and cross border. She typically acts for major financial institutions and corporates on asset finance transactions including operating leasing, receivables finance, ABL, sale of leasing/asset finance portfolios and securitisation.
Paula regularly participates as a speaker in industry forums in Europe and the US, and was named as one of the 50 most senior women globally in Commercial Finance by US publication The Secured Lender.
Paula is consistently recognized by leading independent ranking guides. In the most recent Chambers UK Guide 2025, she is ranked in the Banking & Finance: Mid‑Market category. Additionally, the Legal 500 UK guide previously recommended her for her strength in Asset‑Based Lending and Securitisation.
Representative Experience
- Advising a major US bank on a wide range of issues, both domestic and cross border.
- Advising a major UK bank on a US$150 million term and revolving facilities to fund an acquisition ranked in the Top 3 by Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 league table in 2017.
- Advising on the complex cross-border financing of a multinational office company retailer across 12 jurisdictions in Europe and the UK. The transaction was based on an innovative structure transferring all receivables of the operating company to a centralised cash management company based in Belgium using securitisation techniques to enhance the working capital available to the wider group.
- Advising a US lender on the £150 million ABL cross-border financing (US, UK and Australia) of a major wine distributor and supplier.
- Advising a major banking group on the £300 million refinancing of a car hire operator.
- Advising several lenders on asset-based finance facilities for both working capital and acquisition finance including public-to-private transactions.
- Advising a commercial lender on a £300 million facility to an international conglomerate.
- Advising on a £150 million leasing facility to finance plants in a number of European jurisdictions.
Squire Patton Boggs’ global Financial Services Practice delivers high-quality legal, regulatory, and public policy services to a diverse array of participants in the financial services sector. These include financial institutions, capital sources, and other financial intermediaries, as well as their investors, suppliers, and customers. The team also advises end-users of financial services, such as corporate borrowers, along with regulatory authorities. A more detailed overview of the firm’s client base is available under Representative Clients.
The practice is composed of professionals with significant industry insight, including several former regulators and former executives and in-house legal counsel from financial institutions and financial intermediaries. Each team member is trained to understand client needs, offer practical, solution-driven advice, and consistently deliver value. Squire Patton Boggs is regularly recognized with industry awards and accolades for its outstanding client service and legal representation.
Clients benefit from fully integrated, seamless support from professionals in related practice groups who bring extensive experience advising financial services companies across a wide range of legal disciplines.
Squire Patton Boggs is a global law firm with a strong reputation for providing comprehensive legal counsel across a broad spectrum of industries and jurisdictions. Formed through the merger of Squire Sanders and Patton Boggs, the firm combines decades of legal tradition with a forward-looking approach to client service. With more than 40 offices in 20 countries, Squire Patton Boggs offers clients seamless legal solutions that span borders and legal systems, making it one of the most geographically diverse firms in the world.
Squire Patton Boggs advises clients on matters involving corporate transactions, litigation, labor and employment, intellectual property, and international trade. Its lawyers bring both legal acumen and practical industry knowledge to complex challenges, supporting clients ranging from multinational corporations to emerging businesses and public sector entities.
Squire Patton Boggs is also deeply committed to innovation, diversity, and corporate social responsibility. The firm promotes inclusive leadership and sustainable practices while maintaining a sharp focus on client outcomes. With a collaborative culture and a deep bench of legal talent across global markets, Squire Patton Boggs continues to be a trusted advisor for clients navigating the complexities of modern business and governance.
“Paula Laird stands out for her work on asset-based lending transactions.” “She is very efficient and provides solutions that work both commercially as well as legally.”