CMS Cameron McKenna and SJ Berwin have taken lead roles on healthcare provider Nuffield Health's £250m debt refinancing.

Camerons advised Nuffield, led by City-based finance partners Andrew Ivison and Ian McGarr.

SJ Berwin took the lead role for the financing banks, fielding a team led by London finance partner Stuart Brinkworth alongside real estate partner Edward Page.

Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays and Allied Irish Bank provided the financing, with SJ Berwin winning the mandate as a result of a previous role advising RBS and Barclays on the debt financing of Nuffield's 2007 acquisition of Cannons Health & Fitness.

Camerons is a regular adviser to Nuffield with the relationship led by City corporate partner David Day. In 2007, Day advised Nuffield on the Cannons acquisition as well as the £140m sale of several Nuffield hospitals to General Healthcare Group, which effectively financed the Cannons deal.

SJ Berwin's Brinkworth said: "We are very pleased to have won the mandate to advise RBS, Barclays and Allied Irish Banks on this high-profile transaction."

"Any deal of this size that completes in what is a very challenging debt market must be viewed as a tremendous success for all concerned and that we were chosen to advise the banks on such a deal speaks volumes about the strength and capability of our lender-side finance practice."

Nuffield is the largest healthcare charity in the UK, owning not-for-profit independent hospitals as well as Nuffield Health Fitness & Wellbeing, which was previously Cannons Health & Fitness.

CMS Cameron McKenna on the Legal Week Wiki

SJ Berwin on the Legal Week Wiki