Alan Lumley died tragically on 3 April 2016 (his 31st birthday) while running the Wilmslow half-marathon.

Alan studied law at the University of Manchester and thereafter completed the LPC at BPP in Manchester. He undertook his training contract at DLA Piper in Manchester and qualified as a solicitor in September 2011, into the finance team. He was due to be promoted to senior associate on 1 May 2016.

Alan specialised in leveraged-acquisition finance transactions and had been involved in some of the most high-profile and complex transactions in the region. He acted for North West Bank Club in the financing of the acquisition of the government-owned Tote betting business by Betfred and also acted for Booths supermarket in the £93m refinancing. 

Recently, he had been the lead lawyer on a number of complex deals, involving unitranche funding arrangements and pan-European leveraged finance buy-outs. He had technical skills that were beyond his PQE and had a wide range of experience in many debt finance structures.

He approached his work in a calm, dedicated and diligent manner. He was consistently praised by clients, colleagues and fellow lawyers for his composure, maturity beyond his years and being a genuine gentleman to work with at all times.

In recognition of his talents, Alan had recently been shortlisted for two young lawyer of the year awards. In the last year he had undertaken a mentoring role of trainee solicitors in the finance team. Alan also undertook a six-month secondment to the regional leveraged finance team of an international bank last year. He was a rising star within DLA Piper and had a promising career ahead of him.

Outside of work, Alan was a keen runner and he enjoyed playing golf. Sport (both playing and watching) had always been a large part of his life, in particular rugby and football.

Alan was a remarkable individual and a brilliant solicitor and he will be missed by his colleagues, clients and members of the wider north-west corporate finance community.

Alan is sadly mourned by his parents, Chris and Jenny, sister, Julia, and partner of eight years, Nicky Harris (also a solicitor).

His family have set up a Just Giving page in Alan’s memory. Any donations now received will be given to Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

Matthew Christmas (finance partner at DLA Piper) and Nicola Harris

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