Our International Real Estate Group provides specialist advice and support on a wide range of real estate transactions to major domestic and international businesses, developers, investment funds, banks and public sector bodies.
We are regularly instructed on cross-border transactions, and our involvement is carefully managed to ensure there is continuity of client care as well as local expertise at every stage in the transaction.
Key areas of expertise include:
Real Estate Investment – advising on all aspects of real estate investment including structuring, financing, acquisitions and disposals, lease negotiations and other landlord and tenant matters and portfolio management.
Real Estate Finance – advising borrowers and lenders on domestic and cross-border real estate finance transactions.
Real Estate Funds – advising a variety of funds e.g. opportunity funds, financial institutions on the whole life cycle of a real estate fund from the formation, the corporate and tax structuring, the acquisition of assets, the management of the portfolio, right through to disposal and exit.
Real Estate Tax – comprehensive tax structuring advice.
Real Estate Dispute Resolution – our real estate litigators give comprehensive advice in relation to dispute avoidance and dispute resolution matters.
Real Estate Insolvency – advising banks, insolvency practitioners, borrowers and distressed real estate investors on all aspects of real estate insolvency including administrations, receiverships and voluntary arrangements.
Construction - advising project sponsors, developers, funders, contractors and consultants on a wide range of domestic and international construction projects. Where contentious issues arise we provide dispute resolution advice ranging from mediation through to formal court proceedings, arbitration and adjudication.
Environmental and Planning – environmental liability issues and climate change regulation in relation to real estate acquisitions, development and corporate transactions. We also advise on planning (zoning) issues, planning agreements and environmental impact assessments.
Much of our work has a multi-disciplinary flavour, although everyone involved has a specialist understanding of the real estate sector. Complex structures, such as REITs, limited partnerships, unit trusts and open and closed ended funds involve close cooperation with tax, finance and corporate law specialists; while other transactions require expertise in PFI/PPP, construction, outsourcing, dispute resolution and other legal disciplines.
In fact, team work is one of our strengths: we pride ourselves on our ability to form successful working relationships not only with our clients, but with valuers, surveyors and other professionals appointed by them.
Although clients rely on our technical expertise, we never forget that legal skills are only a means to an end. Our focus is always on getting the deal done, on protecting our clients’ interests and on bringing clarity, calm and perspective to every situation.
Heads of Group: Jonathan Baker & Dirk Barcaba