Claire Hughes

Practice Areas

Biography Claire is our Global Real Estate Sector Head and based in London. Under Claire’s leadership we have succeeded in winning a number of strategic clients, as well as achieving recognition through industry awards including the Legal 500 Real Estate Team of the Year. Claire, both a qualified Chartered Surveyor (RICS) and Solicitor, with over 30 years’ experience working in the London investment and development marketplace, advises on complex and sizeable investment and development projects adopting a practical, no-nonsense and innovative solution-oriented style that clients appreciate. Claire is seen as one of the leading Hotel and Leisure experts, and whilst her practice reflects this in her involvement in managing a number of client relationships, she also supports a wide range of more general real estate clients undertaking investment transacting & asset management and development of mixed use schemes. This places Claire in a strong position to support clients in realising their strategy to invest in the high value, more complex real estate projects. Claire’s interest in the knowledge economy, has led to her hosting a number

of "Thought Leadership" events, which seek to draw on our industry experience in the digital and technology sectors and have positioned us as a market leader for advice on smart buildings and cities, as well as asset backed businesses, such as PRS/PRC, hotels/serviced apartment classes of investment. Claire is an active Member of the RICS, and has served as a Steering Committee Member of UK Hospitality Aparthotel and Serviced Apartment Team, as well as the UK Hospitality's PRS Team, whose role is to support industry (with direct input into Government) and consider the challenges and strategic action plans facing those investing in these relatively new and misunderstood asset class entrants. Claire supported LandAid as an Officer of the Finance & Audit Committee, the Property Industry's recognised Charity directing support and resources to the young homeless.

Career

2007 to present – Pinsent Masons LLP, Partner, Global Sector Head, Real Estate; 2000 to 2007 – Addleshaw Goddard LLP, Managing Associate; 1996 to 2000 – S J Berwin LLP (latterly known as King & Wood Mallesons), Associate; 1994 to 1996– Davies Arnold Cooper (now known as DAC Beachcroft), Solicitor; 1988 to 1992– King Sturge/JLL, Surveyor

Professional Memberships

Law Society of England and Wales Associate of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Steering Committee Member of UK Hospitality Aparthotel and Serviced Apartment Team

Industry Sector Expertise

Property Corporate Occupier Corporate Real Estate Hotels Investment funds Investment UK Property.

Experience

Pinsent Masons LLP experience: Advised/acted for: Melia Hotels on their acquisition of leases for Innside Melia brand at Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle. Negotiated suites of development documents for construction of around 800 rooms, with contractual variations reflecting strategic advice arising due to Covid period. Further advised Melia White House, with a legal lease restructuring. Archer Hotel Capital, on the development constraints for this iconic listed hotel, in considering extensive refurbishment and renovations. Acted on the disposal of The Dilly hotel to Fattal Group by complex share sale of the two targets, Selkirk House (MH) Limited and Archer Piccadilly Limited, navigating multiple jurisdictions for this cross-border disposal. Cycas Hospitality in negotiating agreements for transition of the management of InterGlobe’s portfolio of European Hotels located across eight European cities (Paris, Barcelona, London, Vienna, Prague, Munich, Hamburg, Budapest and Bucharest). We also provided end to end project management support to collate local law input in Austria, France, Hungary, Romania and Czech Republic. A multinational real estate corporation on the disposal of its investments. One of the largest Canadian Pension Plans on strategic asset management work for their central London trophy asset in Southwark which included a number of significant lettings including a retail letting to Amazon for their innovative “Fresh and Go” concept. Real estate investor, Invesco Real Estate on a 382 unit Private Rental Sector asset, known as The Copper House at 21 Strand, Liverpool with specialist advices on the financing of a forward funded development deal that practically completed in April 2021, and subsequently supporting on property and construction matters. Oxford Properties on the corporate share sale of their trophy asset The Royal Exchange at Bank, London. This includes reviewing and advising on the complex lease structuring arrangements, reporting on title matters, and reviewing and advising on occupational tenancy arrangements for the purpose of future proofing. Cheval on a management agreement for a property in Germany which will be branded under the Cheval Maison brand, and on trademark matters and structuring matters in UK and Europe. Assisted with setting up the legal structuring for their IP ownership and operating contracts enabling them to launch as a management contract business. Honey Crisps on investments into the business operating Arcade Food Theatre. Our advice included dealing with both the corporate JV documentation and real estate due diligence to ensure the new concept was able to operate immediately within the newly refurbished Centre Point building which has a complex leasehold structure. Global property investment portfolio on property, planning, construction, tax, regulatory, employment, financial structuring and insurance aspects of the complex redevelopment of a leading branded hotel on

Park Lane, London Mayfair; an existing trophy asset owned by our client and operated by a global brand as a 5* hotel with 453 guest rooms, banqueting facilities and restaurants. Property investment development company in respect of the development of a new £75m, 83-room luxury boutique hotel, in London’s Covent Garden, whilst retaining and enhancing some heritage aspects of the current building. Global investment management firm in purchasing 2 large branded hotels in Reading and creating a JV with developer for the acquisition of five newly built PRS assets in the SE England for circa £120 million (involved extensive property title, planning and construction DD) and putting in place a suite of operational & brand agreements, management agreement and strategic asset management agreement with operator Platform. Fund management firm on their £1billion award winning mixed use project, including a Hilton Hotel and Bridgestreet Serviced Apartments. Multinational hospitality company on the full range of hotel operator requirements including development, lease acquisition and strategic support.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

England and Wales

Languages Spoken

English

Education

Awards