Real Estate Finance | UK

On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman. The firm continues to stand out as one of the top real estate finance teams in the country. The firm demonstrates impressive capabilities acting for both lenders and sponsors on complex matters, including investments and restructurings. The team acts for an impressive array of clients ranging from major banks and debt funds to insurance companies. It handles a broad caseload of property financings, domestically and internationally.

Clifford Chance LLP has a multifaceted and market-leading real estate finance team. The team regularly works with leading banks and financial institutions on a variety of matters including mezzanine finance, development finance and CMBS. The firm is adept at handling cross-border and multi-jurisdictional matters. It is particularly proficient in the financing of major hospitality assets.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner has a high-calibre team of finance lawyers regularly working with domestic and international clients. The firm offers a deep bench of experts and the capacity to work with both sponsors and high-profile lenders. It is also experienced in borrower-side representation, and particularly in high-profile acquisition financings. The firm augments its capabilities by drawing on strengths in planning, construction and real estate to provide a full service to clients.

Herbert Smith Freehills has an esteemed property finance team with an impressive number of prominent lender clients and additional capability in borrower-side work. The team acts for an enviable client base which includes major banks, investment funds and insurance companies. The firm regularly handles mezzanine and senior debt facilities and development finance transactions.

Linklaters has a well-resourced practice with an emphasis on complex cross-border finance transactions. The firm enjoys longstanding relationships with major lenders and borrowers. It often handles acquisition and development finance, as well as restructuring, senior debt and mezzanine transactions. Linklaters offers clients a comprehensive service, with complementary strengths in banking and tax.

Addleshaw Goddard acts for an impressive roster of clients that includes many of the leading clearing banks as well as German and Islamic banks. The firm's client base also includes alternative lenders, funds and insurers, and increasingly acts for borrowers. The team is active across a wide range of complex real estate matters, including development and acquisition financing. It exhibits strong hotel finance capabilities.

Ashurst possesses a highly specialised team of property finance experts who work closely with major investors. The firm draws expertise from its sizeable banking group to offer a one-stop shop for clients. It offers broad knowledge of all levels of debt financing, as well as hybrid and derivatives financing and real estate capital markets deals. The firm's capabilities include cross-jurisdictional real estate matters.

DLA Piper is a well-reputed property finance team that works closely with a range of top lenders. The firm also regularly provides counsel to international borrowers looking to do business in the UK. The team advises on the full spectrum of real estate finance, including intercreditor arrangements. It provides counsel across a wide array of asset classes, including hotels, student accommodation properties and sports venues. The team is supported by a diverse suite of departments including finance, corporate and tax.

Hogan Lovells provides a comprehensive property finance service to both domestic and international clients, drawing on its strengths in complementary areas such as investment funds and tax. The firm acts for a variety of major banks and other large lenders in addition to borrowers. It is experienced in handling the financing for a range of real estate projects, including residential, commercial and hotel developments.

Jones Day acts for a long list of leading investor and borrower clients. It is adept at handling a wide range of property finance matters, including investment loans, portfolio transactions and development financings. The firm is adept at office, student accommodation and logistics financing. It regularly handles financing work across multiple European jurisdictions, in addition to fielding a strong domestic practice.

Taylor Wessing offers commercial financing advice to a range of borrowers, sponsors and lenders. The firm is noteworthy for the depth of the team and its work on national and international matters. The team offers expertise in Islamic finance and mezzanine finance structures. Its clients are well served by the firm's complementary strengths in construction, planning and tax.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher acts on the full range of property finance matters, frequently representing investors and funds based in the USA, the Middle East and Europe. The firm's particular areas of expertise include debt products, loan-on-loan transactions, restructurings and acquisition finance. It is well regarded for its work with borrowers and sponsors. The team advises on the financing of properties across a range of asset classes including residential and commercial properties.

Kirkland & Ellis has a strong practice experienced in acting on high-value transactions across a range of asset classes spanning data centres, hospitality and retail. It fields a team with expertise in all aspects of real estate finance such as mezzanine financing, acquisitions and debt facilities. The firm has an impressive roster of private equity clients. It is well positioned to advise on cross-border matters.

Mayer Brown has a well-reputed team noted for its strength in CMBS and portfolio financing. The firm regularly handles complex multi-jurisdictional transactions on behalf of international investors. The team is adept at both lender and borrower representation, with a notable emphasis on acting for banks and financial institutions.

Norton Rose Fulbright continues to draw on its deep bench to provide a complete financing service. The firm has a strong track record of providing financing advice on major real estate acquisitions and development projects. The team offers expertise in the structuring of property finance via operating corporates, among other matters. Its client base includes well-known banks, fund managers and property developers.

Stephenson Harwood is a comprehensive practice concentrating on portfolio finance matters and a range of other high-value transactions. The team acts for major banks and other financial institutions and also has a strong borrower-side client base. The firm has impressive international capabilities, with notable experience advising Asian companies on UK property financings and acquisitions.

Dentons has a versatile team that prides itself on its ability to handle major European financings. The firm undertakes numerous bilateral and syndicated lending projects on behalf of banks, corporate borrowers and financial institutions. The team advises on the financing aspects of a range of real estate transactions, from high-profile trophy assets to retail and hospitality portfolios. It draws on strengths in environmental and construction law, among other areas, to provide a full service to clients.

Macfarlanes offers extensive experience in handling high-value transactions and managing multilayered property finance deals. The firm is instructed by a number of prominent lenders and borrowers across a range of industries. Its industry sector expertise covers student accommodation and hotels. The team's expertise in real estate finance is bolstered by complementary strengths in tax and corporate matters.

Osborne Clarke represents a wide variety of borrowers as well as major UK banks. The team advises on development financings and syndicated debt deals, among other matters. The firm is active on complex multi-jurisdictional transactions.

Paul Hastings LLP has a sophisticated finance group with deep-rooted expertise in CMBS and complex structured financings. The team regularly handles joint venture financings and securitisations, among a range of other property finance transactions. Its clients include pension funds, financial institutions and developers. The firm is capable of handling transactions with an international component.

Pinsent Masons maintains close relationships with a number of prominent UK clearing banks. Advises on numerous company financings and loan portfolio purchases. Experienced in financing transactions pertaining to various property developments and acquisitions, including hotels, student accommodation and residential properties. Its client base also includes borrowers.

White & Case has wide-ranging expertise in real estate finance including debt investment, loan-on-loan financing and mezzanine financing matters. The team is skilled at acting for clients in a number of sectors including student accommodation, hospitality and retail, with notable expertise in data centre financings. The firm regularly advises clients that include investors and financial institutions on cross-border matters.

Baker McKenzie is highlighted for its expertise spanning a broad range of domestic and cross-border real estate financing transactions. It is frequently sought after by banks and private equity firms, among other financial institutions. The team has wide-ranging sector experience, including handling mandates in the retail, hotel and logistics sectors.

Fieldfisher advises both lenders and borrowers on complex real estate transactions. It counts major banks and property developers among its client base. The team is active on financing transactions involving care home and hotel properties. The firm is able to provide a full service to clients, with notable additional strengths in corporate and tax matters.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer houses an accomplished team that frequently takes on high-profile cross-border and domestic deals involving a variety of asset classes. The team advises a diverse client base of lenders and borrowers, including investment firms, leading banks and real estate companies. The firm's areas of expertise include new lending, restructuring, mezzanine loans and development finance. It is also known for its substantial real estate debt investment practice.

Gowling WLG (UK) specialises in acting for major banks, including UK clearing banks. The firm is also notable for its extensive experience acting on behalf of borrower-side clients, particularly with regard to refinancings and development financing. The team regularly handles mezzanine debt matters and development transactions, among other complex finance issues. It is an established name in the market with regard to debt funds and work with alternative lenders. The team is experienced in handling matters in the residential and retail sectors, among others.

Mishcon de Reya works with a range of equity funds, investors and major banks, among other clients. The team is also adept at borrower-side representation. The firm is equipped to handle a multitude of high-value real estate finance transactions, with a particular emphasis on acquisition and development financing.

Reed Smith LLP offers broad property finance expertise, including the management of loan portfolios and CMBS transactions. The team advises on all manner of real estate financings, from secured loans to sale-and-leaseback structures. The firm is noted for its representation of borrowers, and increasingly active on behalf of lenders. It has notable international capabilities, with extensive experience handling pan-European transactions.