Linklaters LLP fields a team praised for its ‘excellent knowledge of the sector that they operate in.’ Banking partner Philip Gore is the lead partner on high-profile REF transactions, development financing and mezzanine-level portfolio transactions, and co-heads the department alongside ’unparalleled professional’ Scott Simpson, a top specialist in senior/mezzanine, distressed and special situations, and Jessica Jenner, who joined the group from Ashurst in September 2022. Newly appointed partner James Godfrey is involved in all facets of investment and development lending.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Excellent team led by Scott Simpson. They have done a multitude of large, complicated deals for us in the last year. Scott is technically very strong and very commercial minded. He and his team get things done in the UK and across the continent. The team is expanding and emerging as one of the best in the market.’

  • ‘The Linklaters real estate finance team have excellent knowledge of the sector that they operate in. Particularly worth noting is their expertise in senior/mezzanine financing transactions, where they have impressive knowledge of market norms. They are highly responsive and offer quality client service.’

  • ‘Phil Gore is an excellent real estate finance lawyer. He offers clear and pragmatic advice, paired with strong technical knowledge. He is responsive, commercial and a pleasure to deal with.’

  • ‘Knowledgeable, pragmatic and able to stand their ground just based on reputation.’

  • ‘Linklaters has tremendous depth of experience in the EU market. That experience informs practical approaches to solving problems, which clients appreciate. They are a team that gets things done, hits deadlines and does not complain. They are all about client service.’

  • ‘Scott Simpson is an unparalleled professional. He’s a trusted advisor who knows how to manage difficult situations and counterparties. He never loses his cool and pushes to the finish line. Scott does the hard work and makes it look easy. He is generous with his resources, being willing to invest in his client’s long term success.’

  • ‘Phil Gore - extremely responsive and hands-on, always available to discuss transactions and provide advice.’

  • ‘The team recently added Jess Jenner to the ranks, who brings a wealth of experience from her long career at Ashurst. Jess Jenner is incredibly committed to ensuring that clients are well serviced.’

Key clients

  • Apollo Global Management
  • M&G Investments
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Bank of America
  • King Street Capital Management
  • Royal Bank of Canada
  • Citigroup
  • LaSalle Investment Management
  • Wells Fargo
  • Allianz
  • OakNorth Bank
  • Sculptor Capital Management
  • Cale Street Partners
  • Nuveen
  • AustralianSuper
  • Macquarie
  • Prologis
  • Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies

Work highlights

  • Acted for funds advised by Cale Street Partners LLP as lenders in respect of the financing for the acquisition of the property known as the Fenwick Department Store on Bond Street, London.
  • Advised Apollo (as senior lenders) and Carlyle, Crosstree and Precis (as mezzanine lenders) on a £770 million-plus financing package that will provide the expected funding necessary for full completion of One Nine Elms development.
  • Acted for the borrowers on completion of a £1bn facility to refinance and consolidate a number of existing facilities secured against certain investment assets at the King’s Cross Estate.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Linklaters LLP
James is a banking lawyer with experience in advising on a wide range of finance transactions, including real estate finance, syndicated corporate financings and leveraged acquisition finance. He has built strong relationships with several leading funds and banks in helping them to develop their real estate finance businesses, particularly with respect to highly structured, cross-border deals. James was seconded to a global investment and securities bank for nine months in 2018 and 2019, where he worked in the loan negotiation group.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Linklaters LLP
Scott acts for and advises banks, asset managers, alternative investment managers and hedge funds on a broad range of situations and practice areas including acquisition/leveraged finance, real estate finance, special situations financings and cross-border restructurings.
Linklaters LLP
Jess is a partner in the Corporate and Structured Lending Group based in London, specialising in real estate finance.  She represents global real estate investors and developers, private equity real estate, CRE clearers and real estate debt funds. Jess has experience of contingency planning, debt restructurings and distressed debt activity and was seconded to The Royal Bank of Scotland’s Global Restructuring Group in 2009 to work on their distressed CRE loan book and followed on to a further secondment in 2011 to Blackstone’s BREDA advising the team on the work-out of the Isobel loan portfolio. Jess is recognised as a Leading Individual by Legal 500.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Linklaters LLP
Phil specialises in real estate finance, with a particular focus on development and highly-levered, structured transactions. Phil advises lenders (including banks and funds) and borrowers on all types of UK and cross-border real estate finance transactions, and has acted on highly complex, structured portfolio financings and restructurings. Phil spent a year on secondment at M&G Investments in 2016 sitting with the Real Estate Finance team.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Scott Simpson, Jessica Jenner, Philip Gore

Other key lawyers

James Godfrey