The Clifford Chance LLP real estate finance team is most well regarded for their CMBS and pan-European work. Practice head Barry O’Shea is a key contact for major investment managers seeking assistance with complex, multi-jurisdictional refinancings, among other matters. Recent engagements for the ‘very detail oriented’ Laura Smallcombe include the acquisition of logistics assets across Western Europe for a large US real estate investment firm. Emma Matebalavu is a market leader in CMBS transactions in Europe, routinely working with high-profile banks on large transactions. Claire Fawcett is a key contact for investment banks and other financial institutions for the refinancing of built to rent homes. Will Sutton works with major investment banks on major commercial mortgage loans and CMBS transactions, while Dmytro Orendarets regularly supports Fawcett and Matebalavu on complex acquisitions.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Laura Smallcombe is brilliant. Knowledgeable, very detail oriented, you feel very safe in her hands. She will go above and beyond to deliver your deal for you. ’

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Key clients

  • Ares
  • Bain
  • BentallGreenOak
  • Carlyle
  • Castleforge Partners Limited
  • Fortress Investment Group
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Rothesay Life
  • United Overseas Bank
  • Société Générale
  • Standard Chartered Bank

Work highlights

  • Advised Ares as lead arranger on a pan-European refinancing of the Generator Hostels portfolio, owned ultimately by Queensgate Investments.
  • Advised Bank of America Europe DAC as arranger in relation to a £276 million and €57 million refinancing of a portfolio of 21 Jurys Inn/Hilton hotels indirectly owned by Pandox AB located in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
  • Advised Citi and Standard Chartered Bank on the first commercial mortgage-backed securitisation transaction in Europe since May 2022.

Lawyers

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Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Barry O'Shea

Other key lawyers

Andrew Carnegie, Emma Matebalavu, Laura Smallcombe, Claire Fawcett, Will Sutton, Dmytro Orendarets