Overview
Mayer Brown's Real Estate Finance practice offers leading financial institutions practical experience, technical skills, commercial knowledge and an understanding of the challenges and rewards in the current market. Our real estate finance practice has a well-established presence in the market. We have a long track record of having acted for both lenders and borrowers whether on bilateral or syndicated facilities on domestic and complex, multijurisdictional transactions. We maintain close relationships with, and act for, many of the lenders who are active in our domestic and cross-border markets. Our experience means we are familiar with the most innovative and structured of transactions, which often involve the use of offshore entities and tax structuring in jurisdictions including Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Luxembourg, the Cayman Islands and the BVI.
Experience
- Allied Irish Banks and Banco Santander. We advised Allied Irish Banks and Banco Santander on the £800 million senior debt financing of the acquisition of the Citigroup Tower (25 Canada Square).
- Alpha Marco-Trend Fund. We acted in the secured financing of HK$725 million for the acquisition by the Alpha Marco Trend Fund of the Shama Serviced Apartments in Hong Kong.
- Arminius Funds Management S.à r.l. We regularly advise Arminius Funds Management S.à r.l. in the financing and refinancing of its German real estate portfolio with major national and international banks. Arminius manages closed-end real estate funds focused on investments exclusively in Germany. Recent work includes advising two investment vehicles run by Arminius, as existing junior lenders, on their acquisition from Eurocastle Investment Limited, as part of a loan restructuring, of the controlling-majority stake in various SPVs. These hold 28 primarily commercial properties with a market value of approximately EUR 1 billion.
- Bank of China. We advised a syndicate of banks including Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, BNP Paribas Hong Kong Branch, Hang Seng Bank Limited and HSBC on HK$9 billion term loan facilities to Fast New Limited, a 50/50 joint venture vehicle held by New World Development Company Limited and Wheelock Properties Limited to finance the payment of land premium and construction costs of the residential development on top of Austin Road Station in Hong Kong. Fast New Limited is in joint venture with MTR Corporation Limited to put up the development. This real estate financing transaction is probably the largest in terms of loan size of recent MTR Corporation related development projects. From a development point of view, the complexity of the project involves two separate pieces of land; meaning there are two separate land grants and different handover and development dates.
Recognition
Chambers USA 2023
“Mayer Brown advises a wide array of clients…on a broad range of transactions…(including) a wide variety of complex financing transactions. The team is also experienced in handling complex restructurings and workouts.”
"Because of the depth of experience and knowledge, I can feel certain that the attorneys have a good sense of what is commercially reasonable or not for the market. This expertise and knowledge give me an edge when negotiating commercial terms.”
"I'm very satisfied and confident in Mayer Brown's guidance on complex matters."
Chambers Asia Pacific 2023
"Mayer Brown LLP houses a highly respected real estate team that works on development, financing and conveyancing mandates across Hong Kong and Mainland China…Its expertise spans the residential, commercial and industrial sectors…"
"Mayer Brown are able to explain complex matters clearly and propose solutions that work for everyone. The team are commercial and able to get deals done."
"Mayer Brown has a deep bench of talented lawyers covering most if not all practices and specialties. Its lawyers are commercially minded with a good understanding of the client's goals and objectives."
