Clifford Chance – Real Estate Finance – London - 2-4 PQE
 
Clifford Chance is a pre-eminent Magic Circle London firm and one of the world’s leading law firms with an unrivalled depth of legal resources and three key markets of the America’s, Asia and Europe. The firm focuses on the core areas of commercial activity being; capital markets; corporate M&A; finance and banking; real estate; tax; pensions and employment; litigation and dispute resolution. 
 
Real Estate Finance
 
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.
 
The firm’s UK team is Tier 1  rated per Legal 500:
 

• ‘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. ’

 
They are also rated Band 1 per Chambers:
 

• "Clifford Chance has capacity to advise on all aspects of financings."
• "The real estate finance team is able to pool knowledge from leaders in legal thinking across their tax, real estate, structured finance and cross-border teams."

 
Key Partners include:
 

• Andrew Carnegie – Head – Hall of Fame (Legal 500) – Band 1 (Chambers)
• Barry O’Shea – Partner - Leading Partner (Legal 500) - Band 1 (Chambers)
• Emma Matebalavu – Partner – Leading Partner (Legal 500)
• Laura Smallcombe – Partner – Next Generation Partner (Legal 500)
• Claire Fawcett – Partner – Next Generation Partner (Legal 500)

 
 
As a lawyer, your remit will be to:

• Draft core legal documents clearly, accurately and quickly.
• Deliver clear, concise and tailored legal advice to clients.
• Grow and expand your legal knowledge and technical expertise.
• Manage complex transactions and drive the execution process.
• Help to develop client relationships, including through client training and organising and attending suitable networking events.
• Carry out effective matter administration including preparing fee quotes, file opening and conflicts clearance processes, providing fee updates and assisting in fee discussions.
• Drive the efficient delivery of our transactions by using our multiple best delivery tools: e.g. templates, Legal Support Centre, Resource Management, Legal Project Managers, Matter Balance Reports.

 
Who we are looking for

• A Junior-Mid Lawyer who can demonstrate experience in real estate finance with 2-4 PQE
• Your knowledge and experience will probably have been gained at a leading practice with a reputation for work in real estate finance.
• An outstanding academic history and proven first rate legal skills, combined with a strong reputation amongst existing clients for providing commercial solutions to complex problems and demonstrating excellent transaction management skills.
• You will naturally be able to demonstrate document drafting skills. You should demonstrate strong communication and analytical skills, along with a high level of commercial awareness.
• You will have some experience of collaborating with multi-jurisdictional and multi-disciplinary teams.
• It is crucial that you can demonstrate an appetite for business development, client relationship management and thought leadership.

 
Recent 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.

 
Key Clients: Ares, Bain, BentallGreenOak, Carlyle, Castleforge Partners Limited, Fortress Investment Group, Morgan Stanley, Rothesay Life, United Overseas Bank, Société Générale and Standard Chartered Bank