Jonathan is a partner in the debt finance practice at Kirkland & Ellis International LLP in London. His practice focuses on complex domestic and cross border real estate finance transactions for private equity and credit fund clients. Jonathan advises across the full spectrum of real estate finance matters, from loan origination and syndication, to restructuring and distressed investing.
External Recognition
Chambers & Partners UK - Real Estate Finance: clients observe “He's a phenomenal lawyer and you get a high level of attention” (2021)
The Legal 500 UK - Property Finance: clients remark that he is “an exceptional strategic thinker” and “stands out as able to handle the most complex deal and to see through complexity to give very well-thought-through advice” (2021)
IFLR1000 - Real Estate Finance: Recognised as a “Notable Practitioner” (2021)
Experience
Representative Matters
Ares on the financing of its acquisition of a pan-European portfolio of commercial real estate assets
Brookfield:
on the financing for its bid to acquire the £4 billion+ iQ student accommodation portfolio
on the financing of its acquisition of a high-end student accommodation campus in Paris
on the financing for its c.€430 million acquisition of a portfolio of serviced apartments in the UK and the Netherlands
Centerbridge and KKR as the lead investors in the c.£2.5 billion restructuring and recapitalization of UK hospital landlord GHG and its acquisition of leading private healthcare operator, BMI Healthcare
GLP:
on the financing of its c.€1 billion acquisition of Goodman Group’s CEE logistics portfolio
on the c.€1.1 billion financing of its c.€2.4 billion acquisition of European logistics business IDI Gazeley from Brookfield
GIC:
on the financing for its c.$1 billion joint venture with Equinix Inc. to develop and operate hyperscale data centres in Europe
on the financing aspects of its acquisition as part of a consortium of a 55% stake in the real estate assets of AccorHotels for c.€4.4 billion
as a lender providing financing to a European real estate fund platform
PIMCO on the restructuring of the £1.14 billion Diversity Funding CMBS portfolio
TPG Real Estate on the financing of its c. €300 million acquisition of Spanish Real Estate Investment Trust, Témpore Properties
Wyndham Worldwide on the finance aspects of its agreement to sell its European vacation rental business to Platinum Equity for c.US$1.3 billion
Representative matters prior to joining Kirkland & Ellis include:
Blackstone:
on the acquisition of the CG Malls Europe Fund
as a lender, on the €220m financing (and subsequent re-tranching) of 29 pan-European commercial real estate assets for the Invista Group
on the acquisition of Multi Corporation
on the bid to acquire the pan-European “Hampton” loan and swaps portfolio from Lloyds Banking Group
Victory Real Estate Funds on the acquisition and financing of various assets in The Netherlands, including in respect of the Atrium office complex in Amsterdam
Citigroup on the origination and syndication of numerous facilities, including in respect of:
a loan secured against a portfolio of UK logistics assets
the senior and mezzanine financing of a portfolio of UK shopping centres
the financing of Greystar’s £600m acquisition of the “Nido” student accommodation portfolio
TPG Capital on the acquisition and financing of the Woolgate Exchange office complex in the City of London
Capita Asset Services on the restructuring and work-out of several distressed capital structures (comprising CMBS and loans), including in respect of the £1.2bn facilities secured against the NHP portfolio of UK care homes
Prior Experience
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Partner, 2014–2017
Senior Associate, 2010–2014
Associate, 2005–2010
Trainee Solicitor, 2003–2005
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Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
2005, Admitted to Practice as a Solicitor of England and Wales
Education
Oxford Institute of Legal PracticePost-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice2003