People /

Claire Watson

Partner

London

People /

Claire Watson

Partner

London

Claire Watson

Partner

London

T: +44 (0) 20 3400 4336

Biography
Experience

Biography

Claire's real estate finance experience includes acting for banks, corporations and funds across the credit spectrum including senior debt, mezzanine debt, investment and development finance, restructuring of real estate finance transactions and distressed debt transactions in the real estate sector. She has extensive experience of domestic and international transactions, acting for inward and outward investors and lenders. Claire also has broad experience of investment grade lending, acquisition finance and structured finance. Claire is ranked as a leading individual in real estate finance by both Legal 500 and Chambers UK.

Claire is the best legal adviser we have worked with. She is knowledgeable, trustworthy and always provides the best service and valuable advice.

Chambers & Partners 2024

Admissions

England and Wales

Related Practice Areas

Student Accommodation
Financial Institutions
Real Estate
Real Estate Finance
Finance

Experience

Advising multinational financial services firm J.P. Morgan as arranger on a £780 million senior and mezzanine refinancing, alongside London-based alternative investment fund manager Cheyne Capital, to support the ongoing development of the 85-acre Wembley Park estate in London by developer and build-to-rent operator Quintain. The transaction represents one of the largest financings in the UK real estate market in 2023.
Advising R&F Properties, the leading China-based property developer, on the £772 million senior and mezzanine construction financing of its development at One Nine Elms, London consisting of the 57-storey City Tower containing 334 apartments and the 42-storey River Tower consisting of a 203-room Park Hyatt Hotel and 103 Park Hyatt branded luxury apartments.
Advising Greystar on the construction financing for the development of a build to rent asset in Hayes, London. The financing was arranged by AllianceBernstein.
Advising Tristan Capital Partners on its £240 million financing from Aareal Bank of the acquisition of a portfolio of Point A Hotels in the UK.
Advising a joint venture between Ares Management Corporation, the leading UK-based global alternative investment manager, and Generation Estates, the leading UK-based student accommodation specialist, on its £245 million refinancing from Legal & General Investment Management of a portfolio of seven PBSA assets in the UK.
Advising The Carlyle Group, on the acquisition financings and refinancings of its expanding portfolio of logistics assets across the UK, acquired in a joint venture with ARA Dunedin, using financing from HSBC, Société Générale and Bank of America.
Advising Fortune Sail International Limited (a member of the C C Land Holdings group) on the £605 million refinancing of The Leadenhall Building, London (known as the “Cheesegrater”) from a syndicate of banks including HSBC UK Bank PLC.