Allen & Overy

Jane Samuelson

The real estate market is now truly global.  Our clients invest in properties located all over the world and require lawyers with the necessary technical and commercial expertise to meet the demands of the modern real estate market. 

The deals that we work on are complex and require innovative solutions that respond effectively to our client's commercial needs.  As an international real estate practice, we advise on a wide range of real estate related transactions including sales and acquisitions, lettings and leasing, construction, environment, investment funds and structures, outsourcing, planning, real estate finance and real estate litigation. 

The role of a trainee in the department is typically varied and you will get to try your hand at many different types of commercial real estate work.  You will have the opportunity to run some of your own files, managing the transaction from the initial instruction right through to completion.  This will include liaising directly with clients as well as drafting and negotiating simple documents with lawyers from other firms. 

Real estate trainees will also get involved in some of the larger deals in the group where you will often work with many other departments (for example corporate, banking, capital markets and tax) as well as with our overseas offices and local counsel. Recently we have advised Quinlan Private, the international private equity real estate group, on its acquisition of a 50% stake in the next phase of the development of Paddington Central in London, Tishman Speyer on the sale of Goldman Sachs' headquarters at Peterborough Court in the City of London for £330m and GE Real Estate on the £2bn purchase of a commercial property loan portfolio from Bradford & Bingley. 

We have also advised on a number of football club acquisitions, including Manchester United and Liverpool, as well as advising the funders on the development of the new Arsenal and Wembley stadiums