Real Estate Finance
Our real estate finance team is acknowledged by independent commentators (including the Legal 500) as one of the leading real estate finance practices in London. The team acts for a number of banks in the City as well as for mezzanine lenders, short term lenders, developers, investors, investment funds and a variety of other borrowers.
By acting for both borrowers and lenders, we have an in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of the requirements of both our lending and borrowing clients. This enables us to provide timely commercial advice to our clients, which is essential to ensuring that deals get done.
Our experience and expertise in real estate finance and security is extensive. We regularly advise on the financing of a broad selection of Real Estate assets including offices, Shopping Centres, retail units, hotels, leisure centres and residential properties. Our work ranges from plain vanilla real estate lending and borrowing to highly complex tax-based structured finance with offshore elements.
We are well regarded in the London market for our expertise in diligently preparing, advising on and negotiating finance documentation relating to real estate development and investment.
The real estate finance team is complimented by lawyers from our well-established Real Estate, Construction, Corporate and Tax teams which work together to provide a seamless full service to our clients.
Representative Real Estate Finance Work
Examples of our team’s real estate finance work include:
- Advised a Luxembourg fund in relation to a £15.75m loan facility advanced to a Jersey based borrower which was secured on a property in Mayfair.
- Advised the junior lender in relation to a £18.2m joint venture loan arrangement with Investec Bank plc which was secured on a development property located in SW1.
- Advised a borrower in relation to a development term loan facility of £55m and an investment term facility of £6.25m secured in connection with the development of 120 residential units with commercial space on the ground floor.
- Advised a Cypriot borrower company with a Guernsey subsidiary company in connection with an amendment and restatement of a loan agreement with Barclays Bank Plc to increase the loan amount by £20m and add additional UK property assets to the package of security.
- Advised two lenders in relation to their participation in a £13m loan in which Investec Bank plc was the lender of origin. The loan was secured on a development site in Soho.
- Advised a household name in relation to a £60m loan facility from Lloyds Bank plc which was secured over 70 properties.
- Advised a lender in relation to a £24.2m loan facility secured by way of legal mortgages over properties in South London.
Key contacts:
Biography
Claire is head of the Legal 500 ranked Real Estate Finance team and has a wealth of experience in general lending and security matters including complex intercreditor arrangements. She acts for a wide range of UK and international financial institutions, as well as a variety of borrowers, in relation to domestic and cross-border finance transactions on a bilateral, club or syndicated basis. Claire’s particular expertise is property finance and corporate lending. Claire has a wealth of experience in drafting and reviewing the full suite of lender standard form loan and security documentation.
Claire also regularly deals with senior funding lines for her lender clients borrowing from institutional lenders as well as participators and investors funding underlying facilities with end borrowers. This involves Claire advising on various structures (such as senior loan agreements and participation agreements); security arrangements (either with security trustees; sub-charges; charges over bank accounts; and/or assignments of the underlying borrower security package) and identifying the inherent potential risks with such structures. She always seeks to improve her client’s position whilst respecting the commercially agreed terms and aligned interests of the parties.
Claire’s clients value her commercial advice combined with her technical knowledge and guidance. She ensures she has an in depth understanding and knowledge of our client’s business objectives to ensure she achieves this. She is driven, committed, personable, and always aims to exceed client expectations when it comes to service delivery and deadlines. Claire works proactively with all parties to a transaction to achieve a smooth closing. Her clients appreciate her responsiveness and attention to detail. Claire is a trusted advisor to many leading property and finance professionals in the market. This reputation is demonstrated in the client testimonials she has consistently received since being listed as a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500 in 2016.
Testimonials
Legal 500 2025 500 directory:
‘Claire Gibson has a wealth of commercial and technical knowledge, using her skill set to go above and beyond for her clients.’
Legal 500 2024 500 directory:
‘Teacher Stern’s team, led by Claire Gibson, has advised us on real estate finance for the last couple of years on various deals. The team is of the highest calibre for this sector in the London market. They are very professional and always responsive. All matters were dealt with, with attention and great flexibility. The team has proven to consist of highly skilled professionals, all of whom have very extensive knowledge of legal issues and an actual understanding of our needs, making it possible for them to provide advice and solutions, which are always individually tailored for the issues and goals in hand.’
‘Claire Gibson is our well-trusted advisor. Claire helps us resolve challenges that we, and our business, face. Claire is highly praised for providing the highest quality advice.’
‘Phil Berry and Claire Gibson both offer a wealth of knowledge in their field. Clients are central to the team’s work ethos, and they are undoubtedly people you want to have in your corner.
2023 Legal 500 directory: Claire Gibson “understands what her clients need; she combines her wealth of knowledge with a commercial outlook to deliver a stellar service time and again.’
2022 Legal 500 directory: recommended laywer.
2021 Legal 500 directory: Claire Gibson “has a wealth of knowledge in her field; her commercialism and dedication to her clients sets her apart from others”
2020 Legal 500 directory: Claire Gibson is ‘pragmatic, commercial and a pleasure to deal with.’
2018/2019 Legal 500 directory: Claire Gibson is praised for her ‘unparalleled professionalism and diligence’.
2017 Legal 500 directory: The ‘super-efficient’ Claire Gibson is ‘always on top of things’.
2016 Legal 500 directory: recommended figure of the ‘top-notch’ Claire Gibson.
Year qualified
Solicitor, 2003
Career History
Claire qualified in 2003 and joined the firm as a partner in 2014.
