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Jonathan Whiteford

Legal Director
Brought such great intellect, common sense and diplomacy to the process…helped us navigate the commercial negotiations with flair… Professional calm, reliable and a breath of fresh air…. don't know how you do it but you always seem to make my life easier!
— CEO, Corporate Occupier Client
London
About

Jonathan Whiteford is a commercial real estate lawyer with 15 years' experience, including investment and portfolio transactions, corporate structured real estate deals, W&I-backed deals, mixed used developments, real estate finance, distressed real estate, restructuring and insolvency, landlord and tenant matters and asset management.

Jonathan advises institutional investors, developers, corporate occupiers, banks and insolvency practitioners on their highest-value and most complex projects. He is experienced in navigating both UK and multi-jurisdictional transactions. Jonathan helps his clients with their disposals, acquisitions, regearing, financing and development of business parks, logistics units, headquarter premises, offices, flexible workspace, hotels, student accommodation, shopping centres and car parks. He is also highly experienced in advising on property aspects of corporate, real estate finance and insurance transactions.

Jonathan's clients appreciate his thorough and level-headed analysis and his pragmatic commercial advice. 

 
Areas of FocusReal Estate
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

  • Acting for a private Canadian landowner and developer on the major redevelopment and financing of a prime island site at Belgrove House, Kings Cross and the pre-let to a global pharmaceutical tenant for its iconic headquarter offices and discovery research centre. 
  • Advising a provider of co-working space and serviced apartments on the corporate acquisition of 90 High Holborn, a landmark office building in central London, for £200 million, together with its subsequent re-financing.
  • Acting for one of the world's leading asset managers on the forward commitment for the £79 million long-leasehold acquisition and grant of a leaseback in relation to a major hotel development site at Airport City Manchester.
  • Advising a major logistics group on the development agreement and sale of a development site at the former Littlebrook power station, Dartford.
  • Advising the acquisition of a brownfield site in Newcastle and the development proposals for the "Giants on the Quay" major urban regeneration site including a 140 metre tall observation wheel.
  • Advising a joint venture entity between a global private equity firm and UK logistics investor on the sale of a portfolio of prime UK logistics properties for more than £280 million.
  • Advising a multi-national media and marketing company on the major pre-let and redevelopment of its 300,000 square feet London headquarter premises in a prestigious central London location.
  • Assisting a major European logistics operator on its disposal of a pan-European portfolio of assets in eight jurisdictions for EUR210 million.
  • Advising a global real estate investor and asset manager on its £500m corporate sale of the Green Park business park near Reading.
  • Advising a German private and institutional investment fund on the structured sale of 20 Moorgate, London, for £155 million. 
  • Advising the leading developer of flexible and shared workspace on a number of major London pre-lets for prime office space.
  • Advising a major investment management business in relation to numerous sale and leaseback investments for its ground lease funds, in relation to pre-existing hotels and hotel development sites.
  • Advising a major Middle Eastern retail group, on its acquisition of a national retail business via a pre-pack administration, including the purchase and subsequent transfer of 60 nationwide retail stores. 
  • Assisting global banking client on its restructuring of its  GBP120 million facility relating to central London office premises.
     
Education
  • Nottingham Law School, Legal Practice Course, Law, Distinction, 2005
  • Nottingham Law School, Graduate Diploma in Law, Commendation, 2004
  • University of Oxford (Jesus College), M.A. (Oxon), Geography, First Class Honours, 2002

Awards

  • Identified as a Key Lawyer by LEGAL 500 (2023) for Real Estate Development: "Jonathan Whiteford – great grasp of complex real estate development transactions and a pleasure to work with. Has the added qualities of stickability and resilience on long-running and at times difficult transactions."

Prior Experience

  • 2007 to 2016: Associate and Managing Associate, London based international law firm

My latest insights

News

DLA Piper advises PGIM Real Estate on Signature Senior Lifestyle acquisition

15 July 2024 .2 minute read

Connect

Phone

+44 (0)20 7153 7040
(Work, London)
+44 (0)7971 142 540
(Work)
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