Expertise
As an Operational Real Estate Lawyer, Danni has a wealth of experience advising clients on complex and high-profile transactions, with a focus on the hospitality, sports, leisure, and retail sectors.
Danni has represented investors, owners, operators, sports clubs, lenders, and borrowers on deals involving iconic properties both in the UK and internationally, such as the acquisition of Chelsea FC, the strategic review involving Manchester United FC (and eventual sale of a minority interest to INEOS), hotel resort developments in Saudi Arabia, and the financing and sale of the Grosvenor House Hotel.
- Experience
Danni's experience includes:
- HMAs, franchise agreements, TSAs and lender direct and non-disturbance agreements in relation to the development, branding, operation and financing of hotel and resort projects across the UK, Europe and the Middle East, opposite brands including IHG, Marriott, Minor Hotels, Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental.
- US investment fund – Co-investment with Davidson Kempner relating to the EUR 800m acquisition of an Algarve, Portugal hotel portfolio.
- Parkdean Resorts – Refinancings and sale and leaseback transactions relating to UK holiday parks.
- Acquisition of Chelsea FC for the Todd Boehly - Clearlake consortium.
- Top 4 Premier League football club - structuring and management of the club's property portfolio, covering residential, retail and a stadium hotel, as well as development projects relating to the club's stadium and training ground.
- Premier League football club – A high profile football club in relation to its stadium hotel arrangements, including a temporary 'flip to franchise' model followed by a transition to management by an international hotel brand.
- Ashkenazi Acquisition Corp. – Financing and eventual sale to Katara of the Grosvenor House Hotel, London (which is leased to Marriott).
- KSL Capital Partners – Development financing of the Hyatt Place London .City/East. Jersey-based fund – Development and financing of the Aparthotel Adagio London Stratford and The Gantry London, Curio Collection by Hilton, both in Stratford, London.
- Hyatt Hotels – financing matters and on the US$2.7 billion acquisition of Apple Leisure Group.
- ASG – Acquisition of Nobu Hotel Barcelona.
- Advising on a real estate aspects of a strategic review and minority shareholding sale for Manchester United FC.
- Leasing and development of the Dammam Stadium, Saudi Arabia.
- Loan to AFC Bournemouth relating to the development of the club's training facility.
- Loans to Premier League and Championship football clubs, including West Ham United, Leeds United and Derby County.
- Lithia Motors, Inc. – Acquisitions of two leading UK car dealership groups, Jardine Motor Group and Pendragon PLC, and sales and acquisitions of luxury car dealerships.
- KSL Capital Partners – Acquisition of Third Space Gyms.
- New Look – CVA and successfully defending landlord challenges in the High Court.
- Blackstone Infrastructure Partners - £650m take private of Applegreen (owner of Welcome Break service stations).
- Duke Street / Hutton Collins – £559m sale to The Restaurant Group of Wagamama.
- Private equity fund – £900m bid for David Lloyd Leisure Centres.
- Cohen Media Group – Acquisition of Curzon Cinemas (split into two portfolios – freehold and leasehold, including some development projects).
- XRoads – Acquisition of Qdos Pantomimes for Crossroads (including negotiation of leases).
- Highgate Capital – $3.2bn acquisition of a global healthcare portfolio, including a portfolio of UK care homes operating under the Caring Homes brand.
- Ares – Acquisition of Exemplar Health Care and subsequent financing.
- Nord Anglia Education – Acquisition of 3 of Britain's top private schools in Oxford.
- Nord Anglia Education – $14.5 billion sale of Nord Anglia Education.
- Lineage Logistics – Financing of 3 specialist cold storage centres in the UK.
- MSREF – Acquisition of a portfolio of UK sheds and logistics facilities from SEGRO.
- Digital Realty Trust – $8.4bn acquisition of InterXion data centres.