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
Examples of Danni's experience includes:
Hotels and Leisure:
- 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.
Sports:
- 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.
- 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.
Retail and leisure:
- 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).
Healthcare & Education:
- Ares – Acquisition of Exemplar Health Care and subsequent financing.
- Nord Anglia Education – Acquisition of 3 of Britain's top private schools in Oxford.
- MSREF – Acquisition of a portfolio of UK sheds and logistics facilities from SEGRO.