News
Turning Crisis into Strategy: Contracts, projects and disputes at a global chokepoint
Michael James
Partner Corporate & Finance
Languages
English
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Overview
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Experience
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Credentials
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Insights and events
Real Estate: £150m and above, Chambers UK, 2025“He is incredibly commercial and wants to know our angle and how to tailor his approach. He lets key points drive the deal rather than getting bogged down.”
Michael is a private equity real estate partner in our global Private Equity team, based in the London office. With over 15 years’ experience, Michael is skilled in leading complex corporate real estate transactions for major European real estate and private equity investors.
Michael’s broad remit covers structured acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, real estate finance, fund investments, and hotel acquisitions and operations.
With an international practice, he frequently advises investors on cross-border structures and transactions involving jurisdictions such as Luxembourg, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Jersey.
Real Estate: £150m and above, Chambers UK, 2025“He is incredibly commercial and wants to know our angle and how to tailor his approach. He lets key points drive the deal rather than getting bogged down.”
Representative experience
Starwood Capital on its acquisition of a portfolio of 10 hotels from Edwardian Group.*
Starwood Capital on its acquisition of the Think portfolio, including four apartments and a residential complex with over 100 luxury apartments in London and retail units, offices, and restaurants.*
Starwood Capital on its acquisition of the Principal Hayley hotel portfolio (23 hotels).*
Starwood Capital on its acquisition of the De Vere Venues Group of hotels and conference centers (30 hotels).*
Starwood Capital on its disposal of the 258-room Ace Hotel in London, Shoreditch for over £125m to the Deerbrook Group.*
Benson Elliot/Walton Street Capital on its acquisition of an eight hotel pan-European portfolio from Host.*
Benson Elliot/Walton Street Capital on its sale of the Marriot Hotel, Brussels and a 57-unit deluxe residential apartment block in the center of Brussels.*
Benson Elliot/Walton Street Capital on its disposal of the Pullman Bercy Hotel, Paris.*
Invesco on its acquisition and leaseback of the Mercure Hotel Rome and the La Rustica, Rome.*
Invesco on its acquisition and leaseback of the Mercure Hotel, Bratislava.*
Invesco on its acquisitions of the Novotel Hotel, Munich, the Novotel Hotel, Hannover, the Premium Innside, Frankfurt, and the Lindner Airport Hotel, Dusseldorf.*
Goldman Sachs/Tifco on its acquisition of a portfolio of 12 hotels in Ireland.*
Goldman Sachs/Tifco on management agreements for the first Hard Rock Hotel in Ireland.*
Internos on its acquisition and management back of various hotels across France within the Accor Group.*
Internos on its acquisition of various hotels in Germany.*
Evans Randall on its acquisition and subsequent sale of The Drapers Gardens Building for over £250m.*
Evans Randall on its acquisition and subsequent sale of the Milton Gate offices for over £150m.*
Schroders on its disposal of The Chiswick Park Complex by way of a corporate sale of the Jersey incorporated property holding unit trust to Blackstone for over £450m.*
Schroders on its acquisition of multiple real estate assets across the UK including offices, retail parks, shopping centers, solar panel parks, nightclubs, and residential apartment blocks.*
Matrix on its sale of the IZD Tower, Vienna and various other assets around Europe.*
*Matter handled prior to joining Hogan Lovells.
Credentials
Education
- Legal Practice Course, Nottingham Law School, 2005
- LL.B., University of Nottingham, 2004
Bar admissions and qualifications
- Solicitor, England and Wales