David Varne focuses on real estate finance, specializing in advising banks, debt funds, and alternative lenders on complex real estate finance transactions across Europe.

His experience covers the full spectrum of real estate financing products, such as acquisition financing, development financing, and senior/mezzanine financings, including on a pan-European basis. He is also a back-leverage (e.g., loan-on-loan financing) specialist. He regularly helps clients navigate a full range of financing solutions, from senior lending to more complex, hybrid, and structured arrangements.

Before joining Latham, David practiced at another global law firm.

David’s experience includes representing:

Commercial Real Estate

  • A private capital provider in connection with the financing of a portfolio of Swedish logistics assets*
  • A private capital provider in connection with the financing of a German designer outlet village*
  • A private capital provider in connection with the financing of a Dublin hotel*
  • A private capital provider in connection with the financing of a portfolio of logistics assets located in Czechia and Slovakia*
  • A private capital provider in connection with the financing of a portfolio of Swedish logistics properties*
  • Various private capital providers on their loan-on-loan/warehouse financings from a number of financial institutions*
  • A private capital provider in connection with the financing of arena assets located in the United Kingdom*
  • A private capital provider in connection with the financing of a portfolio of hotels in Switzerland*
  • A private capital provider in connection with the refinancing of a logistics portfolio located in Denmark*
  • A private capital provider in connection with the financing of a Greek data center*
  • A private capital provider in connection with the financing of a portfolio of 14 hotel assets in Ireland and Northern Ireland*
  • A private capital provider in connection with the financing of a London office building*
  • A private capital provider in connection with the financing of three real estate (hostel) assets in Belgium*
  • Various banks in connection with the financing of various portfolios of student housing assets*
  • A US investment bank in connection with the financing of a shopping center located in Finland*
  • A US investment bank in connection with the financing of a portfolio of residential properties in Finland*
  • A US investment bank in connection with various back-leverage arrangements to various private capital providers*
  • A US investment bank in connection with the financing of a pan-European portfolio of logistics properties (located in Poland and Chechia)
  • A US investment bank in connection with the financing of a pan-European portfolio of logistics properties (located in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain)*
  • An investment bank on its various loan-on-loan/warehouse facilities to a number of private capital providers*
  • A financial institution in connection with its financing of a portfolio of UK logistics assets*
  • A financial institution in connection with its financing of a London office property*
  • A financial institution in connection with its financing of a portfolio of 18 English logistics properties located in the UK*
  • A syndicate of banks in connection with their refinancing of an acquisition of a UK hotel portfolio*
  • An investment bank on a senior/holdco construction financing for a data center and related on-site substation in Paris*
  • An investment bank on a financing to secured on a portfolio of office properties in Belgium*
  • The facility agent in connection with the restructuring of a financing originated by US investment banks and subsequently distributed by way of commercial mortgage-backed securities*
  • A syndicate of investments banks in connection with a portfolio of 10 English logistics properties*
  • Acting for a private capital provider on its financing secured on a portfolio of logistics assets located in the UK, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Chechia, Poland, and Germany*
  • Acting for Starwood in respect of its financing to Blackstone to acquire (and take private) the Crown Resorts casino business located in Australia and elsewhere*
  • Acting for the lenders in respect of the financing of a Spanish non-performing loan portfolio and various restructurings in respect of the same*
  • Acting for an investment bank in respect of the refinancing of the acquisition of a Spanish non-performing loan portfolio and various restructurings in respect of the same*
  • Acting for an investment bank in respect of the financing of a portfolio of Portuguese non-performing loans*

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham

Bar Qualification

  • England and Wales (Solicitor)

Education

  • PGDip in Legal Practice, Kaplan, 2019
  • GDLP, College of Law, Sydney, 2010
  • BA/LLB, University of Western Australia, 2009
    first class honours

Practices