Neil Ferguson advises European and international clients on a range of complex real estate transactions, with a particular focus on public and private M&A and joint ventures.

Drawing on more than two decades of real estate private equity experience, Mr. Ferguson delivers commercially driven counsel to a variety of market players, including real estate funds, sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and financial institutions. He advises clients through every stage of the real estate investment lifecycle, including in connection with:

  • Joint ventures
  • Single asset and portfolio M&A transactions
  • Co-investments
  • Financings, refinancings, and disposals

Mr. Ferguson advises clients on transactions involving a multitude of asset classes, including data centers, film studios, retail shopping centers, hotels, offices, logistics facilities, and long-term care homes. He brings particular experience in complex joint ventures and platform joint ventures, as well as cross-border transactions across nearly every European jurisdiction.

Mr. Ferguson leverages his deep insight into the operation of global real estate funds to develop strategic solutions for clients. In addition to having vast experience in private practice, he previously served on secondment at Morgan Stanley for its London-based real estate division during the take-private of Canary Wharf Group.

Mr. Ferguson's experience includes advising:

  • Quantum Energy Partners in its investment in Ardersier Port Limited
  • Brookfield in its acquisition of Arlington Business Parks from TPG
  • Blackstone Infrastructure Partners in its joint venture with B&J Holdings for the US$877 million public takeover of Applegreen plc, an Ireland-based operator of Motorway Service Areas
  • Aermont Capital in its acquisition of Keepmoat Homes from TDR Capital and Sun Capital
  • StepStone Group in connection with the disposal of a portfolio of strategic data center assets located in Switzerland to STACK Infrastructure
  • Partners Group on the formation of a UK logistics joint venture with Citivale
  • Digital Realty on its acquisition of Interxion
  • AGC Equity Partners on its joint venture with Iron Mountain Incorporated to design and develop a 27-megawatt, hyperscale data center in Germany
  • Intriva Capital on its investment in and platform joint venture with Node Living, a community living real estate investment and operating group
  • Highbrook Property Fund on its joint venture with SF Management in connection with the acquisition of various residential real estate assets and development in Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Morgan Stanley Real Estate on its joint venture with Thor Equities in connection with the acquisition of a UK real estate logistics portfolio from SEGRO
  • Blackstone Infrastructure Partners on its joint venture with Arjun Infrastructure Partners for the acquisition of the M7 freehold property portfolio of UK Motorway Service Areas
  • Aermont Capital in its disposal of the Pinewood Film studios group to an Aermont sponsored continuation fund
  • Represented a confidential sovereign wealth fund in respect of a £4.5 billion real estate joint venture with one of Europe’s largest real estate operators
  • A global private equity firm in a joint venture with Ares for the acquisition and development of data center development assets in Eastern and Central Europe

Bar Qualification

  • England and Wales (Solicitor)

Education

  • LPC, College of Law, 1995
  • CPE, City University of London, 1994
  • M.A., Oxford University, 1993