Ashurst regularly works with both lenders and borrowers on real estate-backed loan financings, often cross-border in nature. Ruth Harris and Sarah Watkinson co-lead the firm; Harris specialises in investment, development, and structured lending, while Watkinson - a member of the firm’s global loans practice - regularly works with some of the world's largest asset managers on high-value transactions. A ‘disciplined, focused and delivery-oriented practitioner’, Sarah Winter 's recent engagements saw her acting as lead counsel on the financing of a large entertainment asset. Stuart Blacklock, ’both commercially astute and an excellent project manager’, recently acted as lead counsel for a Korean sovereign wealth fund on the refinancing of debt facilities in London. Both Winter and Blacklock were promoted to partner in May 2023.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Ashurst's real estate team are very pragmatic and commercial with deep market knowledge. They get excellent outcomes without breaking the bank. They also provide quality through the levels from partner to trainee. ’
‘Stuart Blacklock has been a great support on our real estate transactions, both commercially astute and an excellent project manager.’
‘Stuart Blacklock is an exceptional technical lawyer who thrives on complex transactions.'
'Sarah Winter is a disciplined, focused and delivery-oriented practitioner, she will get your deal over the line.'
'Ruth Harris is able to draw upon a wealth of experience, few in the market have as much knowledge and experience to draw upon as Ruth.’
Key clients
- Almacantar
- Apollo
- Arax Capital
- Arrow Capital
- Aviva
- Barings Asset Management
- BlackRock
- Blackstone
- Birchwood
- Brockton
Work highlights
- Advising Almacantar in respect of the £200m financing for 2 Southbank Place, London.
- Advising East Wick and Sweetwater on the development and regeneration of the former Olympic Park in London.
- Advising Blackrock on the restructuring of a €1 billion facility secured over a portfolio of German residential properties.
Lawyers
Hall of fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Practice head
Ruth Harris; Sarah Watkinson
Other key lawyers
Stuart Blacklock; Sarah Winter