Clifford Chance
Ian Painter specialises in advising developers, investors, lenders, landlords and tenants on all aspects of real estate developments and major infrastructure projects, including acquisitions, disposals, lettings, forward fundings, solvent and insolvent restructurings/CVAs, financings and joint ventures.
Ian has experience acting for a wide range of clients comprising primarily of major developers, international investors, banks and sovereign wealth funds.
Ian's extensive expertise spans a variety of asset classes, including office, logistics, retail, residential and student accommodation. He is also noted as a specialist in development projects which have a direct interface with operational railway, such as over-station developments and regeneration of assets in close proximity to the London underground network.
- Helical plc on a number of major London developments, including the acquisition and development of an over-station development at Farringdon East Crossrail station, the development joint venture and forward funding at Creechurch Place, the redevelopment of 25 Charterhouse Square, and the mixed-use developments at The Bower, Old Street and at Barts Square on the site of the old St Bartholomew's Hospital.
- Battersea Project Land Company Limited on the redevelopment of the 39 acre Battersea Power Station site, including working with Transport for London on securing the Northern line underground extension from Kennington to Battersea.
- AIG Global Real Estate in connection with the acquisition, forward funding and corporate disposal of multiple student accommodation projects located throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland, as well as the establishment of a number of pan-European joint venture investment platforms in the logistics sector.
- The Governor and the company of the Bank of England on the leasing of the whole of 20 Moorgate, London to house a new regulatory body, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).
News and client work
Contact details
- Clifford Chance, London
- +442070064972
- Email me
- Follow me on LinkedIn
- Practice area Real estate
- Sector Funds & investment management, Healthcare, life sciences & chemicals, Sovereign wealth, Transport & logistics
Career and qualifications
- Keble College, Oxford (BA Jurisprudence) 2004
- Keble College, Oxford (Masters, BCL) 2005
- Joined Clifford Chance 2006
- Admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales 2008
- Partner since 2018
Awards and citations
- Ranked in band 3
Chambers UK 2023 Real Estate: £150 million and above
- “Ian has an excellent legal and commercial understanding of a broad range of property-related matters.”
Chambers UK 2024 Real Estate: £150 million and above - “Ian is a commercial and sensible lawyer.”
Chambers UK 2024 Real Estate: £150 million and above - Identified as a leading individual
Legal 500 UK 2024 for Commercial Property: Investment - Identified as a next generation partner
Legal 500 UK 2024 for Commercial Property: Corporate occupiers - Identified as a next generation partner
Legal 500 UK 2024 for Commercial Property: Development - ‘Ian Painter’s broad knowledge of real estate and ability to steer clients through difficult and complex issues is unrivalled.’
Legal 500 UK 2024 for Commercial Property: Corporate occupiers - ‘Ian Painter has been very responsive and anticipates questions before they are asked. The transaction would not have run as smoothly so far if we did not have their excellent counsel. His advice is commercially aware and practical.’
Legal 500 UK 2024 for Commercial Property: Corporate occupiers - ‘Ian Painter is a leader in his field. He manages to combine commercial acumen with considerable legal knowledge; his client list is formidable and demonstrates the loyalty his client base shows towards him.’
Legal 500 UK 2024 Commercial Property: Development - 'Ian Painter would be my “go-to” partner for investment deals. He has a depth of knowledge, market intelligence and is very practical/commercial.’
Legal 500 UK 2024 Commercial Property: Investment - "Ian has exceptional client service and technical skills and is faultless in his service delivery.” "Ian is pragmatic, commercial and looks to find a solution, as well as being strong technically.” “He is collaborative and gets deals done.”
Chambers UK, Real Estate: Big Ticket 2023 - Shortlisted for Real Estate Individual of the year
Legal 500 UK 2020
- ‘Ian Painter is extremely efficient and responsive – he is constantly thinking about how to deal with matters as they arise.’
Legal 500 2021 - Identified as a Next Generation Partner by Legal 500 UK for Commercial Property: Corporate Occupiers and Development 2021
- "Ian Painter has a growing reputation for his real estate practice, which largely focuses on the development market. He advises on acquisitions, pre-lettings and joint venture formation related to a range of projects including student accommodation, private rental and rail station redevelopments. A client says: "He is the best lawyer I have ever worked with and a key driver of our success"."
Chambers & Partners UK 2020 - Listed as an 'Up and Coming Individual'
Chambers & Partners UK for Real Estate: Big Ticket 2020 - Identified as a Next Generation Partner
Legal 500 UK for Commercial Property: development in 2020 - Identified as a Next Generation Partner
Legal 500 UK for Commercial Property: corporate occupiers in 2020
- "Ian Painter is very knowledgeable, has a great work ethic and leads from the front as a partner in that practice."
Legal 500 UK 2020 - "Ian Painter combines unparalleled market and legal knowledge with an unflappable nature to achieve trusted adviser status."
Legal 500 UK 2020 - “Ian Painter takes charge of issues and sees them through to resolution with practical and commercial ideas."
Legal 500 UK 2020 - Identified as a Next Generation Lawyer
Legal 500 UK for Commercial Property in 2018/2019
- Ian Painter advises developers and institutional investors on all manner of high-value commercial real estate matters. A client says: "Ian is an incredibly capable lawyer with a phenomenal capacity for work. I do not know anyone who works as hard or as effectively as him, and he does it with a cheerful and engaging manner - he is a joy to work with."
Chambers & Partners UK 2019 - Listed as an Associate-to-Watch
Chambers & Partners UK for Real Estate: Big Ticket 2018
- “Associate Ian Painter is a "highly capable rising star" and "one to watch," according to commentators. Painter assists a diverse list of clients with commercial real estate transactions, including inward investment.”
Chambers & Partners UK 2018 - Identified as a Next Generation Partner
Legal 500 UK for Commercial Property in 2017