Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance wins Law Firm of the Year in Europe and North America in real estate private equity fund formation

London/New York: Clifford Chance has once again been confirmed as a market leader in real estate private equity, winning two Global Private Equity Real Estate (PERE) Awards for 2013. The awards are:

• Law Firm of the Year in Europe (Fund Formation)
• Law Firm of the Year in North America (Fund Formation)

The PERE Global Awards are decided by industry peers and clients with thousands of votes cast. This is the seventh consecutive year that Clifford Chance has been awarded Law Firm of the Year in Europe and the second time in North America.

Commenting on the awards, PERE magazine said Clifford Chance had a 'very active' and 'busy' year advising on fund formations in 2013 and specifically for North America, 'enough to move the law firm from its second place ranking last year to the top spot for fund formation in 2013'.

Roger Singer, Clifford Chance partner in the private funds group based in New York, comments: "We are fortunate to have worked on a wide variety of investment management projects in North America, reflecting the evolution of the real estate private equity industry, across all types of commercial real estate."

London-based partner Nigel Hatfield also in the private funds group, adds: "We are delighted to receive this recognition from our peers and clients in Europe. It firmly cements our reputation in real estate fund formations and demonstrates our expertise and the value we bring to our clients."

Clifford Chance advised on a number of high profile real estate private equity transactions during 2013, including:

• Berkshire Property Advisors on the first closing of the Berkshire Multifamily Value Plus Fund III and its US$300 million co-investment vehicle with Future Fund, the Australian sovereign wealth fund
• Colony Capital on the formation of its single family home vehicle
• DRC Capital on the raising of its European Real Estate Debt Fund II
• A new real estate debt fund for H/2 Capital Partners. With an intended US$1 billion fundraising goal, H2 raised US$500 million in its first closing of this open end core real estate debt fund
• Long Wharf Real Estate Partners on its first fund following its spin-out from Fidelity