Clifford Chance
Mark Payne specialises in commercial real estate transactions including investment, development and lettings.
Mark is experienced in working for sovereign wealth funds and other investors and developers, advising on international projects including the creation of real estate funds, acquisition of real estate in multiple jurisdictions and co-ordinating a programme of investments across Europe for an institutional investor. Mark's domestic real estate projects include headquarters lettings, major development acquisitions and disposals, investments and joint ventures. European Head of Sovereign Wealth Funds and a member of the Firm's core China Group.
- Battersea Power Station Development Company Limited on the redevelopment of the 39 acre Battersea Power Station site, including negotiating against Transport for London to secure the Northern line underground extension from Kennington to Battersea
- China Construction Bank (London) Limited, a subsidiary of one of China’s and indeed the world’s largest banking groups, on its acquisition of a new headquarters at 111 Old Broad Street, EC2
- Employees Provident Fund of Malaysia on the formation of a joint venture with Permodalan Nasional Berhad, which has forward purchased and will fund the £1.6 billion development of Phase 2 of the landmark Battersea Power Station redevelopment in London
- Qatari Diar and CPC Group on the purchase of the Chelsea Barracks site in London for £959 million and related GBP£2.5 billion Islamic financing – the highest value land purchase in UK history
News and client work
Contact details
- Clifford Chance, London
- +442070062726
- Email me
- Practice area Real estate
- Sector Real estate, Private equity
Career and qualifications
- Oriel College, Oxford (LLB) 1984
- Admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales 1987
- Partner, Linklaters (Executive Partner 2000-2) 1995
- Joined Clifford Chance as a Partner 2005
Professional bodies
- Member of the Policy Committee of the British Property Federation
- Member of the Investment Property Forum
- Member of the British Council for Offices
- Member of the City of London Law Society
- Member of the Oriel College, Oxford, Law Society Committee
- Fellow of the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors)
- Chair of Clifford Chance Art Committee
- Trustee of Southbank Sinfonia
- Founder of Opera Settecento
Awards and citations
- Identified in the hall of fame
Legal 500 UK 2024 for Commercial Property: Corporate occupiers - Identified as a leading individual
Legal 500 UK 2024 for Commercial Property: Development - Identified as a leading individual
Legal 500 UK 2024 for Commercial Property: Investment - 'Mark Payne is excellent, he is highly professional and very clear and futuristic in his thinking and advice.’
Legal 500 UK 2024 for Commercial Property: Corporate occupiers - A leading individual in Legal 500 UK for Commercial Property: development in 2020
- ‘Mark Payne, is stand-out, and is head and shoulders above practitioners in other firms. He delivers expert advice with excellent client care.’
Legal 500 2021 - Listed in Hall of Fame for Legal 500 UK for Commercial Property 2021
- A leading individual in Legal 500 UK for Commercial Property: investment in 2020
- "Extremely responsive and professional - especially Mark Payne."
Legal 500 UK 2020 - "The standout partner is Mark Payne together with associate, Rob Donnell. Mark is pragmatic, commercial and technical, all at the same time, an excellent combination."
Legal 500 UK 2020 - "Mark Payne has been involved in major development projects in the logistics and office sectors, and continues to advise Battersea Power Station Land Company on its eight-phase, 39-acre redevelopment project of the Battersea Power Station."
Legal 500 UK 2019 - "Mark Payne, who is a ‘seasoned, calm and pragmatic adviser on large deals’."
Legal 500 UK 2017 - "Payne and ‘industrious’ senior associate Ian Painter acted for a high-net-worth individual and restaurateur on the acquisition of 74 Charlotte Street, to include a newly developed restaurant unit."
Legal 500 UK 2017 - "Mark Payne has ‘a rare mix of technical excellence and commercial acumen’."
Legal 500 UK 2016 - "Mark Payne enjoys a strong reputation for his funds work, and recently acted on the £150 million Heart of Slough regeneration project."
Chambers and Partners UK 2011 - “Mark Payne is noted for his "clarity of mind and attention to detail, in addition to a very high level of expertise in relation to complex real estate transactions.”
Chambers & Partners UK 2010 - “Mark Payne is 'an extremely strong technical lawyer who is also excellent at managing client relationships’. He excels at driving big deals forward with his fine negotiation and project management skills.”
Chambers & Partners UK 2009