Richard Hughes

Richard is a Partner in the Real Estate Finance team in the Real Estate department.

Richard advises lenders, borrowers and other market participants on a wide range of finance transactions including new money (investment grade, leveraged, project and structured finance), restructurings and works outs, distressed debt trading and special situations.

In the real estate sector, Richard advises across the capital structure and on all real estate asset classes (including office, industrial, retail, hospitality and leisure, healthcare and residential), with a focus on operating assets. Richard has significant experience advising on structuring and advising on Islamic financings secured on real estate.

Richard is a member of the Investment Property Forum. He is also recognised by Legal 500 for his work in the hospitality and leisure industry.

The Real Estate Finance team advises lenders, borrowers, and investors on structuring, negotiating, and executing finance transactions across sectors, including commercial, residential, and international property deals.

In the energy and infrastructure sector, Richard advises lenders and sponsors on acquisition finance, structured finance and financing operating assets relating to oil and gas, transportation and storage, renewables.

Key Experience

• Advising an AIM listed US focused oil development and production company, on a secured $100 million reserve based lending facility
• Acting for the lenders (led by a US commercial/investment bank) in connection with a structured financing secured on the equity interests in one of Africa 's largest refining projects
• Acting for the lenders (international and local banks) in connection with a $275 million secured reserve based lending facility with respect to Nigerian oil fields
• Acting for the sponsors in connection with a $350 million secured reserve based lending facility with respect to oil fields in Egypt
• Acting for the sponsor in connection with the $600 million senior financing and $100 million mezzanine financing to acquire a Canadian oil and gas producer with producing fields in Egypt and Pakistan
• Acting for the lenders in connection with a term loan facility for The Republic of Serbia supported by a World Bank guarantee
• Acting for the lender on conventional and Islamic financings secured on student accommodation and office schemes.
• Acting for the banks on the conventional and Islamic facilities to refinance a central London hotel.
• Acting for a care home operator on refinancing its portfolio.
• Acting for the sponsors in connection with refinancing major central London hotels.
• Acting for the lenders in connection with the financing for the development and refurbishment of an office scheme in Westminster.
• Acting for a sponsor in connection with issues arising from a major tenant CVA process.
• Acting for the sponsors in connection with the establishment of the student residences joint venture and the financing of a development scheme in Lancaster.

Career History

Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Partner, Watson Farley & Williams LLP
Partner, Pinsent Masons LLP
Partner, Simmons & Simmons
Managing Associate, Linklaters LLP
Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd, Legal Practice Course
Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd, LLB Law