David Horan

DAVID HORAN advises clients across the full spectrum of real estate transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, development, financing, and asset management. He has experience across a wide variety of real estate assets, including office, residential (particularly student accommodation, later-living, and co-living), industrial, life sciences, and other mixed-use schemes. David is a strong advocate of using the latest AI real estate resources wherever this can improve efficiency and add value for clients.

David was recommended by Legal 500 UK 2027 for Commercial Property: Investment, where clients described him as being valued for “his commercial awareness, reliability, and constructive approach throughout the transaction process,” and that he is “brilliant to work with — he really knows his stuff and is great at pulling a team together.”

He is a member of the Land Law Committee of the City of London Law Society, a representative body for leading real estate lawyers in the City.

David's representative experience includes advising on the following transactions:

Investment

• Apollo Funds in the US$4.1 billion sale of Kelvion to global energy technology company SLB.
• A major U.S. REIT on the acquisition of a portfolio of 74 care homes from Aria Care Group.
• A major U.S. REIT on the acquisition of a portfolio of 25 care homes from Danforth Care Group.
• Evri, a portfolio company of funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc., on the real estate aspects of its merger with DHL eCommerce, the e-commerce logistics specialist of DHL Group.
• HARMAN International on the real estate aspects of its US$350 million acquisition of Masimo Corporation’s Sound United consumer audio business.
• A major UK pension fund on various disposals of offices and retail parks.
• British Land on the 50% sale of 1 Triton Square, London to, and £385 million joint venture with, Royal London to convert 1 Triton Square from offices into a life-sciences and technology hub within London’s Knowledge Quarter.
• Related Argent on divestments of various student housing, later-living and co-living schemes at Brent Cross Town, London.

Financings/Sales and Leasebacks

• Advising the senior lender group on the real estate aspects of the senior secured financing of nLighten, a pan-European data centre platform backed by I Squared Capital, to fund its expansion across the UK.
• Strategic advice on the real estate aspects of the refinancing of a portfolio of 400+ supported living properties.
• A private equity portfolio company on the sale and leaseback of industrial properties in Poland.
• The BBC on its sale and leaseback of its television and film studios at BBC Elstree Studios.

Corporate Occupiers and Asset Management

• A global private equity investor on the relocation of its London headquarters.
• British Land in relation to strategic and leasing matters at its Regent’s Place, London campus.
• A major UK pension fund in relation to a strategic regional shopping centre.

Development

• A major US REIT on various healthcare developments.
• Related Argent on the infrastructure development at its £8 billion Brent Cross Town, London redevelopment scheme.

Restructuring and Special Situations

• PWC on the property elements of the pre-packaged administration sale of convenience store chain McColls to Morrisons, including the transfer of a portfolio of up to 1,200 properties, and the largest licence to occupy and lease assignment exercise undertaken in any UK insolvency process.
• PWC on the property elements of the administration of wholesaler Conviviality plc, including the sale of 400+ Bargain Booze and Wine Rack retail stores to Bestway Group.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

David has previously advised The Felix Project in connection with various warehouse and distribution leases taken to support its goal of distributing surplus food to frontline charities and schools around London.