Alan Samson is an English and New York qualified partner based in the firm’s London office. He co-chairs the firm’s real estate group and heads the European real estate private equity team. He joined the firm in May 2000 as the firm’s first English law partner.

Mr. Samson has more than 30 years’ experience in all aspects of commercial real estate and real estate finance, including corporate and investment property acquisitions and disposals, acquisition financing and joint ventures. His practice has recently been heavily focused on the acquisition of real estate loan portfolios (whole loans, senior and/or junior notes and structured pieces) from financial institutions, distressed/vulture fund formation, recapitalisations, mezzanine loan origination and debt restructurings and workouts. His client base is largely made up of US and European financial investors (primarily opportunity and private equity funds).

Private Equity Real Estate recently named Mr. Samson as one of the most influential 100 people globally in the real estate private equity industry over the past decade and their readers voted his team law firm of the year for Europe transactions. He has also been named as one of the “Hot 100” movers and shakers of the legal profession in The Lawyer magazine’s survey. When assembling their dream team of 40 lawyers to start a new “magic circle” firm, Legal Business nominated Mr. Samson as head of their fantasy firm’s real estate group. He is featured as a leading real estate lawyer in the most recent edition of Legal Experts (published by Legal Business) and is regularly ranked among London’s leading real estate finance lawyers in Chambers’ UK Guide to the Legal Profession and the Legal 500 UK. He was recently identified by Chambers UK 2023 as a leading lawyer in the fields of Real Estate: Big Ticket and Real Estate Finance, and he is recognised in Who’s Who Legal: both for Real Estate 2022 and Hospitality 2022. The 2023 edition of Legal 500 UK includes him in its ‘Hall of Fame’ listing for both Commercial Property: Investment and for Property Finance (the only lawyer in London to be listed in that top category in both sections). In addition, he is recognized by the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom as a leading lawyer for Real Estate, Real Estate Finance & Financial Services and also ranked as a ‘notable practitioner’ for Real Estate, M&A and Private Equity in the 2022 edition of IFLR1000.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Mr. Samson spent 10 years at and was a partner with a major London law firm, where he both headed that firm’s North America Group and was a member of their Property Finance Group. He also practiced for several years (during the early 1990s) with Weil Gotshal & Manges in New York as part of an exchange programme.

Mr. Samson is a former member of the editorial board of the Property Law Journal and has published in the Real Estate Finance Journal. He is also a member of the NYU London-New York Real Estate Roundtable and the Urban Land Institute and is a regular speaker at conferences on real estate private equity and banking and finance topics.

Recent transactions include advising:

• Aecom Capital on a joint venture for UK real estate development;
• Aktiva Capital on several private equity investments (and associated disputes) in real estate, oil and gas, cobalt and other natural resources in the US and Africa;
• Ares Management on several joint ventures, acquisitions and financings;
• Blackstone on real estate financings;
• Cale Street Partners on joint ventures and financings;
• Centerbridge Partners in joint ventures to acquire UK real estate assets and on the acquisition and financing of a pan-European logistics portfolio;
• Crestview on sale-leasebacks of portfolio company European facilities;
• Colony Capital on the private equity acquisition of two Geneva hospitals with financing from Goldman Sachs;
• Delek Global Real Estate and Phoenix Insurance on the acquisition of a portfolio of commercial real estate loans/B notes secured against Swiss and German real estate from a European investment bank;
• Deutsche Bank AG in the formation of joint ventures for its acquisition of loan portfolios in multiple European jurisdictions;
• U&I (now Land Securities) on a joint venture with Patron Capital to acquire the Manchester Evening News Arena;
• Gulf International Bank on their Knightsbridge headquarters project;
• Highbridge Principal Strategies and The Related Companies on mezzanine financing arrangements concerning a London development project;
• Investcorp Bank BSC on the acquisition and financing of European real estate
• Marriott International on a hotel joint venture with Whitbread for 46 UK hotels, a syndicated bridge financing of the portfolio and subsequent sale and manage back to RBS; and on the acquisition of the Grosvenor House Hotel in London and the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin out of the Le Meridien receivership;
• Meadow Partners on their acquisition, financing and recapitalisation of multiple UK real estate assets;
• M&G/Prudential Capital on the restructuring of a UK ground rent portfolio;
• Northwood Investors on their acquisition of UK and Irish real estate assets and loans;
• Nuveen Real Estate, PFA and WeWork on their acquisition, financing and joint venture arrangements for Devonshire Square in London;
• Oaktree Capital Management on a significant number of joint ventures, acquisitions and financings;
• Realty Income Corp on a significant number of UK and European real estate acquisitions;
• Rockpoint Group on joint ventures for the acquisition and financing of office buildings/hotels in London and Paris;
• SOFIDY on their acquisition and financing of UK real estate investments;
• SVP Global on European real estate financings;
• Westbrook Partners on numerous transactions, including their acquisition and financing of Shell Mex House and Dolphin Square in London, as well as the acquisition of portfolios from the Prudential and the receivers of Greycoat;
• WR Berkley Corporation on the acquisition of several buildings to assemble the site for the development of its new headquarters building (the “Scalpel”) in the insurance district of the City of London.

Recent recognitions include:

• “Alan has a very strong commercial sense and a good ability to raise issues on the side which allow the deal team to gauge how to negotiate.” “He has a great commercial mind.” “Alan is very focused on delivering for his clients.” “The team are absolutely amazing; they have a top-notch understanding of commercial and legal issues in real estate finance.”  – Chambers UK 2023
• ‘Alan Samson is seasoned and measured. Speaks up when critical issues arise, and allows others to address basic blocking and tackling’. ‘Very strong at advancing deals and pushing things forward without constant guidance. Ability to identify, explain and rank risks so that we focus on the right things. Swift turnaround times on deliverables’. ‘Incredibly knowledgeable on the current state of the real estate finance market’. ‘They always offer creative and commercial solutions to complex problems that arise on complicated projects’. – UK Legal 500 2023
• ‘Alan Samson has notable expertise in joint venture matters, as well as experience in both domestic and cross-border transactions. He has considerable knowledge of real estate investment acquisitions, joint ventures and financing transactions. Clients report: “he is very efficient and very astute.”’ – Chambers UK 2022
• ‘Alan Samson is definitely one of the best lawyers I have come across. Very enjoyable also to work with…highly experienced, commercial and always has his client’s best interests at heart’. ‘Highly experienced’ Alan Samson leads the team, with substantial expertise in corporate and investment acquisitions and disposals, acquisition financing, joint ventures and, in particular, the acquisition of real estate loan portfolios. Listed in Legal 500 (2022 edition) in its “Hall of Fame” for both Property Finance and for Property Investment.’ – UK Legal 500 2022
• Alan Samson is “an excellent lawyer who has a commanding presence and knows how to control a negotiation.”  He “has a very comprehensive understanding of the law and the commercial components of the transaction. He’s very commercially savvy, well networked and knows how to manoeuvre to secure the best outcome for his client.”  The team are “extremely responsive and dedicated.”   Chambers UK 2021
• Listed in Legal 500’s “Hall of Fame” for both Property Investment and Property Finance. ‘Alan Samson is a very experienced, diligent and detail-focused lawyer. He stands out in being able to lead both the acquisition and financing work stream across complex, pan-European deals. This not only makes the acquisition and financing process easier and more efficient but also allows Alan to be in the details on both work streams and give tailored and thoughtful advice. He is not only an excellent lawyer but also a trusted adviser.’ – UK Legal 500 2021
• ‘Alan Samson is highlighted for his significant experience advising a wide range of both lenders and borrowers on sophisticated real estate transactions. Clients report: “He is extremely business-oriented and is a very efficient negotiator with a very practical approach.”  Alan Samson has considerable knowledge of real estate acquisitions and financing transactions, often in relation to substantial portfolios. A client says: “Alan is very commercial, efficient and responsive, and is especially skilled at distilling complex issues into easily digestible pieces.”’ – Chambers UK 2020
• “He is very professional, commercial and supportive. He is good to have on your side in a negotiation and good at drafting complex agreements.”  “…a great team – responsive, efficient and on top of every issue, with a very practical and commercial approach.” “Alan Samson is a well-regarded lawyer with a wide-ranging real estate practice which includes significant expertise in real estate finance. He is able to handle all aspects of real estate acquisitions and dispositions, including financing, and is also knowledgeable about distressed real estate financing. Clients describe him as “efficient, with a practical and commercial approach and good knowledge of the market.”” – Chambers UK 2019
• ‘Alan Samson is a “leading individual” who specialises in complex corporate real estate structures and high-value property transactions, often involving assets across various European jurisdictions’ – UK Legal 500 2019
• “Alan Samson is highly regarded for his strong technical skills in both commercial real estate and related funds and finance work. He is particularly known for his work on behalf of US clients”. He is a “highly experienced real estate finance lawyer praised for his good grasp of finance and private equity” – Chambers UK 2018
• Alan Samson is a “great lawyer”.  His “extremely detail-orientated team is able to quickly synthesize complex issues, explain them clearly, and propose solutions.” – UK Legal 500 2017
• “They handled our project brilliantly – they are a world-class team.”  Alan Samson is described by clients as an “incredibly efficient executor of deals and an extremely solid adviser” known to be “available any time and very responsive”.  “Alan is very creative and thorough in his approach to transactions. He’s very available, timely and really serves the best interests of the client. He’s a hard negotiator, so very good for the client,” – Chambers UK 2017
• “Alan Samson’s team… focuses on transactional work for private equity clients.. and shows ‘very good negotiation skills'” – UK Legal 500 2016
• ‘Alan Samson is “aware of everything that is going on and brings it all together”‘ – Chambers UK 2016
• “Practice head Alan Samson is praised for his ‘response times’ and ‘attention to detail.'”UK Legal 500 2015
• “Clients praise his ability to see difficult and complex deals through to completion. ‘We were highly impressed. It was an extremely complicated transaction and we were very impressed by the depth of their knowledge, the quality of their advice and the work they put in.'” –Chambers UK 2015
• ‘Alan Samson is “very commercial” and “handles high-end transactions”‘ – UK Legal 500 2014
• Clients say Alan Samson ‘works hard, is accommodating and smart, and has a good attitude. Very detail-oriented and always able to meet deadlines. Very, very bright…complete and deep understanding of the law and the process, and vast experience of operating in the sector.'” – Chambers UK 2014
• “Alan Samson is ‘one of the best in the market: tireless and very commercial.”  – UK Legal 500 2013
• “The ‘extremely entrepreneurial’  Alan Samson is highly recommended by sources, who regard him as ‘focused and dedicated’… ‘drives the entire deal and thinks about the commercial aspects’ …’very capable -he is highly sophisticated, clever and hard driving.’ “- Chambers UK 2013
• “Alan Samson is ‘approachable and has a strong ability to solve complex problems’…and provides ‘in-depth industry expertise and knowledge.'” – UK Legal 500 2012
• “Alan Samson garners great praise: “He is the reason we chose this firm; he has high technical competence and is efficient in the way he deals with clients. He is a hugely experienced practitioner with a fine track record in high-value real estate transactions. Clients admire his assertive style, and that he is “always right on top of things.” – Chambers UK 2012
• “Alan Samson is “very smart, productive, and reliable.” – UK Legal 500 2011
• “Alan Samson is “an excellent practitioner, who is self-assured and relentlessly client-focused.” – Chambers UK 2011
• “Alan Samson is “tireless, smart and commercial.”-  UK Legal 500 2010
• “Much of the team’s success is attributed to Alan Samson. He co-chairs the real estate group and heads the European private equity team.” – Chambers UK 2010
• “Alan Samson is recognised for his wealth of expertise.”-  Chambers UK 2010
• “When Alan Samson is involved in a case, “he’s on top of everything – nothing slips through the cracks,” praise interviewees. He is an extremely knowledgeable and experienced adviser in the sector who is also recognised for his skills in hotel and leisure-related work.”- Chambers UK 2009
• “Alan Samson is a familiar face on large and complex structured private equity deals. He inspires complete confidence in clients that “all interests are being fully considered, both on individual technical issues and on the overall big picture.” – Chambers Global 2008