The firm also confirmed its role in Scentre Group's European bond markets comeback
A&O Shearman has strengthened its real estate offering with the hire of new partner Dannelle Howley from Squire Patton Boggs.
Howley officially commences with A&O Shearman on 3 November. She will launch a dedicated real estate practice in A&O Shearman Australia.
She brings experience in working with listed and unlisted property funds, private capital and government clients. She has tackled complex, structured and large-scale transactions.
“Sydney’s real estate market is dynamic, competitive and primed for growth. Establishing a dedicated practice here is a natural next step for us. Dannelle is a standout talent in the market, and her arrival strengthens our team and deepens our ability to support clients across sectors. As we mark 15 years in Australia, this is another milestone moment for our firm”, A&O Shearman Australia co-managing partner Jason Denisenko said.
Global co-head of real estate, Christopher Woolf, added that real estate was “a key area of focus and growth for our private capital and institutional clients, as well as being a key part of our broader offering” in Australia.
A cross-border team from A&O Shearman led by international debt capital markets partner Minesh Patel assisted Scentre Group with its comeback to the European bond markets.
The firm advised Scentre Group on the pricing of €500m fixed-rate notes due 2033. The company completed the issuance under its updated €10bn Euro Medium Term Note programme.
Scentre Group had not transacted in the European bond markets since 2019. Per A&O Shearman, the deal is a strategic milestone for the company.
“Scentre Group’s return to the European bond markets after six years sends another clear signal of offshore investor confidence in Australian corporate issuers. The success of the transaction highlights Scentre Group’s strength and the continued appetite among European investors for high-quality Australian issuers”, Patel said. “It marks a timely and strategic re-engagement for Scentre Group with its European investor base”.
The firm advised on the programme’s update as well as on the issuance process. It tackled both the English and Australian law aspects of the deal.
Patel was supported by senior associate Yin Lim and lawyer Edward Ren, with Mark Leemen, Marnie Fels, Ka Sen Wong, Nick Koutsoukos and Vivienne Davis pitching in. European and London teams headed up by Nick Williams, Emma Danforth and Olivia Butcher handled UK and EU regulatory matters. Lawyers in Sydney and New York tackled the tax aspects.
