James Dodsworth
Biography
Overview
James Dodsworth is a partner in our global Real Estate industry group based in London and is Head of the Real Estate, Tax, Employment, Compensation & Benefits and Financial Institutions Advisory practices for the EMEA region. James advises clients on the investment, structuring, leasing and financing of commercial real estate, and is also widely acknowledged as an authority on the European data center industry.
With experience of both the UK and European real estate industries, James provides clients with access to current market trends and legal thinking, particularly as they relate to private equity investment and related structuring and financing. His diverse list of clients ranges from corporates (including private equity companies and investment banks) to real estate investment and development companies.
James has particular knowledge of the acquisition, development, leasing and funding of data centers on numerous projects around the world, regarding which he has advised a number of the world's global end users, as well as internationally active developers and operators.
He is a regular speaker at data center industry events throughout the UK, Europe and Asia and authors industry-related articles relating to the legal challenges facing those involved with data centers.
Experience
Oaktree Capital Management, on its sale of the SACO property portfolio, 2018
James advised Oaktree Capital Management, a leading global alternative investment management firm, on its sale of the SACO property portfolio, one of the UK's leading providers of serviced apartments with an extensive network of properties around the world, to Brookfield Asset Management.
IO Data Centers LLC on the sale of its UK data center groups, 2017
James advised IO Data Centers, LLC, a data center services company, which provides colocation and cloud services to businesses and governments worldwide in connection with its sale of its UK Data Centre Groups to Equinix (UK) Limited.
Credit Suisse on the cross border sale and leaseback of critical data center facilities, 2017
James advised Credit Suisse on the cross border sale and leaseback of critical data center facilities in both London and Singapore to Iron Mountain.
Citibank on the sale and leaseback of Frankfurt Data Center, 2017
James advised Citibank on the sale and leaseback of Frankfurt Data Center, the first sale and leaseback of its kind relating to its Western European data center campus.
Blue Horizon Investor Limited, 2017
James advised Blue Horizon Investor Limited, which is owned by an Abu Dhabi based family office, in connection with its acquisition of 10 Hammersmith Grove, a marquee commercial mixed use property located in London for £112 million.
High Profile London Commercial Real Estate Acquisition of 105 Wigmore Street, 2017
James advised on the high profile commercial real estate acquisition of 105 Wigmore Street, London, W1 from Standard Life. Located next to the iconic Selfridges department store in the heart of London's West End retail district, he advised one of the Firm’s longstanding family office clients on the successful purchase following a competitive bidding.
Corney & Barrow on the disposal of its London wine bar portfolio, 2016
James advised Corney & Barrow Bars, one of London’s leading wine bar group on the disposal of its London wine bar portfolio.
Digital Realty on its $874m acquisition of a portfolio of 8 data centres, 2016
James advised Digital Realty on their $874m acquisition of "Project Cheetah" assets from Equinix, a divestiture directed by the Group's Commission following the acquisition of Telecity plc.
US$1.3 billion Real Estate Financing of Harrods department store, 2015
James advised the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Harrods Management on their US$1.3 billion real estate financing of the Harrods department store and other related properties.
US$2 Billion Middle East property acquisition, 2014
James advised Labregah Real Estate Company on the US$2.07 billion acquisition of Barwa City, a large scale residential development project in Doha, Qatar offering 5,968 residential units and other facilities distributed over 128 buildings. This was the largest M&A transaction in Qatar in the previous 18 months.
Digital Realty on its US$1.1 billion acquisition of Sentrum, 2012
James advised Digital Realty on its US$1.1 billion acquisition of Sentrum, an owner and operator of wholesale data centre real estate and related services.
Capital & Counties and London's Covent Garden Estate
James advised Capital & Counties on over US$1 billion of commercial real estate acquisitions relating to London's Covent Garden Estate and its subsequent financing, development and asset management.
Data Centres – The alternative investment asset class, March 2018
Data Centres – The linchpins of the new digital economy, February 2015
Data Economy 2019: Power 200
The World's Most Influential Data Economy Leaders
"He has specialist knowledge of transactions involving data centres. A client says 'He is very responsive and gives excellent legal advice with a strong business sense'."
Real Estate Big Ticket, Chambers UK 2020
White & Case LLP has a distinct industry-centric focus which includes retail, real estate investors, financial institutions and data centres. The highly recommended James Dodsworth serves as practice head, leading a team which excels on investment-related acquisitions, sales, portfolio management and leasebacks, including those with complicated cross-border elements.
Legal 500 2020
Chambers UK, Leading Individual: Big Ticket – Real Estate 2017
Sources describe him as "quite simply the best lawyer in the business for data centre transactions."
Leading Individual, Legal 500 2020
Nomination for "Real Estate Team of the Year", the British Legal Awards 2017
