Haynes Boone is delighted to welcome Partner Mark Payne to the firm’s London office and Real Estate Practice Group. After nearly two decades at Clifford Chance, Payne becomes the first real estate lawyer in the Haynes Boone London office, as the firm prepares to establish the practice group in the United Kingdom.
With more than 30 years of experience in real estate, Payne represents investors, developers and occupiers through a wide range of transactions and advises them in buying, selling, developing, funding and occupying real estate, whether directly or indirectly. He has represented investors, developers and occupiers from the U.K. and around the world.
"I am extremely excited to join the esteemed group of lawyers at Haynes Boone and feel privileged to be part of such a supportive team,” Payne said. “The opportunity to spearhead the development of the firm’s real estate practice in London is inspiring, and I am looking forward to leveraging my expertise to complement the terrific real estate practice that the firm has established in the United States."
Among many notable transactions on which he has acted, Payne advised Qatari Diar and CPC Group on the purchase of the Chelsea Barracks site in London for £959 million and related £2.5 billion Islamic financing, which marked the highest value land purchase in U.K. history. He also advised the owners of the Battersea Power Station site on the negotiation of the agreements for the extension of the Northern underground line to Battersea Power Station which made the development of this iconic site possible, and acted on the purchase, development and letting of the iconic building at 70 St Mary Axe in the City of London.
"Adding Mark, a very respected lawyer in the London real estate field, reaffirms our strategic expansion of the real estate practice,” said London Office Managing Partner William Cecil. “This move underscores our commitment to expanding our presence in key global markets and reinforces our dedication to providing top-end services to our clients."
Payne is the fifth addition to the Real Estate Practice Group this year, joining George Hinchey in San Antonio, David Hengstler in Orange County, W. Stephen Wilson in San Francisco and Joe Sarcinella in New York City.
