Sebastian Taylor

Seb has been at Herbert Smith Freehills since March 2007, qualifying into the Real Estate division in London in March 2009.

Seb is a partner with a broad real estate experience, advising on a variety of commercial property matters including real estate finance, acquisitions, disposals, landlord and tenant management work and the redevelopment of major assets.

Clients have noted that he "is particularly skilled at manoeuvering complex negotiations with a balanced focus. He is a dedicated team leader and his ability to identify, understand and act on the commercial imperatives involved is especially well developed." (Legal 500 UK, 2019). 

Seb's experience includes advising:

• Goldman Sachs on its framework agreement with Urban & Civic to deliver housing in the private rented sector and the forward funding of a 149-unit parcel at Houlton, Rugby
• Lloyds Bank and a syndicate of lenders on the property aspects of £500 million development loan in respect of a residential development at Nine Elms with a GDV of circa £1 billion
• Logicor on management of its UK logistics portfolio 
• Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division and its JV partner Pitmore on the £150 million acquisition of the Thistle Build To Rent Portfolio (which comprised circa 920 units spread over 14 sites in the North West) from Gatehouse Bank
• The Carlyle Group on a development agreement with Network Rail of Bankside Quarter, which unlocked the subsequent £295 million corporate disposal
• Goldman Sachs on a corporate and property acquisition, related development agreement and subsequent development financing, which unlocked a £150 million development
• Pontegadea on its £230 million acquisition of Almack House from Grosvenor
• Deutsche Bank AG on the property aspects of various real estate financing transactions, including the refinancing of the Mailbox (£140 million) and acquisition and development finance on 127 Kensington High Street (£108 million)
• Lloyds Bank on the property aspects of various real estate financing transactions, including the acquisition financing of the Hayhill Portfolio (£178 million) and the refinancing of the Dream Portfolio (£230 million)
• Kennedy Wilson on the acquisition and then refinancing of the distressed Jupiter Portfolio (£184 million)
• abrdn on acquisitions, disposals and day-to-day management of properties in its retail portfolio, including Fareham Industrial Park.