Howard Kennedy has advised new client Las Colinas de Marbella on the development of a luxury mixed-use development in southern Spain.
The West End firm was sought out by the client following a recommendation by the project’s consultants HVS and Dean & Associates, according to Howard Kennedy corporate partner Eric Gummers, who led on the deal.
Gummers’ team advised on the mixed-use aspects of the development along with commercial and contractual advice on the long-term management agreement between Las Colinas de Marbella and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, which will operate from the site.
“It was slightly less confrontational than some transactional work because the owner and manager will be working together for the next 25 years,” said Gummers.
Gummers was assisted by property and commercial associate and notary Susana Miranda, who is qualified in both Spain and England.
The two lawyers worked alongside Barcelona-based firm Cuatrecasas on the Spanish aspects of the deal, which was managed by partner Bernat Mullerat and London-based partner Florentino Carreno Vicente.
Funding has not yet closed on the project but it is expected to be worth hundreds of millions of euros when it reaches completion in 2010.
The deal comes on the back of other Iberian hospitality work for Howard Kennedy. The firm recently advised developer Imocom on a similar high-end mixed-use development in Portugal’s Algarve.
