John Williams is a partner in the Real Estate Department. John's advice focuses on real estate acquisitions, disposals, lettings, financing, development and asset management. He acts for a range of investors, landlords, banks and developers across a wide range of sectors to include office, PRS/BTR developments (to include forward sales), student accommodation, logistics and development land.
Notable transactions include advising Henderson Park on the disposal of a number of significant office assets in Dublin following on from acting for Henderson Park in its successful acquisition of the Green REIT plc portfolio, Fortress Investment Group on the Irish aspects of the acquisition of a vast real estate equity and debt portfolio held by Colony Capital and subsequent sale of the Spencer Place South office and hotel development, Hibernia REIT plc on its sale and Bain Capital on the acquisition, development and disposal of a significant student accommodation portfolio.
John also has particular expertise acting for banks, investors and developers on the property aspects of renewable energy projects, having recently acted for a syndicate of international lenders on the financing of a portfolio of 17 operational windfarms and the acquisition and project financing of a large solar farm portfolio.
Areas of Expertise
Real Estate
Experience Advising:
- Henderson Park on the office sales of 30-33 Molesworth Street, 2 Burlington Road and 5 Harcourt Road.
- Kennedy Wilson on various letting and asset management matters in relation to its office and logistics portfolios.
- Fortress Investment Group on the Irish aspects of the acquisition of a vast real estate equity and debt portfolio held by Colony Capital across a number of jurisdictions.
- Bain Capital, on the acquisition, development and disposal of a significant student accommodation portfolio.
- Irish Life Investment Managers on various letting and asset management matters.
- Mapletree Investments (Singapore) on the letting of The Sorting Office to TikTok.
- Hibernia REIT plc in relation to its sale and take private by Brookfield for excess of €1bn.
- Fortress Investment Group on the sale of Spencer Place South office and hotel development.
- Mapletree Investments (Singapore) on the acquisition of Nova Atria Offices, Sandyford.
- Henderson Park on its acquisition of the Green REIT plc portfolio for excess of €1.3bn.
- DocuSign on office lettings and sub-lettings.
- Syndicates of international lenders on financing of significant office and residential portfolios.
- Bain Capital on the acquisition of the Paper Mill development site in Clonskeagh, Dublin 6.
- Blackstone on the acquisition of The Blanchardstown Centre, Dublin, Ireland's largest retail and leisure centre - this was the highest value single real estate asset ever traded in Ireland.
- Statkraft on its acquisition of portfolio of solar power development projects.
Market Recommendations
"John Williams is an excellent legal adviser." (Chambers Europe 2025)
"John Williams is extremely competent and commercial. He is quick to turn things around, and all advice comes with a solid recommendation." (Legal 500 2023)
"Recommended Lawyer." (Legal 500 2019, 2017)
Education
- Solicitor, Law Society of Ireland
- LLM (Commercial Law), University College Dublin
- BCL University College Dublin
John Williams
Partner,
Real Estate
Dublin