Brian Donnelly

• Represented a global real estate owner and operator in obtaining construction financing for logistics facilities in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and Loma Creek, California
• Represented the real estate investment arm of a major Canadian pension plan in connection with multiple financings of ground-up data center construction projects as part of the $500 billion Stargate Project
• Represented QuadReal Property Group in its origination of a $195 million construction loan for the development of an industrial distribution center in Monroe Township, New Jersey
• Represented Apollo Global Management in the origination of a $325 million mezzanine construction loan for the development of The Steinway, a 1,438-foot-tall residential tower in New York City
• Represented BDO USA in connection with its leasing of hundreds of thousands of square feet of Class A office space across the US, including its 143,000 square feet flagship office in Manhattan, New York
• Represented Apollo Global Management in the origination of an $807 million financing, which involved mortgage, senior, and junior mezzanine loan components, of the commercial retail unit at the historic Crown Building in Manhattan, New York
• Represented GMF Capital in its origination of a $27 million second mortgage portfolio loan secured by 42 assisted living and skilled nursing facilities in the Midwest and as a secured creditor in connection with the chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by SC Healthcare Holding, LLC and certain of its affiliates
• Represented Macquarie Capital in connection with its purchase of a significant equity interest in a multifamily portfolio consisting of more than 50 properties and 10,000 units across the Southwestern US. The portfolio included operating and under-construction assets. The transaction was valued at approximately $890 million and included the negotiation of a complex joint venture agreement
• Represented a joint venture between Oxford Properties and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board in connection with them obtaining an approximately $429 million bridge loan and subsequent $221 million loan for the repositioning and pre-development of 550 Washington Street (formerly known as St. John’s Terminal) in Manhattan, New York
• Represented (i) the senior and junior mezzanine lenders in connection with the origination, restructuring and workout of approximately $275 million in junior mezzanine debt for the pre-development of Drew Las Vegas, a casino and resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, and (ii) Korean investors in a significant equity investment made in the ownership of the Drew Las Vegas

Brian Donnelly is a partner in King & Spalding’s Real Estate and Funds practice. He advises institutional lenders, investors, and sponsors on complex real estate debt and equity transactions across the United States and Canada. 

Brian’s debt finance practice includes representing clients in the origination and restructuring of commercial real estate debt across all major asset classes—including office, retail, multi-family, logistics and data center facilities, with an emphasis on construction financings and complex debt transactions with multitiered capital stacks involving senior and junior credit arrangements, preferred equity structures, second mortgage facilities, and portfolio-level financings. He also counsels clients on secondary market transactions, loan-on-loan financings, and the negotiation of intercreditor and co-lender agreements, as well as significant experience in restructurings, workouts, creditor disputes, and bankruptcy-related matters. 

In his equity practice, Brian represents investors and sponsors in the acquisition, development, recapitalization, and disposition of real estate assets across all major property types, including both single asset and portfolio transactions. His experience includes negotiating complex joint venture arrangements, including programmatic joint ventures for both debt and equity clients, and purchase and sale agreements. 

Brian also has significant experience in leasing matters, including advising tenants in office and retail leases, parties to sale/leaseback transactions, and clients in ground leasing transactions.