Dr. Sebastian F. C. Kaufmann

• U.S. Real Estate and Real Estate Finance
• Represent a bank as sole lender in the US$180 million plus financing of a luxury hotel in Hawaii.
• Represent two banks as co-lead arrangers in the US$450 million financing of 1540 Broadway.
• Represent two banks as co-lead arrangers alongside a major U.S. bank in the US$750 million refinancing of One New York Plaza in downtown Manhattan.
• Represent a lender in connection with the US$250 million financing of 4 New York Plaza in Lower Manhattan.
• Represent a lender as co-lead arranger of a US$415 million mortgage loan secured by 1411 Broadway in New York City.
• U.S. Restructuring
• Represent a group of lenders in connection with the exercise of remedies under a US$108 million mortgage loan, including conducting a forensic audit, appointment of receiver, foreclosure, litigating a Chapter 11 filing and the workout of the related mezzanine loans for 2,400 multifamily apartment units in the southeastern U.S.
• Represent a senior lender in connection with the foreclosure and restructuring of a US$220 million mortgage loan secured by 333 Bush Street (the former Heller Ehrman building) in San Francisco.
• Represent two senior lenders in connection with the restructuring of a US$700 million financing secured by a portfolio of office properties.
• Worldwide Real Estate and Real Estate Finance
• Represent the lead lender in a €180 million plus financing of a portfolio of logistics properties in Germany.
• Represent a U.S. private equity investor in the acquisition of a portfolio of 19 commercial real estate properties (Odin Portfolio) valued at €620 million in Germany.
• Represent the lead lender in connection with the €300 million plus acquisition financing of the mixed-use property portfolio known as Palais Quartier in Frankfurt consisting of the MyZeil shopping center, the Jumeirah Hotel, the Nextower, the Thurn & Taxis Palais and a parking garage.
• Represent a private equity fund in the acquisition of a €1 billion distressed senior mortgage loan secured by a portfolio of 26 properties in Germany (Mars Portfolio).
• Represent a bank as agent in connection with a €167 million mortgage loan to a opportunity fund secured by a commercial real estate portfolio consisting of 10 retail properties in Germany.
• Represent a bank in connection with a €169 million mortgage loan to a strategic investor secured by seven Class A mixed-use properties in Duesseldorf with a €50 million construction sub-facility.
• Represent a bank as agent in connection with the extension of a €700 million mortgage loan secured by a residential property portfolio across Germany.
• Advise a major bank in connection with the implementation of the new German capital investment act (KAGB).
• Represent a German mortgage bank in connection with a €640 million structured financing of a German hotel portfolio involving multiple tranches of senior and subordinated debt.
• Represent a German mortgage bank in connection with a €35 million mortgage financing of a logistics property in Germany.
• Worldwide Restructuring
• Represent the agent and lenders in connection with restructuring of €700 million distressed commercial real estate portfolio (Germany) (Numisma portfolio), including a restructuring opinion and a complex Dutch and offshore ownership structure.
• Represent a German bank holding a €70 million super senior position (English law governed) in connection with the restructuring of a €400 million (€310 million after paydown) financing of a mixed commercial property portfolio consisting of more than 100 commercial properties in Germany.
• Represent a CMBS special servicer in connection with analysis of restructuring options and subsequent sale of two distressed English law governed loans secured by three commercial properties in Germany.
• Represent a German mortgage bank in connection with the restructuring and administration (kalte Zwangsverwaltung) €640 million structured financing of a German hotel. portfolio involving multiple tranches of senior and subordinated debt.
• Represent a German mortgage bank in connection with restructuring of Dutch real estate loan.
• Represent a German bank in connection with the restructuring and sale of a distressed loan indirectly secured by a portfolio of residential loans in Europe.

Corporate Finance

• Represent an international asset manager for energy investments in connection with the issuance of registered bonds under German law to finance the acquisition of oil and gas assets in the U.S.
• Represent a U.S. bank in connection with a secured revolving credit and swingline facility to a North American telecommunications company, secured by securities in German subsidiaries.

Leveraged Finance

• Represent Barings with respect to aggregate facilities of €200 million in connection with a dividend recap and refinancing of existing facilities for a German portfolio company of a European private equity sponsor.
• Represent a U.S. private credit asset management firm as administrative agent, collateral agent, and lead arranger in connection with the amendment to its existing senior secured credit facilities with an online market place and media platform as borrower and certain of its affiliates, which, among other things, provided additional term loans in the form of a $145 mio. term loan bringing the total commitments under the credit agreement to $388 mio.
• Represent a U.S. bank as Administrative Agent, and another U.S. bank as Collateral Agent and Documentation Agent, in connection with the arrangement and closing of $195 mio. of senior secured credit facilities to support the carveout acquisition by a privately held asset management firm and a leading European investment group of a phenolic specialty resin business.
• Represent a UK investment company as administrative agent in a multi-currency, multi-tranche credit facility in an aggregate amount equal to the US Dollar equivalent of $91,5 mio. with a U.S. biotechnology company.

As a partner in our Corporate, Finance and Investments practice, Sebastian's practice focuses on commercial real estate and other project-based transactions in the U.S., Europe and globally. Recognized by Chambers, he represents both investors and lenders in a wide range of complex equity and debt transactions across all asset classes.

Sebastian advises clients in all positions of a project’s capital stack: He represents private equity as well as institutional investors in the development, acquisition, disposition, structuring and financing of real estate and other projects. He also represents financial institutions and other debt providers as lenders in a broad range of debt transactions, including mezzanine debt, preferred equity, structured debt, nonperforming loans and restructurings.

Trained and actively practicing as a German lawyer (Rechtsanwalt), English solicitor and New York attorney, one focus of Sebastian’s practice is advising German regulated investment funds and banks in corporate, tax and regulatory matters concerning their U.S., UK and German investment and lending activities. On the equity side, he advises regulated fund vehicles on compliance with the German Investment Act (KAGB) in relation to real estate investments in the U.S. and abroad. On the debt side, he frequently counsels banks on the eligibility of real estate, aircraft and export financings as cover for German covered bonds (Pfandbriefe).

Sebastian has been recognized by Chambers Europe among Germany's leading lawyers for Real Estate Finance, by Chambers Global as an expert in foreign law, and by Chambers USA as a leading lawyer in Real Estate Finance. JUVE recommends him for Real Estate.

Fluent in German and English, Sebastian is a frequent author and speaker in both languages.