Groundbreaking transaction reduces Mriya’s total debt by US$790.5 million.

Olifan Group, a leading French wealth management expert, extends its investment strategy to the French institutional property market by launching OLIFAN Immo 18, its first real estate collective investment scheme open to professionals (Organisme de Placement Professionnel Collectif Immobilier, or OPPCI).

In partnership with group MAPFRE, a Spanish leading insurer, OLIFAN Immo 18 has acquired a first office use asset in the greater Paris area, for an estimated value of over EUR 43 million.

London—Dentons has advised Centrica Storage Limited ("CSL"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centrica plc, on its entry into construction, tie-in and processing arrangements with the Tolmount joint venture and infrastructure partners (Premier Oil, Dana Petroleum and Humber Gathering System Limited) to process gas from the Tolmount field in the Southern North Sea.

Slaughter and May, Hong Kong, advised Cathay Pacific Airways Limited on the annual update of the US$2 billion Medium Term Note Programme of Cathay Pacific MTN Financing Limited, its wholly-owned subsidiary (the Programme).

Notes issued under the Programme are unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by Cathay Pacific Airways Limited and may be listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.
Contacts

Financing: Lisa Chung (partner), Adrienne Yeung (associate), Pariya Rojtanongchai (associate), Conrad Cheung (trainee)

Jones Day advised Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC in a recapitalization of its and PSP’s Chapter portfolio of student accommodation properties, one of the largest in Central London, by consolidating the portfolio under a new joint venture in which Allianz acquired an interest. Simultaneously, Jones Day advised the new joint venture on their entry into new debt financings relating to the portfolio.

Contact: David Smith, Giles P. Elliott, Emily Stew

Fieldfisher has expanded in China with a new office in Guangzhou and the hiring of three partners and four associates

International law firm Fieldfisher has expanded its Chinese operation with a new office in Guangzhou and the hiring of three partners and four associates from Geenen Law Office.

Guangzhou is the third Fieldfisher office in China following Beijing in November 2016 and Shanghai in February 2017.  For its latest financial results for 2017-18, China was one of Fieldfisher's fastest growing jurisdictions.

Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has announced the addition to its Litigation and Disputes Resolution practice of Jimmy Chan, who will be a partner and commence at the firm in October 2018 in Hong Kong.

Highly recommended in the directories, Rhian Howell is a leading professional negligence lawyer with significant experience dealing with claims against lawyers and construction professionals. She is also experienced in handling disciplinary and regulatory matters on behalf of professionals.

Rhian led Beale & Co's Bristol office for a number of years, after joining the firm in 2006 to open the office with Paul Redfern.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius has recruited another large group of IP lawyers and staff from McDermott Will & Emery, bringing the total tally of lawyers and staff switching firms to well over 50.

At least nine more partners from McDermott are making their way to Morgan Lewis in Orange County, California, along with nearly 40 other lawyers and staff, over the next several weeks. Combined with the seven partners who made the same move late last month, the group of hires includes 16 partners, 14 other lawyers and about 30 nonlawyer patent professionals.

Morgan Lewis is continuing a significant expansion of its market-leading intellectual property practice by adding a full-service patent prosecution and litigation team resident in Orange County and led by nine partners. The new partners already admitted to Morgan Lewis are Mark J. Itri, Christopher D. Bright, Michael G. Dreznes, M. Todd Hales, Soyeon Pak “Karen” Laub, John D. Magluyan, Andrew D. Mickelsen, and Nathan S. Smith. A ninth partner will be admitted later this week.