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James Trafford

Partner
Co-Head of Global Real Estate and Planning

James leads our global real estate team, having been a partner since 2008. He is ranked in Chambers UK and rated a leading individual in the Legal 500. James previously led our global corporate real estate practice across multiple jurisdictions and our hundred plus strong Cardiff real estate team.

James’ clients include many high profile UK and international corporates operating in diverse sectors such as energy and infrastructure, financial institutions, transport, technology and consumer.

He has extensive experience in:

  • Corporate HQs and key operational sites
  • Strategic structuring advice
  • Large scale acquisition, disposal, re-location programmes
  • Asset management of diverse portfolios
  • International expansion and global real estate transactions.
  • James has a specific speciality in energy projects for corporates, leading on a number of multi billion pound projects across a range of technologies including offshore wind, interconnectors and nuclear.

He has a particular interest in the energy transition and efficiency and how this is impacting upon owners and users of corporate real estate.

He co-authored and presented the Blundell Lecture: “Tilting at Windfarms: Renewable Energy and Property Law Issues”.

James's significant transaction experience includes:

  • for RWE on the land aspects of the Triton Knoll offshore wind project from 2010 culminating in the disposal in 2019 of 41% to J-Power and Kansai Electric Power and the £1.75bn financing by a consortium of 15 European banks
  • for Equinor and SSE on the Doggerbank offshore wind projects culminating in the circa £5bn financing by a club of banks. This followed work for the Forewind Consortium for over a decade on the world's largest offshore wind development
  • for EDF Nuclear New Build Generation on Sizewell C nuclear power station, a £20bn planned development to serve six million homes
  • advising on over 20 offshore wind projects
  • leading on real estate for National Grid Ventures on the North Sea Link and Viking interconnector projects
  • the acquisition and disposal of many of Centrica's CCGT power stations
  • Co-authored and presented the Blundell Lecture: Tilting at Windfarms: Renewable Energy and Property Law Issues
  • Ranked in Chambers UK and rated a leading individual in The Legal 500
  • Ranked in Chambers UK 2018, 2019
  • The Legal 500 United Kingdom Leading Individual 2015
  • The Legal 500 United Kingdom Recommended Lawyer 2014
  • Legal Practice Course, 1997 
  • Common Professional Examination, 1996
  • BA in Modern History, Pembroke College, Oxford, 1992-1995
James Trafford

Partner

Co-Head of Global Real Estate and Planning

James Trafford

Partner

Co-Head of Global Real Estate and Planning

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