Francis was named as a 'One to Watch' in Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law, highlighting his legal and commercial acumen and the trust which clients place in him.
– Best Lawyers Australia
Francis is a Special Counsel in the Corporate, M&A and Capital Markets team working on market-leading real estate capital transactions for some of the world’s largest real estate investors, including Blackstone, Mitsui Fudosan, Invesco and Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing.
Francis was part of the team that advised Blackstone on its acquisition of Crown Resorts, a transaction that was named 2023 M&A Deal of the Year by Australasian Law Awards.
Francis has a strong working relationship with the Foreign Investment Review Board, having successfully obtained approval for some of Australia’s most complex and politically sensitive real estate investments.
- Blackstone Inc.:
- Advised on its A$8.9 billion takeover of Crown Resorts.
- Advised on its A$500+ million acquisition of Student One, a portfolio of purpose-built student accommodation in Brisbane and the related operating business.
- Advised on its A$3.8 billion sale of the Milestone logistics portfolio to ESR and GIC.
- Advised on its A$2.1 billion acquisition of GIC's 49% interest in the Dexus Australian Logistics Trust, which at the time had exposure to 77 industrial assets.
- Mitsui Fudosan:
- Advised on its A$1 billion+ acquisition of 55 Pitt Street, Sydney, a premium office development to be delivered as a joint venture with Mirvac.
- Advised on its real estate investments arising out of its capital partnership with Frasers Property Australia, including its investment in Sydney's Midtown MacPark, a residential development to be delivered as a joint venture.
- Invesco Real Estate: Advised on its entry into a strategic partnership with Stockland to support the delivery of approximately 1,190 homes across three land lease communities.
- Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing: Advised on its various capital partner transactions, including fund through developments for office and industrial properties.
- Realterm: Advised on the formation of its joint venture with Swiss-based global private equity firm Partners Group, leading to its acquisition of an industrial outdoor storage facility (IOS) in Sydney. The acquisition represents Realterm's entry into the Australian market.
- Frasers Hospitality: Advised on its A$315 million sale of the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth to KKR. At the time of the sale, this transaction was Australia's largest single-asset hospitality deal.
- Challenger: Advised on its A$150 million sale of the Next Hotel in Brisbane.
- NSW Government:
- Advised Health Infrastructure on the establishment of a new company to operate a world-leading viral vector manufacturing facility located at Westmead, which will secure viral vector supply for Australian researchers and give patients access to groundbreaking therapies.
- Advised Health Infrastructure in relation to the NSW Government’s proposal to establish and support an RNA pilot manufacturing facility in Macquarie Park.
- Advised Transport for NSW in relation to the NSW Government's $11 billion sale of its 49% interest in WestConnex in 2021 and $9 billion sale of its 51% interest in WestConnex in 2018.