Real Estate & Projects · Practice

Development Projects

Structuring, procuring, and delivering the region's most ambitious development projects.

Overview

From land to opening day.

We advise developers, sponsors, and joint venture participants on the full lifecycle of development projects — commercial, residential, mixed-use, and hospitality.

Our lawyers combine real estate depth with construction, planning, financing, and disputes capability — one team from concept to completion.

  • Development JV structuring
  • Construction procurement
  • Planning and approvals
  • Completion and stabilisation
Firm Perspective

How we approach this practice.

We advise developers, investors, and contractors on commercial, residential, and mixed-use projects — spanning land acquisition, zoning and planning approvals, construction financing, and the structuring of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). We understand the cyclical nature of the property market and structure deals to withstand volatility.

Capabilities

The full development lifecycle.

Every mandate draws on the same integrated bench — corporate, regulatory, tax, and disputes — sequenced by a single partner.
Development JVs

Land-owner / developer JVs, waterfall economics, and reserved matters architecture.

Construction Procurement

FIDIC and NEC-based construction contracts, EPC arrangements, and consultant appointments.

Planning & Approvals

Change of user, NEMA, and county-level approvals sequenced against the delivery plan.

Development Finance

Development, mezzanine, and forward-funding arrangements with lender-side coordination.

Pre-lets & Forward Sales

Pre-let, pre-sale, and forward-funding structures with institutional counterparties.

Delivery Risk

Delivery risk allocation, delay claims, and disputes-integrated project management.

How We Work

A disciplined path from concept to close.

  1. 01
    Commercial Alignment

    We start with the commercial map — economics, control, contributions, and outcome — before drafting a single clause.

  2. 02
    Structural Blueprint

    A structuring memo sets out the vehicle, jurisdiction, tax treatment, and regulatory path, benchmarked against comparable matters.

  3. 03
    Documentation

    Bespoke documentation drafted as an integrated instrument set — designed to survive later scrutiny.

  4. 04
    Approvals & Closing

    Regulator engagement, condition-precedent management, and a disciplined closing choreography.

  5. 05
    Stewardship

    Ongoing counsel through the life of the matter — governance, calendaring, and dispute-prevention.

Key Contacts

Partners leading the practice.

Hudheifa Aden
Hudheifa Aden
Managing Partner
Jacktone Nengo
Jacktone Nengo
Partner
Related Practice Areas

Where this work connects.

Insight
Development JVs and profit share structures — a practitioner's view.
Read the briefing
Instruct the Firm

Considering a matter? Speak with the partner who will run it.

Contact the Firm to discuss your transaction, project, dispute or regulatory matter.