Patrick Hennessy joins from Gibson Dunn to advise on cross-border deals and data center transactions across Europe and Asia.
The answer · checked against Bloomberg Law News
Who is Patrick Hennessy and why did he join Latham & Watkins in London?
Patrick Hennessy joined Latham & Watkins as a partner in its London real estate practice, the firm announced Monday. Hennessy previously served as of counsel at Gibson Dunn and advises on cross-border M&A, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, and data center transactions across the UK, Europe, and Asia.
Key facts
- Patrick Hennessy joined Latham & Watkins as a partner in the firm's real estate practice in London, according to Latham & Watkins.
- Hennessy joins from Gibson Dunn, where he was of counsel, according to Latham & Watkins.
- Hennessy advises private equity firms, global real estate investment funds, and private companies on complex corporate real estate and real estate private equity transactions, according to Latham & Watkins.
- Hennessy advises clients across the UK, Europe, and Asia on cross-border M&A, disposals, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, and co-investments, according to Latham & Watkins.
- Hennessy has deep expertise in real estate M&A and data center transactions, according to Latham & Watkins.
Latham & Watkins hired Patrick Hennessy as a partner in its real estate practice in London, the firm announced Monday.
Hennessy advises private equity firms, global real estate investment funds and private companies on corporate real estate and real estate private equity transactions. He joins from Gibson Dunn, where he was of counsel.
The firm said Hennessy advises clients across the UK, Europe and Asia on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, disposals, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures and co-investments. He has deep expertise in real estate M&A and data center transactions, the firm said.
The hire adds to Latham's real estate bench in Europe at a time when private equity sponsors are competing for complex infrastructure assets. Data centers in particular have drawn heavy institutional investment as demand for computing capacity grows.
Hennessy's cross-border practice spans multiple jurisdictions, giving the firm additional capacity to advise on transactions that involve European and Asian markets. His experience covers both acquisition and disposal work for funds and sponsors.
The move comes as law firms compete to retain and recruit partners with expertise in alternative real estate sectors. Data center deals often involve joint ventures and co-investment structures, requiring counsel familiar with both real estate finance and technology infrastructure.
The Deployment Angle
Family Office Real Estate Daily Desk · our analysis, not the source's
This hire matters for family offices pursuing data center exposure through co-GP structures or separate accounts. Hennessy's joint venture and co-investment background suggests deal flow in sectors where family offices increasingly compete with institutional capital.
Data center transactions typically require specialised counsel because they straddle real estate, technology and infrastructure. The fact that a major firm is adding senior capacity in that practice indicates robust deal volume. Family offices considering platform capital investments in data center operators should expect intense competition for quality assets and pressure on entry pricing.
The cross-border element is significant. European and Asian data center markets trade at different yields than US deals, and currency and regulatory risk vary by jurisdiction. Family offices deploying capital internationally should underwrite jurisdiction-specific legal and tax friction, particularly in joint venture structures where minority protections and exit rights differ materially across borders.
Latham's move also signals continued sponsor appetite for leveraged real estate M&A despite higher financing costs. Family offices backing sponsors as LPs or co-investors should model refinancing risk in any deal structured with near-term debt maturities, especially in jurisdictions where construction lending remains constrained.
