Ali Chouhdry is a Partner specialising in high-value and complex commercial real estate transactions, development and real estate finance. He acts for HNW and UHNW individuals, institutional investors, funds, private equity, overseas corporates and family offices, particularly on matters involving cross-border and offshore structures. Ali is known for delivering commercially driven outcomes with clarity and precision, often within demanding timeframes and under complex deal structures.
His practice spans the full spectrum of commercial real estate, including investment acquisitions and disposals, development site purchases and finance, Islamic finance structures, portfolio refinances, commercial leasing, auction and pre-auction transactions, and ongoing asset management. He regularly advises Middle Eastern investors and Shariah-compliant financiers, and is experienced in transactions requiring sophisticated documentation, lender engagement and risk management.
Clients value Ali’s personable manner, accessibility and pragmatic style. He builds long-standing relationships with HNW and UHNW individuals, family offices and corporate clients, acting not only as a transactional lawyer but as a trusted adviser across portfolios and jurisdictions. He combines commercial awareness with strategic judgement to deliver solutions-focused advice aligned with wider business objectives. Frequently instructed by repeat domestic and international clients across portfolios and jurisdictions, Ali is a trusted point of reference for sophisticated commercial real estate work within the firm.
Representative Experience
- Advising on a circa £28.3m multi-asset commercial real estate acquisition, structured as a single overarching transaction involving multiple SPV share purchases and direct asset acquisitions, incorporating completion accounts, lender financing and inter-conditional completions.
- Acting for a UHNW client on a joint venture and long-term lease for a SEND school, with EBITDARM-linked rent subject to a £1.45m per annum floor over a 20-year term.
- Acting on the £5.8m Murabaha refinance of a prime West End / Chelsea office building owned through an offshore structure with Saudi-based UBOs, completing within three weeks.
- Advising HNW and UHNW clients on the acquisition of residential real estate in excess of £6m in Wimbledon and Cambridge.
- Advising a landlord on the surrender and regrant of a cinema lease, securing approximately £9m of rental income over the term.
- Acting on the £5.5m pre-auction acquisition of a Holborn office building subject to occupational tenants, achieving exchange within one week.
- Acting on the grant of leases of prime central London office space at rents in excess of £500,000 per annum.
- Advising on the acquisition of circa £100m of pubs and boutique hotels nationwide over the last five years.
- Acting for a borrower on an urgent bridging finance transaction secured against commercial real estate in Luton, completing within two weeks in the context of an active winding-up petition.
Recognition
Ali is recognised as a Recommended Lawyer in The Legal 500 UK (2025 and 2026) for Commercial Property: Hospitality and Leisure, where he is also noted as a Key Lawyer.
Ali Chouhdry
Socio inmobiliario
