Leona Ahmed

Leona is an investment and development specialist focused on inbound capital from across Asia and the Middle East seeking to invest in UK and European real estate. Much of her experience is in highly structured and complex transactions involving tax planning and financing and joint ventures.

Leona has over 25 years of UK real estate experience and in the earlier part of her career worked with some of the UK’s biggest property institutions including Columbia Threadneedle, Legal & General, AXA REIM and Federated Hermes. Her focus for the last 8 years has been working collaboratively with clients (family offices, UHNW and overseas funds) based in Asia or the Middle East to invest in commercial real estate over several sectors including offices, student accommodation and hotels.

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Career

Since 2023	Partner, Taylor Wessing
2007 – 2023	Partner, Addleshaw Goddard
2001 – 2007	Partner, Lawrence Graham

1996 – 2000	Associate, Lawrence Graham
1990 – 1995	Legal executive

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Education

1996	Admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales
1996	Legal Practice Course, College of Law Chester
1995	Institute of Legal Executive Exams, University of Westminster (Night School)

Expertise

Sectors Private wealth

Experience

Student accommodation specialist	Acting for a Singapore based student accommodation specialist on the acquisition and forward purchase of several university campuses.
UK student accommodation	Acting for a Singaporean client on the acquisition of a UK student accommodation portfolio and management platform.
Kuwaiti investment	Acting for Kuwaiti investment powerhouse on its acquisition of a portfolio of UK out of town offices including the shariah structuring and financing of the transactions, as well as the acquisition of a grade A office building in central Frankfurt including and shariah structuring and financing.

Government Embassy	Acquisition of the new site for a Government Embassy including leasing with the UK authorities on the sovereign status of the land and the tax treatment for the transaction with HMRC.
Trophy asset	Sale of a London trophy asset to a new Malaysian consortium including the development agreement for completion of the offices, residential and retail elements of the main development.

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Awards