John O’Donoghue

John is a partner and head of the real estate department at Philip Lee. John has extensive real estate expertise and advises leading property companies, investors, developers, local authorities, state bodies, retailers and private individuals on the acquisition, development, management and disposal of commercial property. John has acted in many complex real estate transactions. He advises on all issues surrounding the acquisition, management, leasing and development of land and buildings.

John has considerable experience in the area of landlord and tenant law. He regularly advises on lettings to include negotiating both short-term and full repairing and insuring leases as well as management and service charge structures in developments.

“His level of knowledge and experience stands out.” Chambers Europe, 2021

“Very commercially minded.” Chambers Europe, 2021

In the area of real estate finance, John advises both lending institutions and borrowers on the property aspects of banking transactions and real estate security requirements. He also advises on the enforcement and realisation of property security including the appointment of receivers and liquidators.

John has acted for many clients in significant and complex transactions. Recent examples include:

• acting for a US private equity fund in the forward acquisition of over 500 residential units for PRS;
• acting for a leading Irish property developer in the forward sale of 150 residential units;
• acting for a number of property developers in the acquisition of residential and mixed use developments sites, the set-up and financing of the development schemes and the onward sale of individual units and block sales;
• acting for a number of multi-national companies in the leasing of significant office space in the Dublin docklands;
• acting for an Irish university in the acquisition of a building in Dublin;
• advising the agency responsible for the delivery of social housing in Ireland;
• acting for a solar developer in the acquisition of options for lands and wayleaves for solar development.

John is recommended in both Chambers Europe and Legal 500.

John has previously won the International Client Choice Awards for Real Estate in Ireland. The Client Choice awards recognise those law firms and partners around the world that stand apart for the excellent service they provide.