John Dean
Head of Real Estate
A problem solver, lateral thinker, pragmatic and sharply focused on detail. Driven by client needs and perspectives gained from being a family man and having over 25 years’ experience in private legal practice, commerce and as a financial adviser and mortgage broker.
What we say about John
John specialises in property investment, asset management, funding and development as well as acting for owner occupiers. He has extensive experience in the healthcare, office, charity, retail, hotel and leisure and education sectors as well as other general commercial real estate work. John’s experience also includes advising the retail petroleum market and on compulsory purchase where he has acted for both acquiring authorities and affected landowners.
John also acts for a substantial number of private clients and their families whom he advises on a wide range of matters including cross-jurisdictional Estate planning, residential property and leasehold reform matters. He is regularly consulted by individuals, funds, trusts, companies, charities and UK and overseas clients on personal, employment and business matters of a variety of natures. He also has a large number of professional executorships.
John has spent most of his legal career at the firm now known as BDB Pitmans where he was Head of Real Estate Investment and Healthcare Development. He has also been Head of Property at Kidd Rapinet’s city office and joined McCarthy Denning in 2017 from Seddons.
Originally a linguist, John is proficient in a number of languages and has clients across the globe, who own assets in multiple jurisdictions. He is the main UK point of contact in a network of 21 law firms across 4 continents.
Prior to retraining as a lawyer, John worked as National Sales Manager for an electronics company before working in finance and tax within the BAT Industries Group. In addition to being a partner at McCarthy Denning, John is general counsel to the Airivo property group and also has his own real estate consultancy. He is a trustee of several charities and Chair of Governors of St Philip’s School, Kensington. He is a keen bridge player and a former national champion.
Highlights
Recent experience includes:
- Representing for a number of years a key stakeholder in the £300 million Blackwall Reach Regeneration Project;
- Representing a key stakeholder in the £250 million lottery-funded regeneration of a heritage site in Wales
- Advising on the management and proposed disposal of a £300 million office investment in the city.
- Purchasing a number hotels for overseas investors and leading a team advising on acquisition structure, property, commercial, data protection, intellectual property, employment and construction issues.
- Working on a number of developments advising from inception to completion on acquisition, planning, pre-letting and funding arrangements.
- Advising a large number of charities on the acquisition, development, refinancing and management of their properties.
- Advising on numerous asset management issues, renewals, licences and landlord and tenant disputes.
- Advising several generations of a number of families with assets in multiple jurisdictions on Estate planning and on property and business ownership structures.