• NI: Cleaver Fulton Rankin advises Microsoft on Belfast cyber security centre

Belfast-based Cleaver Fulton Rankin has advised Microsoft on the establishment of its Belfast-based cyber security centre, which will create 85 new jobs.

The Department for the Economy is providing £800,000 in funding for pre-employment training places at Belfast Met and Invest Northern Ireland has offered £150,000 of support towards the creation of 25 of the 85 planned roles.

Hilary Griffith, head of the corporate and commercial team at Cleaver Fulton Rankin, said: “We are delighted to have been involved in the establishment of Microsoft’s new cyber security centre in Belfast.

“The new office and creation of 85 new jobs, is a clear vote of confidence in the technology sector in Northern Ireland and is testament to the highly skilled talent produced by our Universities and the support given by the Department for the Economy and Invest Northern Ireland.

“Our involvement in this transaction, illustrates the quality and expertise of Cleaver Fulton Rankin’s technology team. The team brings together expertise in corporate and commercial, employment and immigration, banking and finance and real estate providing advice which protects and enhances the interests of our technology clients.”

• NI: Wilson Nesbitt advises Radius Housing Association on £105m bond
  

Wilson Nesbitt has advised Northern Ireland’s largest housing association, Radius, on the real estate elements of its £105 million private bond placement with seven international investors.

The funding deal, one of the of its kind in Northern Ireland this year, is secured against the housing association’s portfolio of around 3,000 properties.

Partner Drew Nesbitt led the firm’s team, assisted by colleagues Neil Logan, Max Nesbitt, Rowan Gibney, Adam McCann and Izabela Treacy.

The firm worked with counterparts in England and the USA on the transaction.

Mr Nesbitt said: “We’re delighted to be able to advise Radius on the Northern Irish real estate elements of its bond placement. This is a great example of local expertise helping a key client to access finance on international markets which can then be reinvested in the local social housing sector.

“We understand this is one of the largest loan transactions of its kind in Northern Ireland this year.”

Alan Thomson, director of finance at Radius, said: “This was a complex deal, carried out within a very tight timescale and requiring careful negotiation with US and UK lawyers. The Wilson Nesbitt team provided the necessary flexibility, expertise and attention to detail, to get us over the line.”

• ByrneWallace acts for smart energy tech company in €10.5m financing round

ByrneWallace has acted for smart energy technology company GridBeyond in its €10.5million Series B financing round.

Neil Keenan, partner and head of corporate, led the team advising on the transaction, assisted by senior associate Daniel Holohan and solicitors Emmet Connolly and Conor Moran.

The funding round was led by the Portuguese utility EDP - Energias de Portugal with existing shareholders ESB and ACT Venture Capital also participating along with Total Carbon Neutrality Ventures, a €400 million fund owned by Total Group.

GridBeyond intends to use the new investment to scale the business further, expand in to new markets, and also intends to double its workforce over the next three years, and invest further in research and development.

• A&L Goodbody advises Union Investment on acquisition of 9,600 sq m office
  

A&L Goodbody has advised Union Investment on the acquisition of a planned Dublin office block for an undisclosed sum.

Commercial real estate partner Stephen O’Riordan and associate Denise Wall advised Union Investment, the investment arm of Germany’s DZ Bank, on the deal.

The 9,600 square metre property is at 2 Grand Parade and was acquired through a forward funding deal which will see its former owner, US property group Hines, and its Hong Kong partner, the Peterson Group, build the property on a speculative basis.

A spokesperson for A&L Goodbody said: “We wish them every success as the development work progresses.”

• Eversheds Sutherland advises LinkedIn on office expansion

Eversheds Sutherland has acted on behalf of LinkedIn to agree a deal which will see the company take three more office buildings in Dublin.

LinkedIn have pre-let 430,000 sq. ft. of office space at Two to Four Wilton Park from property fund IPUT which are targeted for completion in 2023.

The social media company had previously agreed to lease 150,000 sq. ft. at One Wilton Park in October 2018.

Partner Peter Curran said: “Eversheds Sutherland were delighted to act on behalf of LinkedIn to agree a deal which will see them take three more office buildings at IPUT’s Wilton Place scheme in Dublin 2.”

• BHSM advises Real IS on letting to Knotel at the Bloodstone Building

BHSM has advised German real estate management company Real IS on the letting of grade A offices at the Bloodstone Building to Knotel.

Flexible workspace provider Knotel has leased 816 square metres of space at the Bloodstone Building on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2.

Giles G. Smyth, partner and head of real estate, led the BHSM team, assisted by senior real estate associate Michelle McArdle.