Portrait ofAmanda Howard

Amanda Howard

Partner

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
Cannon Place
78 Cannon Street
London
EC4N 6AF
United Kingdom
Languages English

Amanda leads CMS’s Funds and Indirect Real Estate team and the international CMS Funds Group. Amanda specialises in structuring and equity raisings for real estate funds, complex joint ventures for property investment and development, and corporate wrapped property acquisitions and disposals in the UK and across Europe. 

Amanda’s team has been recognised in Band 1 for Real Estate Investment Funds in the leading legal directories for many years, where Amanda is consistently named as a leading individual and in Who’s Who Legal as one of the Global Elite. 

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"Outstanding and first-rate" "Formidable" "Amanda Howard is noted for her market credibility"

Chambers & Partners

"The best negotiator in town" "Particularly adept at dealing with complex structures"

Legal 500

Relevant experience

  • QuadReal on their GBP 580m BTR and student accommodation portfolio acquisition in JV with Realstar and investment in the Realstar operating business. 
  • APG on their acquisition of Hammerson's 50% interest in the Euro 1.5bn VIA retail outlets pan-European operating business. 
  • Lendlease on their partnership with PSP Investments for the development of the Euro 2.5bn urban regeneration project, Milano Santa Giulia in Milan covering 110 hectares. 
  • QuadReal on the creation of a GBP 1bn urban logistics platform in UK, France and Germany with Valor Real Estate Partners. 
  • Principal Global Investors on their first pan-European Data Centre Fund focusing on manage-to-core data centre assets in core European markets.
  • QuadReal and PSP Investments on their GBP 600m PRS JV with URW to develop Cherry Park next to Westfield shopping centre, Stratford. 
  • CPPIB on their Euro 1.5bn UK PRS development JV with Lendlease. 
  • Ivanhoe Cambridge on their JV with Peel Logistics to develop a GBP 1bn UK logistics portfolio. 
  • Principal Global Investors on the establishment of the Principal European Durable Income Fund and the Principal European Data Centre Fund. 
  • Qatari Diar on their GBP 1.6bn JV restructuring of the UK Get Living PRS operating platform. 
  • Verdion on the establishment of the Verdion European Urban Logistics Fund. 
  • Canada Pension Plan Investment Board on its GBP 1.1bn acquisition of the Liberty Living student accommodation operating platform. 
  • Abrdn on the establishment of Euro Club 1, II and III, all pan-European closed ended funds; restructuring of its European Property Growth Fund, a pan-European open ended fund; and the rollover of their flagship Shopping Centre and Retail Warehouse funds.
  • AXA IM on the establishment of their 4-way JV to acquire and develop 22 Bishopsgate, London. 
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Memberships & Roles

  • Previous Chair of Investment Property Forum
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Education

  • 1986 – LL.B Law, University of Southampton
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Feed

09/04/2024
Focusing on Funds: An update on the Register of Overseas Entities regime
The UK’s Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (ECTE Act) originally implemented the Register of Overseas Entities regime in 2022 and as of 21 December 2023 has resulted in over 30,000 registrations at Companies House. In this Focusing on Funds we look at recent and upcoming changes to the Register of Overseas Entities regime made by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCT Act) and the implications for funds and other investors owning real estate in the UK through non-UK legal entities. What is new   The ECCT Act, which forms part of the UK’s ever expanding focus on implementing and enforcing transparency and enforcement legislation relating to economic crime and transparency of ownership, has amended the ECTE Act to expand the Register of Overseas Entities regime to include the following new re­quire­ments:Over­seas entities holding property as nominees must look through to the owners of the land for its  registrable beneficial owners (previously it only looked through to the owners of the nominee). Any legal entity in the overseas entity’s beneficial ownership chain that is a trustee (whether or not a professional trustee) is disclosable as a registrable beneficial owner, together with the supporting trust information. An overseas entity must disclose its principal office (previously it was possible to disclose its registered office instead). Likewise, it must disclose the principal office, rather than the registered office, of any registrable beneficial owner that is a legal entity. Tougher information and compliance requirements including the potential loss of registered status and the ability to deal with land. Other upcoming changes There are a number of other notable changes to the Register of Overseas Entity regime that will be brought in by the ECCT Act, but the Government has not yet indicated when these will come into force. These changes include:A requirement to provide the title number of the relevant property to Companies House – though this information will not be publicly available on the Register.A requirement to disclose the registrable beneficial owner(s) of the overseas entity between the period of 28 February 2022 and 31 January 2023. Further information is set out below. Fund managers and other investors in UK real estate should consider their UK land ownership structures, alongside any upcoming acquisitions and disposals, including certain leases in progress, to understand the implications on their organisations of the Register of Overseas Entities regime, including the latest and upcoming changes. . The Register of Overseas Entities – a recap and its implications The Register of Overseas Entities (the Register) is a separate public register at Companies House for non-UK legal entities (overseas entities) that directly own or acquire qualifying UK real estate. It was established by the ECTE Act and launched on 1 August 2022. The relevant overseas entity is required to give comprehensive information about itself, its ‘registrable beneficial owner(s)’ (including, where the registrable beneficial owner is a trustee, information about the trust) and, in some circumstances, its managing officers. UK companies (and other UK entities)  have to disclose their beneficial owner on a separate register under the People with Significant Control (PSC) regime. Information contained on the Register is for the most part available to the public. Overseas entities owning UK real estate (in particular, property registered since 1 January 1999 in England and Wales and since December 2014 in Scotland), or that have made disposals of UK real estate since 28 February 2022, originally had six months since 1 August 2022 to register on the Register. Overseas entities seeking to acquire UK real estate (freeholds and grants of leases of more than seven years) need to be registered on the Register at Companies House before an acquisition can be registered at the Land Registry.  For further detail regarding the implications of the Register for UK real estate transactions, including Land Registry requirements, see our Law Now “Important deadline imminent for Economic Crime Act”. Overseas entities on the Register are required to annually confirm and, when relevant, update their information on the Register, and can apply to be removed from the Register when they cease to hold qualifying UK real estate. For more information on the updating duty, see our Law Now “Be aware of the updating requirements for overseas entities at Companies House”. There are fines and criminal penalties for non-compliance – and non-compliance will seriously impact an overseas entity’s ability to acquire, sell, let or charge UK real estate. Scotland has its own transparency regime, the Register of Persons Holding Controlled Interests in Land, that applies there in addition to the Register of Overseas Entities regime. For more information on the Scottish regime, see our Law Now “Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land – (cms-lawnow. com)”. Overseas entity The obligation to register under the ECTE Act is on the ‘overseas entity’, which is a body corporate, partnership or other entity that (in each case) is a legal person governed by non-UK law. The overseas entity needs to provide specific information about itself, any ‘registrable beneficial owners’ (including, where the registrable beneficial owner is a trustee, information about the trust) and, in some cases, its managing officers to Companies House as part of its application to register on the Register. The information contained in the application for registration must be verified by a registered verifier. Information provided in the annual update statement must also be verified. Registrable beneficial owner(s) Overseas entities that register on the Register will need to identify their ‘registrable beneficial owner(s)’. A beneficial owner is an individual, a legal entity or a government or public authority (X), who meets any of the following conditions in relation to the overseas entity (Y):
04/03/2024
Popular investment vehicles in the UK and offshore jurisdictions
Updated on December 2023 Investment vehicle UK Limited Partnership [Private Fund Limited Partnership]UK Unauthorised Exempt Property Unit TrustOpen-Ended Investment Company (OEIC)Authorised Contractual...
Comparable
05/01/2024
Private placement of funds - Summary table
 
05/01/2024
AIFM passporting - Summary table
06/10/2022
Risk, Resilience and Reputation Webinar Series
We are launching a tailored training programme focusing on specific topics relevant to participants in the international funds industry focused on Risk, Resilience and Reputation. Whether you are a fund...
03/07/2022
CMS Funds Global Brochure
The world in which the international funds industry operates is changing at unprecedented speed. The economic consequences of Covid-19 present a massive challenge to some funds and an opportunity to others...
12/04/2022
Focusing on Funds - New Register for overseas legal entities and their...
On 15 March 2022, the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act (the Act) received Royal Assent after being fast-tracked through Parliament in response to the war in Ukraine. In this Focusing...
01/07/2021
CMS Funds Market Study 2021
Periodically, CMS takes soundings on the state of the market from our funds-related clients. Given the unprecedented nature of the last 12 months we thought this was an opportune time to look back over...
30/06/2021
CMS Funds Market Study 2021
Periodically, CMS takes soundings on the state of the market from our funds-related clients. Given the unprecedented nature of the last 12 months we thought this was an opportune time to look back over the last few years. This study analyses the key market trends in fund documentation of over 300 funds established in Europe, Asia, USA and offshore jurisdictions advised on by CMS offices throughout 2017 to 2020. We have also conducted client interviews, which are highlighted in this report, and conducted a selective survey of our international client base. We trust this CMS Funds Market Study will be a useful guide for both managers and investors this year. The size of our deal sample and the range of countries involved means that the study should be a uniquely valuable and rich resource for managers and investors. Our research indicates that funds industry players are clear on how to move forward and that, while strategies may have shifted, there are reasons for optimism and bullishness, unlike the gloom that descended after the global financial crisis in 2008. Looking forward we see an active funds market, with Luxembourg being the jurisdiction of choice for European funds. ESG is now a key focus for investors. This market impetus and regulatory drivers are moving sustainable investment from a niche focus into the mainstream for investors and managers alike. We also see managers increasingly looking at the benefits and impact of AI and technology with the tokenisation of assets and the use of blockchain. We see this pace of change accelerating. If you have any feedback or questions, we would love to hear from you.
24/05/2021
Focusing on Funds – AIFMD Consultation Paper
This Focusing on Funds looks at some of the European Commission consultation paper on the AIFMD. Background The Consultation follows an intervention by ESMA with its letter to the Commission raising numerous...
24/05/2021
Focusing on Funds – Merger Control: Part 1
This Focusing on Funds is topical for fund managers and investors as merger control enforcement continues to strengthen around the world and the number of jurisdictions where the issue is relevant continues...
24/05/2021
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) confirms that Sustainable Finance Disclosure...
This Focusing on Funds looks at new changes in the UK's approach to the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has confirmed that the SFDR will not apply...