Profile
Steven Cowins, Co-Chair of the firm's Global Real Estate Funds Practice, focuses his practice on private equity and fund formation matters. He regularly advises clients on establishing a wide range of UK, pan-European and global real estate funds, segregated mandates as well as joint ventures and M&A.
His clients include prominent fund managers, funds, family offices and financial institutions such as:
- BlackRock
- British Airways Pension Fund
- Deutsche Finance International
- Europa Capital
- Greater Manchester Pension Fund
- Heim Global Investor (Heimstaden)
- Heitman
- Hines
- M&G
- NREP (now part of Urban Partners)
- Oaktree Capital Management
- Paloma Capital
- Patrizia
- Precede Capital Partners
- Revcap
- Schroders
- Starwood Capital
- Tristan Capital Partners
- Valor Real Estate Partners
In Chambers & Partners UK 2024, Steven is referred to as “the most commercially aware lawyer I have worked with in my career. He is a strong and driven leader of a fantastic team.” In The Legal 500 UK 2025, Steven is recognised as a Leading Partner. The Guide refers to Steven as follows “exceptional commercial acumen, strong negotiator and very well connected” and his team as “hardworking, technically strong and collaborative, delivering excellent advice due to a commercial approach and deep knowledge of the market”.
Concentrations
- Fund formation
- Separate accounts, segregated mandates, and joint ventures
- M&A
- Secondaries
- Platform formation and GP stakes
Capabilities
Experience
Steven has worked on a number of high-profile matters including:
- Advising AEW Europe on the formation of its second pan-European value-add fund.
- Advising BlackRock on the establishment of a life sciences vehicle valued at over GBP 1 billion.
- Advising Deutsche Finance International on the formation of its third European value-add real estate fund targeting in excess of EUR 1 billion of commitments.
- Advising Europa Capital on the formation of its continental diversified income fund with a target capital raise of EUR 2 billion as well as Europa value-add funds IV, V and VI, Europa’s UK debt funds and the establishment of the Europa Generation student accommodation platform.
- Advising the UK’s largest local authority pension fund, Greater Manchester Pension Fund on its investment into a GBP 25 billion + specialist fund vehicle.
- Advising Heim Global Investor on the establishment and first close of its new GBP 700 million UK residential development fund.
- Advising Heitman on the recapitalisation, and continuation of its German and Dutch residential fund, valued at EUR 500 million.
- Advising NREP (now part of Urban Partners) on the formation of two German focussed debt funds including its first ESG/sustainable debt fund focussed on green senior and mezzanine loan investments in Germany and the Nordics.
- Advising Paloma Capital on the formation of its first three UK focused value-add funds and its continuation vehicle with a cornerstone investor.
- Advising Precede Capital Partners on the establishment of, and investment by QuadReal Property Group into, their new GBP 1 billion debt platform and its second segregated mandate with QuadReal Property Group targeting mezzanine debt investments in UK real estate assets.
- Advising Starwood on its joint venture with Lendlease and the acquisition of the GBP 3.5 billion Silvertown development site in East London.
- Advising Valor Real Estate Partners on the establishment of, and investment by Blackstone into, a new GBP 1 billion long-life, core-plus platform, focused on the European logistics sector.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed in Chambers UK Guide, "Investment Funds: Real Estate," Band 2, 2022-2024, Band 1, 2025
- Listed,Chambers Europe, "Investment Funds: Real Estate - UK," 2020, 2022-2024
- Listed, IFLR 1000 United Kingdom, "Rising Star Partner" Investment funds, M&A, 2018-2024
- Team Member, PERE Global Awards, Law Firm of the Year: Fund Formation in Europe, 2018
- Listed, The Legal 500 United Kingdom, 2017-2025
- Commercial Property: Development, 2025
- Commercial Property: Investment, 2022-2025
- Real Estate Funds, 2022-2025
- "Leading Partner," 2025
Credentials
- Nottingham Trent Law School, 2002
- Leicester University, 2001
- England and Wales