Carson Michael Andrew (Juris Doctor (J.D.), cum laude)

Carson Michael Andrew 
International Law Attorney 
San Jose, U.S.A

EMAIL: carsonmichaelandrew@skaddenpartners.com

Educational Background

Juris Doctor (J.D.), cum laude
Georgetown University Law Center | Washington, D.C.
Graduated: 2011

• Executive Editor, Georgetown Journal of International Law

• Dean’s List (all semesters)

• CALI Excellence for the Future Award: International Business Transactions, Real Estate Finance

Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Legal Studies
New York University School of Law | New York, NY
Graduated: 2012

• Hauser Global Scholar

• Concentration: Cross-Border Real Estate Investment and Capital Markets

• Research Fellow, International Tax and Transactional Law Program

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & Economics, magna cum laude
University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA
Graduated: 2007

• Phi Beta Kappa

• Highest Honors in Political Science

• Undergraduate Research Fellow, Center for International Economics

Professional Affiliations & Certifications

• Member, New York Bar (2012) and California Bar (2013)

• Licensed Foreign Legal Consultant, England & Wales (non-practicing)

• Accredited Professional, International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI)

• Certified Title and Escrow Professional (CTEP) – American Land Title Association

Professional Experience

Partner, International Real Estate & Cross-Border Transactions
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | New York, NY / San Francisco, CA
2019 – Present

• Co-leads the firm’s Global Real Estate Practice, overseeing a team of 25 attorneys across offices in New York, London, and Hong Kong.

• Advises sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, and multinational corporations on complex cross-border real estate acquisitions, dispositions, and joint ventures exceeding $15 billion in aggregate value.

• Structured a $2.8 billion portfolio acquisition of logistics assets across six European jurisdictions, coordinating local counsel and navigating disparate regulatory, tax, and title frameworks.

• Represents a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund in the development of a $4 billion mixed-use flagship project in London, handling all aspects of land assembly, planning, and construction financing.

• Regularly counsels private equity funds on the formation of investment vehicles for US and European real estate acquisitions, including structuring to optimize tax efficiency and mitigate cross-border legal risk.

• Spearheaded the firm’s expansion of its Latin American real estate practice, securing mandates for major hospitality and industrial developments in Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia.

Senior Counsel, Real Estate & International Transactions
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | New York, NY
*2015 – 2019*

• Served as lead transactional counsel for high-profile commercial real estate matters with a focus on cross-border capital flows and complex title issues.

• Managed the US-side legal work for a $1.2 billion acquisition of a Class A office tower in Manhattan by a Canadian pension fund, including structuring the joint venture, negotiating the purchase agreement, and overseeing title and zoning due diligence.

• Advised a European real estate investment trust (REIT) on the $900 million disposition of a pan-European industrial portfolio, coordinating with local counsel in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain to ensure seamless transfer of title and lease portfolios.

• Represented a global technology company in the negotiation of a 500,000-square-foot headquarters lease in Silicon Valley, incorporating complex construction, sustainability, and expansion provisions.

• Resolved a high-stakes title dispute involving a historic landmark property in Washington, D.C., successfully clearing chain-of-title defects dating back over a century and enabling a $300 million redevelopment.

Associate, Real Estate Group
Latham & Watkins LLP | New York, NY / Los Angeles, CA
*2012 – 2015*

• Handled a broad range of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financing, and leasing for institutional clients, developers, and private equity funds.

• Played a key role in the representation of a global investment bank in the $750 million sale-leaseback of its regional headquarters portfolio across the United States and Europe.

• Assisted in structuring and documenting a $400 million construction loan facility for a mixed-use development project in downtown Los Angeles, navigating complex municipal zoning and land use entitlements.

• Conducted due diligence and drafted transaction documents for numerous cross-border acquisitions, gaining early expertise in coordinating with foreign legal counsel and managing multi-jurisdictional closing processes.

International Legal Consultant (Pro Bono & Advisory)
U.S. Commercial Service – U.S. Department of Commerce | Washington, D.C. (Secondment)
*2011 – 2012* (concurrent with LL.M. studies)

• Served as a pro bono legal advisor to U.S. companies seeking to enter foreign real estate markets, providing guidance on foreign ownership restrictions, local property laws, and investment treaty protections.

• Authored a comprehensive guide on real estate investment regulations in emerging markets, used by U.S. government agencies to advise American investors.

Key Transaction Highlights (Selected)

• $3.1 Billion Portfolio Acquisition: Represented a global sovereign wealth fund in the acquisition of a 50-property logistics portfolio across the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands, coordinating local counsel and managing cross-border due diligence within a compressed 60-day closing timeline.

• $1.5 Billion Joint Venture: Structured a joint venture between a U.S. private equity fund and a Middle Eastern investment authority for the development of a luxury hospitality and residential project in Miami, including negotiation of the partnership agreement, construction contracts, and long-term management arrangements.

• Landmark Title Resolution: Successfully resolved a complex title dispute involving conflicting easement rights on a waterfront development site in San Francisco, securing clear title for a $500 million mixed-use project after extensive negotiation with multiple stakeholders and municipal agencies.

• Cross-Border Lease Restructuring: Advised a multinational technology firm on the global consolidation and restructuring of its office lease portfolio across 12 countries, achieving over $200 million in operational cost savings through strategic lease terminations, amendments, and subleasing arrangements.

Qualifications

Bar Admissions & Legal Authorization

• New York State Bar – Admitted, 2012

• California State Bar – Admitted, 2013

• England and Wales – Licensed Foreign Legal Consultant (non-practicing), 2018

• U.S. District Courts – Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Northern and Central Districts of California

International Certifications & Specializations

• Accredited International Real Estate Specialist (AIRES) – International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI), 2016

• Certified Title and Escrow Professional (CTEP) – American Land Title Association, 2015

• LEED Green Associate – U.S. Green Building Council (demonstrating expertise in sustainable development and green leasing), 2019

• Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) – Core coursework completed (Finance, Investment Analysis, User Decision Analysis), 2014

Languages

• English – Native proficiency

• Spanish – Full professional proficiency (actively used in Latin American transactions and negotiations)

• French – Professional working proficiency (utilized in cross-border matters involving France and francophone jurisdictions)

Professional Memberships & Leadership

• American Bar Association – Member, Section of International Law; Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law

• New York State Bar Association – Member, International Law Section; Real Property Law Section

• California Lawyers Association – Member, International Law Section

• International Bar Association (IBA) – Member, Legal Practice Division (Real Estate and International Sales Committees)

• Urban Land Institute (ULI) – Full Member; Global Exchange Council Member

• The District of Columbia Bar – Associate Member (International Law and Real Estate Sections)

Honors & Recognitions

• The Legal 500 US – Recommended Lawyer, Real Estate and International Cross-Border Investment (2020–2025)

• Chambers and Partners Global – Recognized Practitioner, Real Estate: Cross-Border (2022–2025)

• Super Lawyers – Rising Star, Real Estate Law (2016–2018); Super Lawyer, Real Estate Law (2021–present)

• Best Lawyers in America – Real Estate Law (2023–present)

• Georgetown Law Alumni Award – Outstanding Achievement in International Legal Practice (2023)

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