Overview
Yelena is a Counsel in the New York office and leads the Firm's U.S. Real Estate practice.
Yelena is a Counsel in the New York office and leads the Firm’s U.S. Real Estate practice. She advises clients on joint ventures and on the acquisition, disposition, leasing, financing and refinancing of commercial real estate, including hotels, retail space, industrial sites, office buildings, multifamily housing and data centers across the U.S. Yelena also advises on the real estate aspects of complex mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, infrastructure and energy projects and restructuring transactions, regularly assisting sponsors, investors and corporates with structuring and executing real estate heavy deals across asset classes.
Experience
Yelena's recent deal highlights include*:
- Global bank: Advising the lenders in connection with the financing of the Port Liberty Bayonne Terminal and Port Liberty New York Terminal, both operated by CMA CGM, a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions.
- Syngene International, a listed Indian pharmaceutical research, development, and manufacturing services company: advising on its acquisition of its first U.S. biologics facility from Emergent BioSolutions, an American multinational specialty biopharmaceutical company.
- DigitalBridge: advising the leading global alternative asset manager on its acquisition of Yondr Group — a global developer, owner and operator of hyperscale data centres in the Americas, EMEA, APAC and India.
- Volkswagen: advising on its US$5.8bn investment and electric vehicle technology joint venture with California EV manufacturer Rivian.
- Dow Inc.: advising on its partnership transaction with Macquarie Asset Management to launch US$6bn Diamond Infrastructure Solutions.
- Aperam S.A.: advising the global leader in stainless and specialty steel solutions on its acquisition of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: USAP) in an all-cash transaction.
- McGrathNicol: advising the receiver of the Caydon Group on the US$76.5m refinancing of existing facilities secured by a multifamily and retail property located in Houston, Texas.
- General Motors: advising on its strategic partnership with TWG Motorsports to form the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, which will join the FIA Formula One World Championship grid in March 2026.
- Activision Blizzard Inc.*: advising on its US$75bn acquisition by Microsoft Corporation.
- Landmark Healthcare Companies LLC*: advising in a US$750m transaction involving medical office buildings.
- MGM Resorts International (MGM Resorts)*: advising in its US$4.25bn sale of the Bellagio to a joint venture MGM Resorts formed with Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, and its leaseback of the Bellagio.
- J. Crew*: advising in connection with the company’s financial restructuring and modification of its leases.
- Fortress Investment Group*: advising in numerous real estate financing transactions.
- Chevron U.S.A. Inc.*: advising in its joint venture with Mercuria Energy Trading Inc. to acquire and operate American Natural Gas LLC.
- KSL Capital Partners*: advising in a minority investment in Honors Holdings, a franchisee of Orangetheory Fitness.
*includes experience prior to joining Linklaters
Admissions