Lewis Gaut is a partner in the Real Estate Industry group and the Joint Venture and Real Estate Finance practices at Goodwin. He joined Goodwin in 2025.
Lewis advises major financial institutions, private equity firms, and real estate investors on a variety of structured finance transactions. His focus is on multi-jurisdictional real estate deals, providing financing for property acquisitions, developments, and investments. His extensive experience includes acting for sponsors and lenders on multi-layered, cross-border transactions often including back leverage.
Lewis is also well-regarded in sports finance, where he has advised on large-scale financings for clubs, investors, and leagues throughout Europe. He regularly advises on transactions involving club acquisitions, stadium development financings, and media rights deals across multiple jurisdictions.
Representative Matters
- Advised Castlelake on a € 470,000,000 joint venture with Samhällsbyggnadsbolaget i Norden AB (publ) to acquire a portfolio of community properties.
- Advised one of the largest real estate managers on the establishment of a a French debt fund, the advancement of a multi-currency, pan-European loan secured against a number of logistic centres throughout Europe, including back leverage provided by a global investment bank.
- Advised one of the largest real estate managers on the establishment of an Italian debt fund and the advancement of a number of loans in Italy secured against logistic assets.
- Advised a European data centre fund on the refinancing of several data centres in Germany, Spain, Ireland and the UK.
- Advised a consortium of investors on the acquisition and vendor financing of a portfolio of care homes in the UK.
- Acted for QDE, a subsidiary of the Qatari Investment Authority in connection with a green loan relating to the redevelopment of 30 Grosvenor Square (formerly the US Embassy) into a luxury hotel to be operated by Rosewood.
- Acted for an international real estate debt fund in connection with the establishment of a securitisation platform and the origination of various mezzanine and whole loans in Europe.
- Acted for a real estate debt fund in connection with a loan-on-loan financing, secured against various underlying loans in Western Europe.
- Acted for a real estate debt fund in connection with the origination of various real-estate-backed loans in Germany, Spain, France and the Netherlands.
- Acted for Crossroads Real Estate in connection with Europe's first enforcement action relating to a mezzanine lender's unilateral acquisition rights in connection with an investment and development loan to a hotel franchise holder, operating hotels in the Benelux region.
Eagle Football
- Represented Eagle Football, a London-based group founded by US digital entrepreneur and football enthusiast John Textor, on completing its acquisition of a significant controlling stake in Olympique Lyonnais. The transaction was structured as a combination of debt and equity funding, in addition to the contribution of John Textor’s existing football assets (Crystal Palace, Monlenbeek and Botafogo) into Eagle Football.
FC Barcelona Camp Nou
- Represented several investment banks and over 40 institutional investors on the award-winning €1.45 billion financing for FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou's redevelopment, utilizing a novel structure to secure funds for the stadium's modernization and enhancing future revenue potential.
Olympique Lyonnais
- Advised an investment bank and several institutional lenders on a €385 million refinancing for Olympique Lyonnais, restructuring the club’s finances to optimize debt and support future growth initiatives and including a stadium securitisation transaction relating to Olympic Lyonnais' stadium.
Sevilla FC Financing
- Advised investment banks and institutional investors on a €108 million financing package for Sevilla FC, secured against media revenues, enhancing liquidity and supporting the club's operational and financial objectives.
Real Betis
- Advised investment banks and institutional investors on Real Betis' €125 million financing deal, to support debt restructuring and the renovation of the Benito Villamarín Stadium, boosting future revenue potential.
FC Barcelona Media Rights Notes
- Advised investors on FC Barcelona’s €595 million issuance of privately placed notes, secured against media rights, generating critical funding for the club while leveraging future broadcasting revenues.
Premier League Emergency Financing for EFL
- Acted for the Premier League on its emergency financing package for the English Football League, providing critical funds to stabilize EFL clubs during the COVID Pandemic.
AS Roma Senior Secured Notes
- Represented AS Roma in issuing €275 million high-yield 5.125% Senior Secured Notes via ASR Media and Sponsorship S.p.A., securing funds for the club’s media and sponsorship operations.
FC Internazionale Milano Media Financing
- Advised a major American investment bank on a €325 million media financing for FC Internazionale Milano, leveraging future media revenues to strengthen the club's financial position.
Iconic English football club
- Advised the current ownership group of an iconic English football club over a period of several years on several equity and debt investments.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Development Financing
- Advised multinational investment banks on the £425 million financing for the development of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, facilitating its construction and positioning it as a world-class multi-use venue.
Top Premier League club
- Advised a major financial institution on credit facilities to a top Premier League football club, secured against the club’s media revenues.
Areas of Practice
Professional Activities
Lewis is an alumni member of the City UK Next Generation Leadership Council.
Lewis is also an active member of the Commercial Real Estate Financial Counsil (CRREFC)’s European back leverage forum.
Credentials
Education
LLB
The University of Birmingham
LPC
The College of Law, Birmingham
Admissions
Bars
- England and Wales