Yelena Nersesyan

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, acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, financing and refinancing of commercial real estate, including hotels, retail, industrial sites, office buildings, multifamily housing and data centers throughout the U.S. She also works with clients on real estate matters for energy and infrastructure projects and corporate and restructuring transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and corporate finance.

Work highlights

Yelena's recent deal highlights include*:

• DigitalBridge: advising the leading global alternative asset manager on its pending 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 pending 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

Yelena is a member of the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy, the co-chair of the Scholarship Committee of the Armenian Bar Association, and the co-chair of the firm’s Women’s Committee in the Americas. She is also actively involved in numerous mentoring and diversity initiatives at the firm, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for her colleagues and mentees. Yelena was previously recognized as a Rising Star by the Armenian Bar Association and Super Lawyers.