News & Events | News

Thursday 18th October 2007

Leading European law firm, SJ Berwin LLP has recruited Stephen Hughes as a new partner in its real estate division. Stephen has joined SJ Berwin from Olswang, where he was a partner specialising  in advising property companies, developers and investors in relation to acquisitions, disposals, development and property management in all commercial property sectors.

Stephen will work closely with partner Nick Minkoff to help develop the firm's property company and entrepreneurial investor client base. Clients include Delancey, Londonewcastle,  Jesta Capital, Rowan Asset Management, Chelsfield and Wichford.

His appointment takes the number of UK real estate partners at SJ Berwin to 24, including 3 dedicated tax partners. There are in addition 3 partners specialising in real estate in our continental European offices.

SJ Berwin's real estate team has had a strong year to date, increasing turnover by 21% to £35.6 million (May 2007) and working on prestigious clients such as British Land, The Crown Estate, Candy and Candy, Gazeley and Brixton plc, all who have been active in the market place. The firm has recently been placed in the first tier categories in this year's Legal 500 for its work in property investment, development and hotels.

Bryan Pickup, Head of Division said, "We are delighted that a partner of Stephen Hughes' calibre has decided to join us. His experience, particularly in structured acquisitions and financing, will provide further depth to our already strong team."

For further information please contact:

Jon Vivian on +44 (0) 20 7111 2809, email jon.vivian@sjberwin.com  or Bryan Pickup on +44 (0) 20 7111 2468, email bryan.pickup@sjberwin.com  or Karen Roberts on +44 (0) 20 7111 2578, email karen.roberts@sjberwin.com   

• On 1 June 2005 SJ Berwin LLP, an English limited liability partnership, took over the business of the SJ Berwin general partnership.  SJ Berwin LLP or an affiliated undertaking has an office in Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris and Turin.
   
• SJ Berwin LLP was named ‘UK Firm of the Year’ at the 2005 Legal Week Awards on 30 November.  The award recognised SJ Berwin’s five years of international expansion and its involvement in a series of high quality deals.
   
• SJ Berwin's Real Estate Division totals 150 staff  in London of which 24 are partners (3 of which are tax partners) ,and over 70 associates, encompassing the disciplines of Commercial Real Estate, Construction, Planning & Environment, Property Litigation, Real Estate Funds and Tax.  In addition there are 3 dedicated European real estate partners.  There is an increasing emphasis on cross departmental activity with related areas of Banking and Corporate and also cross border / pan European real estate work, with our European offices.  The division acts for blue chip clients including British Land, Royal Bank of Scotland, the Hilton Group, Brixton plc, AXA, The Crown Estate, Marks & Spencer and Gazeley.
   
• The Real Estate Team was Legal Business Real Estate Team of the Year 2005.  It was also named "Real Estate Team of the Year" in the Lawyer Magazine Awards 2004, following its advice on the RBS/Canary Wharf transaction, the highest-value property investment transaction in the UK in 2004.
   
• Revenue from Real Estate represents approximately 21% of the firm's total revenue in London.