News | Real Estate

SJ Berwin LLP Hires New Equity Partner: Rob Thompson From Taylor Wessing

Monday 26th June 2006

Corporate and commercial law firm SJ Berwin LLP has hired Rob Thompson, a real estate partner at Taylor Wessing to join its real estate division as a partner.  His appointment takes the number of partners in SJ Berwin's real estate division to 22.

Rob Thompson qualified in September 1995 and took his articles at Taylor Joynson Garrett, prior to the firm becoming Taylor Wessing. He spent his entire legal career to date there, becoming a partner in 2002.

Thompson specialises in investment work, but also has development expertise, as well as acting for large corporates - key areas of growth for SJ Berwin.

He has also been involved in the integration of Taylor Wessing's UK and German real estate practices.

Bryan Pickup, Head of SJ Berwin's real estate division said, "Rob Thompson's appointment would consolidate our offer to our real estate clients.  As well as work in the UK, Rob would provide an invaluable resource for our UK clients who are looking to invest in Germany, allied to European fund work."

He continued, "We are delighted to have attracted a partner of Rob's calibre to the firm, particularly at a time when it is difficult for law firms to make senior lateral hires.  We are very excited about the potential business development opportunities his appointment provides for us."

Rob Thompson's appointment comes hot on the heels of SJ Berwin real estate associate Michael Scott being promoted to the partnership, which was effective from May 1st 2006.


Notes:
  • 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 and Paris.
  • 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 118 staff of which 22 are partners (with 3 additional tax partners) and 50 associates, encompassing the disciplines of Commercial Real Estate, Construction, Planning & Environment, Property Litigation and Real Estate Funds.  In addition, there are 3 dedicated real estate tax partners.  There is an increasing emphasis on cross firm activity with related areas of Banking and Corporate.  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 is 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.
 
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