Editorial: Real Estate

01 October 2007

Most Highly Regarded Individuals - Global
LawyerFirm
Nina MatisKatten Muchin Rosenman LLP, Chicago
Carl Seneker IIMorrison & Foerster LLP, San Francisco
Morton Fisher JrBallard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP, Baltimore
Joseph Philip ForteAlston & Bird LLP, New York
Richard GoldbergBallard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP, Philadelphia
Simon ClarkLinklaters LLP, London
Sanford WeinerVinson & Elkins LLP, Houston
Martin PolevoyDLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP, New York
Juli MorrowGoodmans LLP, Toronto
Ira WaldmanCox Castle & Nicholson LLP, Los Angeles
Geoff Le PardFreshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, London
Frédéric NouelGide Loyrette Nouel, Paris

This chapter identifies 428 leading practitioners from 34 jurisdictions. Compared with the make-up of the previous edition, it is clear that many firms are expanding their reach, offering clients the benefits of an increasingly international platform.

Global Grip


DLA Piper has an ever-widening global network: new offices opened in Munich and Warsaw in the past few months. The firm boasts 23 individuals in this publication - a feat unmatched by any other firm. These practitioners are based in six countries - and seven US states - demonstrating the firm's presence in the international real estate market. Real estate is one of the firm's 12 core service groups, which employs over 600 lawyers across its 60-plus offices. Oskar Winkler is head of the real estate group in Austria and central and eastern Europe and has a broad and "impressive" domestic and international practice. In Belgium, Francois de Montpellier joined DLA in July 2007 and has established an "enviable reputation" in the Brussels market. David Taylor in London is joint global leader and EMEA group head of the real estate practice (responsible for the practice groups across Europe, the Middle East and Africa). Taylor is a "major operator" and has acted in development and urban regeneration transactions as well as in the public sector, where he has represented government bodies and local authorities in connection with property-related issues including PFI, accommodation projects and land development. The final European entry is Olaf Schmidt from Italy, who heads the real estate practice group and is evidently very well regarded for his work in the area. The firm can also be proud of the inclusion of Tom O'Grady, the only individual selected in the United Arab Emirates. O'Grady is head of real estate, Middle East and is based in Dubai. He is known for his expertise in the area of large-scale, mixed-use regeneration schemes and has worked on a number ofthem in the UK, including the $750 million mixed-use redevelopment of the Southgate area of Bath. In the Middle East, O'Grady has acted for the purchasers of a labour camp project in Dubai and advised on the potential sale to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) investors as well as advising on plot sale and purchase agreement with developers for a major project in Abu Dhabi.

 

Aside from DLA's international talent, the firm also excels in the US. Martin Polevoy heads the real estate practice group in New York and is included in our breakdown of the practice area's elite practitioners. He is well known for representing the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as real estate counsel in the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site and was described to researchers as "a star". Jay Epstien is chairman of the firm's US real estate practice group and regarded as "absolutely outstanding" by his peers. He is particularly well known for his work in the shopping centre industry. Epstien is joined in DC by another "major player in the market", Frederick Klein. Klein represents both lenders and borrowers and is well versed in purchase and sale transactions and major development projects. In California the firm fields five partners. Michael Meyer is known as "the best in California for leasing work" and has worked with clients such as Bank of America, City National Bank and The Capital Group. The "very well respected" Alan Wayte is senior counsel to the firm and is joined from the Los Angeles office by Pamela Westhoff, who "does a really good job" according to one source. Caryl Welborn in San Francisco is acknowledged as "fantastic for transactional work" and is a former president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), Stephen Cowan is also based in San Francisco and a founding member of ACREL. Cowan has worked on numerous multibillion-dollar real estate transactions, including the $1.2 billion sale of the Embarcadero Centre in San Francisco, the $1.62 billion refinancing of the Venetian Resort Hotel in Las Vegas and a $1.7 billion multi-property acquisition for Irvine Diversi-fied Company. The firm's Chicago office is the best represented of all the DLA Piper outposts. It provides seven practitioners for our list. Portia Owen Morrison focuses on structured finance, mortgages, joint ventures, mezzanine loans and structured debt placements on behalf of investors, developers and lenders. Howard Kane is best known for his work in mixed-use urban developments, regional shopping centres and industrial parks. Charles Edwards is active at the policy level and chaired a working group engaged in the drafting of state legislative proposals to clarify the use of compound interest in commercial loan transactions. He is also a member of a separate group that drafted a non-judicial foreclosure statute for Illinois. Theodore Novak is chair of the firm's zoning, land use and condemnation practice and came highly nominated, as did David Glickstein, whose broad practice attracted a great deal of praise. Glickstein's talent for complex financing transactions was also highlighted during our research. Harold Pomerantz is "a very fine lawyer", with experience representing national manufacturers, consumer product corporations, franchisors and real estate investment trusts (REITs). Robert Goldman "has built a great practice" in all aspects of commercial finance and development, including leasing, syndication, zoning, site selection and acquisition. Edward Levin is based in Baltimore and known as a "prolific author and speaker". Elliot Surkin is managing partner of the Boston office and was also involved in leading the team representing the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on the redevelopment of the World Trade Center. He has done a great deal of redevelopment work in the greater Boston area and is known as "one of Boston's best". The "technically brilliant" Philip Weller is based in Dallas and is considered "one of the best lawyers in the state" by peers, who consider his judgement "second to none". In 2006 he assisted in the acquisition of the 1400 Smith Building in Houston for Brookfield Properties.

 

Baker & McKenzie has an impressive geographical reach, with practitioners listed in Belgium, Poland, Russia and Switzerland. Dominique Lechien heads the firm's Belgian real estate and construction practice.His practice received praise for its strength in depth, with fellow nominees noting his "attention to detail". Malgorzata Pietrzakpaciorek is a "highly respected" figure in Poland. She has worked on some of the most high-profile matters in the country, including the development of one of the largest retail/office projects in the centre of Warsaw and her clients include ING Real Estate. In Russia, Maxim Kalinin is the managing partner of the St Petersburg office and counts Ford Motor Company among his clients. His peers regard him as "the undisputed leader" in Russia and a "real star". Adrian Moore is known as a "doyen of the market" and a "force to be reckoned with". He was praised for his knowledge of the Russian market after spending a number of years in the Moscow office prior to his current posting in Geneva.

 


UNITED STATES


Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP features an impressive team of six in this publication, two of whom appear in our list of the practice area's elite, spearheaded by Morton Fisher from Baltimore. Fisher is a former president of ACREL and was praised for his "considerable experience". He has represented developers, lending institutions and department stores (to name but a few)in all aspects of real estate work. Roger Winston in the Bethesda, Maryland office is part of the real estate department, the resort and hotel group, and co-chair of the planned communities and condominiums group. He is known as one of the "top condominium guys in the nation" and represents developers, builders and lenders in relation to the planning and development of myriad commoninterest projects. Richard Goldberg was also exceptionally popular, receiving enough nominations to make him one of this publication's most respected individuals. He was counsel to the Loews Corporation in connection with the development and financing of the conversion of the PSFS Office Building in Philadelphia and is regarded as an "exceptional real estate lawyer, in all respects". He is joined in Philadelphia by chair of the real estate department Michael Sklaroff, a "stellar practitioner" known for his work on major real estate developments, real property tax and eminent domain, zoning and land use issues. Philip Korb is also based in Philadelphia and is the partner in charge of the planned communities and condominiums group. He comes highly recommended. Beverly Quail is based in the Denver office and is the co-partner-in-charge of the real estate finance group. She was commended to researchers as "cutting-edge" and represents major life insurance companies, pension advisers, and development companies in complicated lease financings, large development projects, multi-state debt projects and mezzanine loans.

 

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is home to Nina Matis, one of the most highly nominated individuals in the research. Matis was described as a practitioner "at the top of her game", boasting big-name clients such as iStar Financial, Cerberus Real Estate Capital Management and Related Urban Development. She is especially well known for her work in commercial development and acquisition as well as advising and representing REITs. Donald Siskind joins Matis on the following pages and also came extremely highly recommended. Siskind has advised Columbia University on real estate matters for more than 20 years and is seen as "a dean of the New York bar".

 


NEW YORK


Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is the leading firm in terms of numbers in New York, with three partners making the final cut. Joseph Shenker has a "very fine reputation" as "one of the best in the US", according to our sources. Shenker is well known for the representation of big names such as Goldman Sachs and General Growth Properties, whom he represented in its $12.6 billion acquisition of the Rouse Company. Arthur Adler worked on the redevelopment of Penn Station in New York and the related conversion of the Farley Post Office Building to Moynihan Station and a new Madison Square Garden for Vornado and Related Companies. The "excellent" Anthony Colletta has an enviable client list that includes Aetos Capital, Broadreach Capital Partners, Safeguard Storage Properties, Marathon Real Estate Fund and American Continental Properties. Colletta was praised for being "extremely active" in the field, in the last two years handling over $1 billion of refinancings for three hotels in Manhattan.

 

Another New York-based practitioner, Joseph Philip Forte of Alston & Bird LLP, joins the aforementioned Martin Polevoy from DLA Piper on the list of the practice area's elite. Forte has "an unparalleled reputation" in this area, according to one source. Forte's practice focuses on complex real estate finance and he has particular experience in the origination of loans for commercial mortgage-backed securities and commercial real estate collateralised debt obligations.

 

Eugene Pinover from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is another individual who performed well in the New York research. Pinover chairs the firm's real estate department in New York and has been involved in many major transactions, including representing Paramount Group in its $1.2 billion acquisition of 60 Wall Street and Westfield Property's sale of 12-building property portfolio to Beacon Capital Partners. He is also a member of ACREL.

 

David Alan Richards from McCarter & English LLP was praised for his "intellectual" approach to his work. His practice is focused on commercial office development; shopping centres; office, retail, and industrial leasing; and zoning. He is also well versed in the issues involved in development rights transfer and has been involved in some of the largest real estate transactions in New York City.

 

Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP boasts two highly-nominated practitioners in New York. Jonathan Mechanic chairs the real estate department and has a background in development, having served as general counsel and a managing director of Howard Ronson's HRO International prior to joining the firm. Joshua Mermelstein's practice focuses on representing financial institutions, owners, developers and offshore investors such as Credit Suisse in the financing of the renovation of the Essex House Hotel in New York City, the refinancing of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and the financing of the Royal Palm Hotel in Miami.

 

Joshua Stein from Latham & Watkins LLP was also extolled for his real estate practice. Stein is a "prolific writer in New York" who produces "more scholarly work than almost anyone", according to sources. He is a member of ACREL and has represented companies such as Flagstone Properties, Apple Core Hotels and Stahl Real Estate. (Stein is joined in this publication by partner and co-chair of the firm's real estate practice group, Jürgen Hübner. Based in Hamburg, Hübner represents institutional and private investors in commercial property investments in Germany, England, France, Belgium, Spain and the US).

 

CALIFORNIA


Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is well known for property investment work and four of its partners feature in this edition. Noel Nellis is "a truly exceptional lawyer" and lauded for his development and REIT work. Nellis is regarded by his competitors as "one of the gurus of the real estate practice". William Murray chairs the firm's real estate group and is based in San Francisco. He is a "smart finance lawyer" and heavily involved in the securitisation of real estate assets, REITs, public market financing of real estate companies and pension fund investment in real estate. Michael Liever is "very strong" and has a client list to prove it - New York Life Insurance Company, Starbucks Corporation, Morgan Stanley and BlackRock Realty
Advisors. Fellow nominees praised Dennis Martin for his experience in cross-border matters and his knowledge of the Japanese market (he was based in Tokyo for seven years before moving to Los Angeles). Martin was primary relationship partner for Westbrook Partners for transactions in excess of
$2 billion - including acquisitions, joint ventures, financings and refinancings for office, retail, hotel, residential and development land properties located in California and Japan. Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP provides three well-known names for our list. Bruce Hyman resides in the San Francisco office and is of-counsel to the firm. Hyman is a "very fine lawyer" and engaged in real estate finance matters. Founding partner Richard Mallory is renowned for his commercial and industrial leasing work for both landlords and tenants. Mallory is a member of ACREL and a popular speaker. He is joined by Michael Matkins, also a founding partner and a
"development specialist". Matkins is widely regarded as a "wonderful lawyer" who does a great deal of work in the luxury hotel industry.

 

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP fields three nominees, two from its real estate, land use and environmental practice group and one from its finance and bankruptcy practice. Robert Thompson was celebrated by a number of his peers for his "superb work in zoning and development matters". He has worked on many large commercial and residential projects, including the San Francisco Centre and the Kaiser Permanente Geary Boulevard Campus and the ‘Macy's block' redevelopment on Union Square. Joan Story was acclaimed for her impressive work ethic, "working astonishingly hard" for her clients, who include foreign investors, pension funds and pension fund advisers, lenders and developers. Story is experienced in the structuring of Islamic investment in the US real estate market and has recently worked for Lend Lease Corporation on a new
cruise terminal and mixed-use project on the San Francisco waterfront. Robert Williams focuses on the representation
of real estate-secured lenders, including domestic and foreign banks and insurance companies. He is a member of ACREL and
"very well respected". His clients include Wells Fargo Bank, whom he has represented in purchases and credit enhancements of multifamily housing revenue bonds.

 


Ira Waldman from Cox Castle & Nicholson LLP was hailed by his peers as "outstanding". Waldman represents lenders and developers on real estate matters across the board. He is a "great speaker" and writes frequently on related subjects. Phillip Nicholson joins Waldman and is regarded by his peers as "top grade", applauded for his "great work on the developer's side".
Morrison & Foerster LLP also hosts one of California's most prominent practitioners - Carl Seneker. Seneker is a senior counsel and leads the charge in terms of nominations. Past president of ACREL, he is thought of as "the dean of the Californian real estate bar". His international transactional practice is admired by his peers, as is his enviable client list, which includes Hines Interests, Takenaka Corporation, Classic Residence by Hyatt, and Pritzker Realty Group. Seneker led the
team representing PRG in the restructuring of the ownership of two major apartment projects in Thousand Oaks, California, and
the concurrent sale of its ownership to an investment entity formed by Sares-Regis Group and an affiliate of JPMorgan Investment Management. Mark Edelstein in New York has a reputation as a "heavy hitter" with "a great client list" including JPMorgan, Dubai Investment Group and Bank of America. He has represented the latter in $1.3 billion financing of "Bank of America Tower" (One Bryant Park), that bank's future New York headquarters building. He also acted for JPMorgan on the $5 billion opportunity fund financing of Morgan Stanley's MSREF V International Fund. The firm has doubled its showing in this edition with the inclusion of two figures based in Japan. Frederick Lodge is former managing partner of the New York office and takes his "great reputation" with him to Tokyo. The "fantastic" Lodge represents both domestic and foreign clients in aspects such as real estate acquisition, disposition, development, fund formation, senior and mezzanine financings, leasing, operation and workouts. Theodore Seltzer is highly experienced at representing US and Japanese institutional investors in the acquisition, financing and disposition of real estate and has represented a global real estate/private equity fund in their investment in connection with the $1.25 billion sale and leaseback of 184 Japan dealership outlets of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation.

 


TEXAS


Haynes and Boone LLP has a "first-rate practice" that counts USA Real Estate Company, Ericsson, L&B Realty Advisors and Crescent Real Estate Equities among its clients. Timothy Powers in the Dallas office was described as "very much a leading player". He is chairman of the firm's international practice group and has represented international investors in over $1 billion in real estate investments in the US. Anne Saegert, based at the Richardson office, is also recognised as being "at the top of her field". She counts investors, publicly traded real estate companies, lenders, funds and corporate users among her clients. The "excellent" Steven Waters in San Antonio handles all property types and is particularly well known for his expertise in choice of entity and entity formation and in corporate facilities and lease transactions. "Top-notch" Robert Wilson completes the firm's representation. With over 30 years' experience, he is "particularly strong at debt restructuring", according to one of the lawyers we interviewed. Luis Moreno Trevino in Mexico gives the firm a Latin American dimension in this book. He is the managing partner of the Mexico City office and leads the real estate and hospitality practices there.

 

Baker Botts LLP is "a force to be reckoned with" in Texas, dealing with high-end work for a wide array of blue-chip clients. An increasingly global focus adds to its existing national practice. The firm is reported to be "particularly strong on the leasing side", with office tenant clients such as KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Robert Wright in Houston was found particularly "impressive" by interviewees. His practice focuses on commercial real estate and industrial transactions, with "a great deal of experience" in transactions involving large-scale industrial projects such as pipelines and chemical facilities. He has represented a large medical clinic in its development of a new medical office tower near the Houston Medical Center. Fred Dunlop's drive and acuity impressed his peers, with particular praise reserved for his involvement in the Houston and Dallas Galleria projects and his representation of a developer in the acquisition and redevelopment of a ski resort in Aspen. Marley Lott places the emphasis in her practice on structuring, development, leasing, and equity and debt financing. She has represented Hines Interests Limited Partnership and its affiliates in the construction, development, leasing, and financing of more than $3 billion of office projects throughout the US.

 

The "superb" Sanford Weiner in the Houston office of Vinson & Elkins LLP gained the greatest number of recommendations in this year's Texas research. Rated one of the "finest" real estate lawyers in the state, his experience includes leveraged and synthetic lease transactions, private placements, equity relationships, hybrid debt-equity transactions such as mezzanine loans and private placements. He represented private equity firms as real estate counsel, and as Texas finance counsel, on a $2.5 billion acquisition financing of a company that owns 11 power plants in Texas. He is the only Texas-based lawyer to make the list of the practice area's elite.

Canada


McCarthy Tétrault LLP has six practitioners in four provinces included in this edition - by far the strongest showing in the country. Gordon Sato received the most nominations for the firm, with peers noting his skill with regards to mortgage bonds, bank financings and private equity investments. Abraham Costin is a "fantastic lawyer" who belongs "in the hall of fame" for his real estate work, according to one source. He is the leader of the national real property and planning practice group and counts OMERS Realty Management Corporation and Oxford Properties Group among his clients. Fred Rubinoff joins Sato and Costin in the Toronto office. Rubinoff has acted for General Electric Capital Canada regarding credit facilities to InnVest Hotels Real Estate Investment Trust. He has also advised Toronto Dominion Securities and the Toronto- Dominion Bank on mortgage bond financing for a new casino. Keith Burrell, also "top notch", is based in Vancouver and has great experience representing developers of large residential and mixed-use projects. Pierre-Denis Leroux in Montreal was described as a "very talented individual". His practice focuses on mortgage and real estate financing and the acquisition of real estate. The final name in the firm's showing is Kieth Mullback. He is based in the Calgary office and "very well regarded", fellow nominees noting his work on the commercial mortgage financings of shopping centres.

 

Juli Morrow from Goodmans LLP in Toronto is one of this edition's most highly nominated practitioners and appears on our breakdown of the elite. Morrow's enviable client list includes the Toronto-based Cadillac Fairview, Oxford Properties and Merrill Lynch. She is well versed in the financing and refinancing of real estate assets as well as having experienced acting for issuers and underwriters in connection with the initial public offerings of REITs.

 

EUROPEAN EXCELLENCE


Linklaters has 13 individuals in this publication, from nine European countries - by far the best showing in the region. The Magic Circle firm's strongest contingent is in its London office, where Simon Clark is rated as a "trailblazer" in the field and a central figure in the efforts to create a UK REIT. Clark is an expert in the UK taxation of real estate transactions and investment structuring and has advised UK and non-UK institutions, property companies, developers and occupiers. James Knox was described to researchers as "really very good". Knox led the team that advised German fund Union Investment
(formerly DIFA) on the £200 million sale to an offshore investment vehicle sponsored by Arab Investments of its interest in the Pinnacle in Bishopsgate, London. Patrick Plant heads Linklaters' global real estate practice and is rated as a "brilliant lawyer". Plant led the team that advised InterContinental Hotels on the sale of seven hotels across Europe to Morgan Stanley Real Estate Funds in 2006. Françoise Maigrot was consistently nominated by her peers for her work in the French market, as was Rafael Molina in Madrid. Jorge Salvador Gonçalves heads Linklaters' real estate practice in Lisbon and was recommended for his "meticulous attention to detail". Linklaters has two practitioners listed under Belgium - Yves Moreau and Jacques Périlleux. Moreau was hailed by a fellow nominee as "the best in town" and heads the firm's real
estate practice in Belgium. Périlleux was praised for his broad practice, which involves the financing, taxation and structuring of real estate projects. The "noteworthy" Jens Bock is based in the Berlin office and co-led the team advising SITQ on the acquisition of a real estate portfolio from the open property
fund Grundbesitz Invest of Deutsche Bank Real Estate. In Luxembourg René Diederich proved to be "one of the best around" for real estate structuring and development - according to a fellow nominee from the Grand Duchy. Similar praise was
bestowed upon Rolf Johansson, giving him sufficient nominations to be included in the Swedish section of this chapter. Klára Štepánková in the Czech Republic is "very
active" and has advised CGI on the acquisition of Metropole Shopping Centre in Prague as well as advising the Nexity (a Lehman Brothers subsidiary) in relation to the development, construction, leasing, financing and sale of the biggest downtown shopping gallery in the City. The firm can also boast one inclusion in Russia with Xavier Hunter "clearly at the top with a well-established practice". Hunter is well versed in European real estate transactions and brings the Linklaters listing to a close. Clifford Chance LLP also puts in a strong performance, with 12 practitioners on our list. The firm boasts the most nominees in Poland (three), where Pawel Debowski specialises in real estate finance, investment and development issues, with clients including international and local developers, investors, lenders, construction companies and occupiers. Peter Deegan and the "fantastic" piotr szafarz join Debowski in Warsaw. Deegan is well known as an "expert in real estate finance transactions" and is "a pleasure to work with". The Frankfurt office is home to all three German partners on our list (again the firm is the best represented outfit in the country). Klaus Minuth was described as "very good indeed", with a reputation for high-profile, large-scale portfolio transactions. Wolfgang Usinger "pioneered real estate as a practice area in Germany", according to one respondent and came very highly recommended by clients and peers. Hans-Josef Schneider is managing partner in Germany and "a pillar of the real estate bar". His clients include domestic and foreign real estate
investors and developers and local authorities. The London office fields "two fantastic lawyers" with high profiles in the area. Iain Morpeth is "extremely well regarded" and represented Meridian Delta Consortium on the Millennium Dome and Greenwich Peninsula transactions. He also has strong international credentials, representing Al Sawadi Investment and Tourism on its $15 billion project involving the construction of a new city in Oman. Jonathan Solomon is also "very strong" and has significant experience in central London office developments - he led the team that worked on the proposed 700,000 square-foot LIFFE development at Spitalfields Market. François Bonteil in Paris was praised for his broad and "impressive" practice, as was Ronald Austin for his domestic work. Alfonso Benavides is "one of the top practitioners in Spain", according to one respondent and boasts significant
knowledge of the hotel and leisure industries. Alan Gosule is in Clifford Chance's New York office and gives the Magic Circle firm a foothold in the US. Gosule's practice places particular emphasis on the tax aspects of investment vehicles such as REITs and partnerships and he is "well known and well
respected" by his peers.

 

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer boasts seven practitioners in five European jurisdictions in this book. Geoff Le Pard is included in our breakdown of the practice area's elite and was hailed as "a leader" by one fellow nominee. Le Pard's client list is impressive, with names such as Scottish Widows, Citigroup and Lehman Brothers (whom he assisted on the restructuring of Le Meridien hotel group). Chris Morris joins Le Pard in London and heads the firm's international real estate group. Morris has an "impressive practice" and is known for his representation of ABN Amro and Commerzbank on the crossborder conduit financing and securitisation of a portfolio that involved properties in the UK, France, Spain and the Netherlands. The firm also boasts two highly-rated lawyers in our Germany section. Johannes Conradi in Hamburg has a domestic and international practice that focuses on large-scale development and complex transactions. Alexander Goepfert in Dusseldorf is a stalwart of the firm's German real estate practice, having played a significant part in its creation. Goepfert is well versed in the structuring of complex transactions and development projects, including the financing, tax and planning aspects of these transactions. Thomas Zottl is based in the Vienna of-fice and "a rising star" according to a fellow nominee. Juan Gómez-Acebo heads the firm's real estate practice in Spain where he is particularly strong in real estate financings. The final Freshfields partner is Marzio Longo from Milan. Longo has advised on both cross-border and domestic transactions including large-scale retail, office and logistic portfolios.

 

Slaughter and May once again performs well in London where the firm can boast a "very strong" team of three in this edition. Graham White was described numerous times as "excellent". He acted recently for Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund and Songbird on its successful bid for Canary Wharf plc for £1.7 billion and for House of Fraser on the sale of the Barkers Store in Kensington to Wholefoods. David Beales is "incredibly well respected" for his "clear thinking and meticulous attention to detail". His practice has a focus on the financial and tax-related aspects of real estate transactions. Dermot Rice's broad practice won him a lot of praise from clients and peers alike. His client list includes Land Securities (whom he represented on a number of its interests in the Thames Gateway) and Abbey National (on the sale to ING by Scottish Mutual and Scottish Provident of their entire property portfolio).

 

Another big name in London is Robert MacGregor from Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP. Head of the firm's real estate department, he was described as "outstanding". MacGregor was part of the team that acted for Canary Wharf Group on the sale of 200 & 202 Aldersgate Street and 20 Little Britain in 2006. MacGregor is joined in the upper tier of the London research by the "fantastic" Rod Brown from Allen & Overy LLP and the "wonderful" Ian Nisse from Shearman & Sterling LLP. Brown has enviable experience in Islamic finance real estate projects and counts Aareal Bank, Eurohypo, Hypo Real Estate Bank International, Royal Bank of Scotland and HSBC among his clients. Adam Cleal from London and Daniel Gillet in Belgium join Brown on the following pages. Nisse heads Shearman & Sterling's UK real estate practice and has represented clients such as London Docklands Development Corporation, Canary Wharf Group and Stanhope. Chris Smith and Lee Kuntz accompany Nisse in this edition; they practise in Shearman & Sterling's New York office.

 

The firm that has by far the strongest showing in Italy is Gianni Origoni Grippo & Partners, with three practitioners listed. Bruno Bartocci is partner at the Milan office; the others are based in Rome. Bartocci is a "consummate professional" with a diverse practice. Mario Amoroso and Domenico Tulli were also consistently nominated and the group was praised for its expertise in M&A-related transactions.

 

In France, Gide Loyrette Nouel fields three of its partners in the book. The firm is home to the country's most highly nominated individual, Frédéric Nouel. "Top tier" and "very well known", Nouel provided advice on the setting up of the OPCI - the new French non-listed REIT. Gérard Tavernier was highlighted for his work on cross-border real estate transactions. Eric Martin Impératori completes Gide's contingent. Peers highlighted his "very dedicated and professional" nature, his practice involving both transactional work and real estate disputes. De Pardieu Brocas Maffei commands three nominees in this edition. Paul Talbourdet is "great to work with", according to one source, and specialises in leasing and real estate finance. Jacques Henrot also focuses on real estate finance and he enjoys a "great reputation" in the French market. emmanuel fatôme specialises in real estate acquisitions as well as real estate finance and was described to researchers as "wonderful".

 

A firm with an equally strong profile in the Netherlands is Houthoff Buruma NV, with three practitioners listed. Frank Thunnissen is the country's most highly nominated practitioner and an "excellent lawyer". Chris Goumans has industry experience as head of legal affairs at the Wilma Group and was praised for his knowledge of city centre restructuring schemes. Peter Habraken specialises in complex international and local real estate transactions, as well as the resolution of real estate disputes, and was said to be as "wonderful to have in your
corner".

 

Scandinavia harbours considerable talent. Norway is home to three individuals who all performed extremely well in the research. Stig Bech from Bugge Arentz-Hansen & Rasmussen is a "leader", as is the "top-class" Geir Sand from Advokatfirmaet Schjødt. Andreas Rørvik heads the real estate practice group at Selmer Advokatfirma and is well known for his work on the purchase and sale of commercial properties. Kaj Swanljung from Roschier, Attorneys Ltd is Finland's most highly nominated individual. One competitor described him as a "very skilful real estate lawyer" and his reputation extends across the region. Full-service firm Mannheimer Swartling Advokatbyrå boasts two nominees in its home country, one of whom is Klas Wennström, the most highly nominated individual in Sweden.
Wennström's practice focuses on the conveyancing of real estate holdings and real estate companies and he has developed quite a reputation as an expert in his own country,
one source noting that he is "the only one I would go to". He is joined by Jesper Prytz, who heads the firm's real estate practice group from the Gothenburg office and is a "go-to guy for work in the local market". In Denmark, Kromann Reumert leads in the research, with two of the country's most highly nominated individuals. Niels Balslev advises on all aspects of commercial property law and is "a calm and collected counsel". Flemming Horn Andersen has a broad practice with particular focus on project development, commercial leases, property investment and finance.

 

THE REST OF THE WORLD

 

Mallesons Stephen Jaques dominates the Australian line-up, with four practitioners making the cut. The "very good" Stuart Dixon-Smith focuses his practice on property development and finance law, acting for developers or lenders on the construction, financing and development of major properties. He also has experience in the hotel industry and has worked on real estate transactions relating to the Sydney Westin Hotel; Park Hyatt Hotel and the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Sue Kench has an enviable client list that has seen her act for Citibank regarding the Citibank Centre, and AMP and GPT on the acquisition of Darling Park. Michael Allen is "pre-eminent in strata and titling" and has worked on a number of major mixed-use projects, including the Forum (in the St Leonards station area) and the Wharf at Woolloomooloo in NSW. In Melbourne Andrew Erikson has a practice that is both national and international in scope. He worked on the acquisition of the Deutsche Telekom portfolio throughout Germany for Record Realty Trust and the acquisition of a US REIT and associated portfolio for a listed Australian trust.

 

Clayton Utz also put in a strong performance, with two highly nominated practitioners making the grade.Gary Best is "the best" and is known for his representation of government
bodies and work on joint ventures. Best is joined by Julie Levis who focuses on acquisitions, joint venturing, financing, leasing and property development. She has acted for prominent property developers on some of Sydney's biggest projects, acquisitions, disposals, and sales and leasebacks.

 

Allen & Gledhill LLP is a firm with a sterling reputation for corporate real estate work as well as high-end real investment in Singapore. It possesses a team of "highly respected, thinking lawyers who can, from a combination of first principles, experience and legal learning, creatively work out structures or
resolve problems for their clients." They represent domestic and international property funds, investors, banks and real estate and government-linked companies in commercial, industrial, residential and logistics projects all over Asia. Penny Goh is head of corporate real estate at the firm. Her work involving regional investments, joint development schemes, private equity property funds and asset restructuring was "rated highly"
by competitors. She advised on the creation of a private equity property fund based in Bermuda, which invested in four retail malls with a total asset value of S$765 million. Margaret Soh also attracted a great deal of praise from respondents to this survey. She concentrates on asset securitisation, property trusts, project finance in the region and commercial leasing acquisition. She has advised and negotiated on behalf of multinational corporations in taking long leases for industrial land in Singapore, especially with the Jurong Town Corporation.

 

Masanori Sato from Mori Hamada & Matsumoto is a leading light in Japan's fast developing real estate market - its traditional strength in the area of finance certainly giving the firm added weight. Sato received commendations from around the world for his work in this area and was described as "fantastic and sharp-witted".

 

In Mexico Rodrigo Conesa represents Ritch Mueller SC, a firm that has "been doing a lot of work in the area". Conesa
advises real estate investment trusts on their investments in Mexico as well as representing lenders and developers in real estate financing and acquisition.