Forsters promotes three senior associates to partner
Forsters LLP, one of London’s pre-eminent Real Estate and Private Client firms, announces the appointment of Ben Brayford, Katherine Ekers and Alastair Laing as partners from 1 April 2018. The promotion of Ben, Katherine and Alastair in the firm's 20th year takes Forsters to 55 partners. Total headcount is now over 400.
Ben and Katherine will boost the firm’s real estate practice to 27 partners across the whole range of real estate sectors. Ben principally advises developers and investors, and has a special interest in the hotel sector. He is an important part of Forsters' team advising Knight Dragon in connection with Greenwich Peninsula, the largest development site in Europe. Katherine works with a range of investors and funds, including clients such as British Airways Pension Fund and Rockspring. Alastair will be Forsters' fourth corporate partner and he will be an important part of the firm’s Private Wealth practice advising high net worth clients and family offices.
Paul Roberts, managing partner commented: "I am delighted to welcome Ben, Katherine and Alastair to the partnership; they are highly talented lawyers who already have developed important client relationships. Their promotion represents our commitment to nurturing and promoting talented ‘next gen’ lawyers who will play a key role in the continued growth of our business, particularly in the areas of real estate advice and corporate transactions".
Ben Brayford said: "Prior to joining Forsters in 2010 I worked at a City firm and also had a spell in-house at a local authority. It has been hugely satisfying to work with the partners at Forsters to develop my practice and become an established expert on complex development matters. I enjoy working with clients on large, multi-dimensional sites and my plans for the future involve establishing new relationships with developers, investors and funders. I am also keen to continue to work with the firm’s Hotels team to further our practice in this interesting and dynamic sector".
Katherine Ekers said: "To become a partner in the firm’s 20th year feels very special. I trained at Forsters and to be able to form part of the new generation of partners is a thrilling opportunity for me. I am looking forward to working with the other real estate partners to drive forward our funds and developer practices so that we can continue to be a top tier property firm".
Alastair Laing said: “It is an exciting time to be joining the partnership team in Forsters’ top ranked Corporate practice. I will be continuing to work with our Private Wealth group to ensure their clients receive the best possible advice in relation to their corporate structures and when buying or selling corporate assets. In addition, I will be working closely with Craig Thompson and other partners to further cement the firm’s reputation as a leading advisor to High Net Worth individuals and family offices.”