Market leading real estate firm Forsters expands its offering with significant Orrick team hire
Forsters, one of London’s leading real estate law firms, announces today that it is acquiring Orrick’s UK real estate practice. The three partner, ten lawyer Orrick team, led by Anne O’Neill will join Forsters on 15 April 2020. Joining Anne as partners will be Andrew Denye and Sara Branch, both of whom have worked with Anne for over 20 years. The team acts for a well-established and diverse client base across various sectors, with major clients such as Coal Pension Fund, intu and Notting Hill Genesis.
Forsters’ appointment of the Orrick team will enhance its reputation as a top-ranked real estate practice which acts for leading funds, developers and investors. With over 100 lawyers in its Commercial Real Estate group, the Forsters team is one of the largest in London and acts for clients such as LaSalle Investment Management, British Airways Pension Fund, The Crown Estate, PATRIZIA, Knight Dragon and Aberdeen Standard Investments.
Anne O'Neill, Head of Orrick’s UK Real Estate practice commented: “We have very much enjoyed being part of Orrick’s success in London since 2005 but we are delighted to be moving to Forsters, a firm whose reputation and commitment to real estate we have admired for many years. We are excited to bring our clients to such a great platform, which offers terrific strength in depth across all areas of real estate, including planning, property litigation, real estate finance and construction.”
Andrew Crabbie, Head of the Commercial Real Estate group at Forsters commented: “We are delighted to be joined by a team which not only acts for great clients but will be an excellent fit with our culture and values at Forsters. Looking beyond the market disruption we are all experiencing as a result of COVID-19, we are absolutely clear about our commitment to real estate, which has been at the heart of the Forsters business since we launched in 1998. The Orrick team’s experience in central London developments for clients such as Notting Hill Genesis adds to our existing strength advising clients on large mixed use schemes and there is great synergy in the team’s work for Coal Pensions, a fund managed by LaSalle Investment Management, with whom Forsters has worked for many years.”
Simon Willis, partner and Orrick’s London Office Leader added: “We are very grateful to the real estate team for everything they have contributed to our firm – and we will certainly miss them in our London office. They are at the top of the game in their field and the Forsters platform will be a great fit for their practice and their clients.”