BLP favours real estate as seven gain partnership

In addition to five new partners in real estate the firm has made up one new partner in its projects practice and one in business and technology services. Six held the position of senior associate and one was an associate director.

The firm’s managing partner Neville Eisenberg said: “Despite the difficult market conditions, we believe in providing our people with career opportunities that help them develop to their full potential. One particularly pleasing aspect of these promotions is that, for the first time, we have promoted one of our associate directors to partner.”

The total of seven new partners reverses a two-year fall in the total number of promotions at the firm. Five were made up in 2008 (see story) and six were made up in 2007, after 13 joined the partnership in 2006. The two-year fall coincided with the firm’s introduction of the associate director alternative to partnership in 2006.

As was the case last year, all the new partners are based in London.

The new partners at the firm are:

Sunita Chawla, real estate,

Scott Dickson, finance

Vicky Fowler, real estate

Victoria Gardner, real estate

Stephen Ketteley, corporate

Samant Narula, real estate

Juliet Thomas, real estate

The firm has also made up four new associate directors. They are:

Simon Brayton, finance

Paul Grace, real estate

Sharon Potter, corporate

Richard Stewart, corporate