MIPIM 2010 Blog: Wednesday 17th March

12.05: Rhodri Pazzi-Axworthy, real estate partner, Nabarro

The Easyjet flight to Nice on Monday night was full of people anticipating the next few days in Cannes.  Surely this was a good sign that MIPIM would be well attended this year.  Or were the numbers simply swelled by BA “refugees” seeking an alternative carrier to avoid the risk of cancellation on the way home? 

Tuesday morning broke to reveal a familiar sight.  Boats bobbing the harbour and people wearing name badges bussling along the Croisette.  But the long snakes of tensa-barriers laid out to the registration area seemed strangely empty or maybe Reed Midem have just really got the registration system sorted. 

A few things are different though:  The number of boats along the Jetty seemed the same but on closer scrutiny some bore no branding, although stalwarts like Lovells, Norton Rose, Freshfields and Orrick still have their boats (as do the cities of Nottingham and Liverpool).  The large pre-frabricated additional exhibition tents were fewer in number - those there housing the great cities of London and Paris and the now famous (in terms of MIPIM attendees anyway) Region of Krasnodar.  The branding of the large surveying firms is more subtle than in previous years and (for obvious reasonCafe DJ (Driver Jonas’ branded café) is no more.  But the biggest difference can be seen by taking a taxi, all of which seem to be displaying Deutsche Pfandbriefbank branding on their rear windows…. the banks are back at MIPIM.

Click here for Tuesday’s Blog

10.30: Nichola West, Real estate partner, Denton Wilde Sapte

How the sands have shifted at MIPIM. You can actually see the beach this year, as well as some intrepid swimmers, as opposed to a sea of whitemarquees.

Boris Johnson was in good form today, championing the virtues of London and refraining from mentioning that London has shifted Paris further down the
beach by taking up pole position with the new London stand. No witty remarks from Boris this year about what MIPIM is the acroynm for (’May I push you into the Mediterranean’ etc.) but he was nevertheless in exuberant form.

Numbers at MIPIM are down this year, as expected, but at least the serious players in the legal market remain.

Click here for Tuesday’s Blog

10.15: Tim Webb, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig Maher

I retired quite late last night. Actually much later than anticipated. But then MIPIM was ever thus. And I am not certain a late night blog is “best practice” but here goes.

Having arrived at MIPIM, it’s difficult to discern whether its bigger or smaller than last year. Instinct tells me its smaller. And the absence of two landmark hospitality suite’s are mourned; the Drivers Jonas (Deloitte) cafe and of course the DLA walk in bar/cafe. RIP. But maybe they will be back?

I spent most of the afternoon seated at Bar Roma (I so know that looks bad on paper). Justin and I met with a succession of clients and contacts. All crossing over/mingling with each other, a sense of anticipation that this might be another good MIPIM. [MIPIM stalwarts will say that a small MIPIM is generally a good MIPIM and remember fondly the early MIPIM years].

After drinks and supper as a guest of Robert Bourne I ended up back on the Croisette at about 11.00. Deserted maybe an overstatement. Quiet may hit the mark.

So here I am faced with options. Roma and Majestic are at one end of the Croisette, Carlton in the middle, Martinez at the far end. Where to start?

I am with a good pal from Abstract and we head to the Carlton. Mistake. Empty. A quick drink and we are heading down to the Majestic bar. DT of DLA is holding court with the good folk from Bilton Estates and a revealing conversation about the Russian property market ensues.

It’s easy to forget how vast and deep the property world is. There are parts of the UK property world that are stalked by niche players secure in their brand and offering. I was sitting on a rather delightful yacht earlier, chatting to two partners from Virtus - a specialist consultancy advising UHNWI from Russia and eastern Europe on UK investment. Fascinating I thought. And who should do the legals? But of course Mishcon’s - who else ?

And so to the end of my first evening. There is an inevitability about the pull of the Martinez. Its like plunging into ice cold waters with a piece of concrete strapped to your feet - there really is no escape and the experience can be quite painful.

And so at the end of a very long Tuesday, having arrived in a hurry wanting to be “more” productive, was the race to MIPIM really worth it? I was too late for lunch, I had the hassle of getting across to Heathrow, 2hr check-in, the soul sapping hell that is security, compact three seats in a row airplanes, plastic food, baggage collection (!!) And the queue for taxis. Not to forget the extra cost of the flight and increased carbon footprint.

You know, on reflection my old crew may just have it right. Next year - I might just be back on that train.

Click here for Tuesday’s Blog