SJ Berwin appoints new head of real estate

SJ Berwin has appointed partner Jon Vivian as the new head of the firm’s real estate practice group.

Vivian has replaced former head Bryan Pickup who stood down last month to concentrate on client work and lead the firm’s recruitment and trainee initiatives with corporate partner Laura O’Neill.

Vivian, who joined the firm in 2001, will officially take up his post in January next year.

Vivian said: “Bryan has led the team for 10 years and he has done a fantastic job and the practice group has been very successful. The firm’s real estate team has been particularly successful in Europe as well as in London, particularly in Germany and France.”

The real estate team reported a 21 per cent increase in turnover to £35m in the 2006/2007 financial year from £26.7 in the previous year.