SJ Berwin targets French real estate with new Orrick arrival

SJ Berwin is setting out to attack the French real estate market with the hire of a partner from Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe.

Ann Hieu Ly Ky joined SJ Berwin at the beginning of the year, following two years spent as a partner at Orrick’s Paris office.

Her appointment is intended to develop SJ Berwin’s real estate offering in France and internationally. Hieu Ly Ky’s expertise includes real estate financing and investment, leasing, planning and construction.

Hieu Ly Ky said: “The real estate practice at SJ Berwin in London is very important, and that is very important to me in building the practice in Paris.”

SJ Berwin’s UK real estate head Bryan Pickup said the move seemed logical in order to build up the Paris office to a full-service offering. Currently Hieu Ly Ky is supported by one assistant.

Pickup explained: “From a London perspective we have clients looking at investing in France, and we haven’t been able to service them.”

The move follows the recent appointment of Colin Millar from Simmons & Simmons for SJ Berwin’s French banking and financial services practice.

Orrick said it remains committed to real estate in Paris. The US firm points to the lateral hire last November of real estate partner Alfred Fink from Haarmann Hemmelrath.