Theodores ousts Dentons from Reubens bros work

Theodore Goddard has scored its first real estate instruction from real estate tycoons Simon and David Reubens, muscling in on work that has traditionally gone to Denton Wilde Sapte.

Theodores advised the Reubens' investment vehicle Reubros on the £120m purchase of the Millbank Centre, the former Labour Party headquarters, from US property investment company Tishman Speyer.

Although litigation partner Pietro Marino has advised the brothers previously, The Lawyer understands that real estate work was solely the domain of Dentons.

Real estate partner Andrew Hill, who led the deal with fellow partner Andrew Bailey, said the firm hoped to receive more real estate instructions from the brothers in the near future. "They're quite interested in further investment property in London," he said.

Working alongside Theodores was Covington & Burling advising on US issues. Covington partner Simon Goodworth was referred the work by Theodores, where he was employed prior to Covington.

Theodores has received a number of referrals from Covington since partners Goodworth and Simon Currie joined in July. However, The Lawyer understands that this is the first time the referral process has worked the other way.

Covington's New York-based counsel were JD Weinburg and Peter Schwarz.

Herbert Smith advised Tishmans on the deal. Although most of the company's recent European work has gone to Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith won this job because it advised on the original purchase of the building in 1998.

Real estate partner Don Rowlands led the team, which included senior associates Carolyn Rice-Oxley and Amanda Cutlan. Rowlands has not personally acted for Tishmans previously, although he was on the other side when Tishmans purchased Tower Place in July 2000.

Schulte Roth & Zabel partners Greg Presmman and Joseph Sciacca advised Tishmans on US matters. The New York firm is one of the company's longstanding US advisers.