White & Case is making its second bid for a London real estate practice after securing two property partners to set up the group.
Lawrence Graham partner Lorraine Ufland and David Cox, a senior associate at Tite & Lewis, are due to join the US firm as partners to work across the practice groups.
Until now White & Case’s London office has outsourced its property work to Penningtons and SJ Berwin.
In 2000 the firm attempted to build an in-house capability, recruiting Louise Anderson from CMS Cameron McKenna, although she left the firm and the law a year later.
Few US firms in London have tackled building a credible real estate group, although there are exceptions. Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, which took on Nabarro Nathanson’s Alan Samson, is one, and Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker, which has steadily built up a solid reputation, is another.
White & Case, Lawrence Graham and Tite & Lewis declined to comment.
White & Case has also introduced a new management structure in London. Each of the firm’s seven section heads will sit on the newly-created executive committee, while the former executive partner John Bellhouse will now become the firm’s senior partner.
Kendall Freeman wins Victoria Seguros work
A recommendation from the magic circle has awarded Kendall Freeman a new client in the guise of Germany’s Ergo Group subsidiary Victoria Seguros. Kendall Freeman, which was formed in March out of the insurance and litigation groups from the now defunct DJ Freeman, won the client after Allen & Overy (A&O) put its name forward. […]