Allen & Overy (A&O) is taking on a senior property partner in New York, giving it new capability in the US and boosting its global corporate and structured finance practices.
Kevin O'Shea joins from Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker, where he has been a partner for the last 10 years.
At Paul Hastings, O'Shea headed the real estate finance group and co-headed the real estate group. At A&O he will set up a practice focusing on real estate debt and equity investment, securitisation, credit facilities, traditional mortgage financing, joint ventures and construction lending.
According to A&O's head of real estate Adam Cleal, the move links in with the firm's international strategy. “It follows on from what we've done in Frankfurt where we launched a real estate group,” he said. “This is part of our strategy and builds on what we're doing in London. The US investors are heavy investors in the UK and Europe and by being able to offer capability in this sector at the highest level, we can provide an extremely good service.”
A&O has also taken on top New York firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz's senior antitrust associate. Michael Reynolds joins the firm as a partner.