News

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09 Sep 2011

DLA Piper strengthens UK Real Estate team with new hire

Press Release

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DLA Piper today announces that Simon Cookson has been appointed as partner and London Location Head for the Real Estate Group. Simon joins DLA Piper from Ashurst where he started his legal career in 1982 and has been a partner since 1991.

Simon has significant skill and experience within the real estate sector, with nearly 30 years of engagement across all areas of real estate, specialising in complex transactions that require innovative and creative ideas.

Simon is a recognised leader in high end real estate and recently completed the transaction for Qatari Diar on the redevelopment of the Shell Centre on the South Bank of the River Thames in London, the largest redevelopment site remaining in Central London, jointly with the Canary Wharf Group.

Catherine Usher, Head of UK Real Estate at DLA Piper, said: "I am delighted to welcome Simon to the Real Estate Group and have complete confidence that he will provide excellent leadership in his role as London Location Head. His enthusiasm for the business of providing real estate transactional advice and his excellent knowledge of the market will bolster our team and support our ambition to be a top tier real estate law firm".

Olaf Schmidt, Head of EMEA Real Estate, added: "The real estate market continues to be a focus for us and an important area of our practice, the UK market is, of course, a significant one and the addition of Simon to our team will allow us to further strengthen our offering in the UK, bringing his wide ranging expertise and skill".