

National Division 'Enters the Big League'
Irwin Mitchell's National Real Estate team took the Silver Medal for Real Estate Team of the Year in this year’s Lawyer Awards, presented at London's Grosvenor House Hotel. This was the 20th anniversary of the Lawyer Awards.
Despite being pipped at the post, the firm triumphed over Lawrence Graham (third place), Pinsent Masons , Hogan Lovells, Wragges, Mayer Brown, Norton Rose and Burges Salmon, who had also made the final category. Eversheds took the Gold award.
This was a massive achievement for the real estate team and the award was given on the basis of some of the high profile work that has been done in the London and Manchester offices, in particular advising on the acquisition by Wells Fargo of two thirds of Hypothekenbank Frankfurt’s £4 billion real estate loan book from Commerzbank, one of the largest European commercial real estate debt transactions ever. According to the Lawyer, “ Irwin Mitchell entered the big league with this deal,” which was a “standout transaction”. The deal was led by real estate partner Rob Thompson, who now Heads the London real estate practice.
The award was also given because the firm has developed a truly national real estate practice in less than four years.
Paul Firth, Head of National Real Estate at Irwin Mitchell said:
Irwin Mitchell’s national real estate team has 24 real estate partners covering Real Estate, Real Estate Finance, Construction and Infrastructure, Planning, Tax and Property Litigation, 9 of which are based in the London office. Nationally the real estate team has over 80 lawyers.
Key real estate clients include: British Land, Caudwell, Hallam Land Management, Henry Boot, HSS Hire, IDI Gazeley, Mapeley, Columbus, Max Property Group, Prestbury, Redevco, The Mansion Student Accommodation Fund, Thornton’s, Vue Entertainment and Wells Fargo.