You Won't Believe Which 3 Senior Real Estate Titans Just Joined London's Elite Team!

In a significant move for its London office, the prestigious law firm Latham & Watkins has announced the hiring of three accomplished partners from A&O Shearman. Joining the firm are real estate finance partners David Oppenheimer and David Varne, along with structured finance partner Lucy Oddy. This strategic addition aims to strengthen Latham's real estate and structured finance capabilities not only in London but across Europe.

Oppenheimer and Varne have cultivated a reputation as leading advisers in the realm of real estate finance. Their expertise encompasses a wide array of financial transactions involving real estate lenders, private equity funds, and various investors throughout Europe. According to Latham, they have closely collaborated with Oddy on complex matters such as CMBS (Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities) and back leverage transactions.

Lucy Oddy brings over two decades of rich experience advising financial institutions, private equity firms, and corporate clients on asset-backed finance transactions, particularly in the real estate sector. Her diverse practice also includes guiding buyers and sellers through cross-border debt portfolio disposals, facilitating related financings across multiple European jurisdictions.

This hiring spree is part of a broader strategy to bolster Latham's London platform, which has seen significant expansion in the past year. Recently, the firm also welcomed Jeremy Kenley, a real estate private equity partner, and promoted Chris Cox, another real estate private equity lawyer, to partner. Furthermore, the firm’s structured finance capabilities were enhanced by an 11-lawyer CLO (Collateralized Loan Obligation) team, including Franz Ranero and James Smallwood, who joined over the summer.

The academic credentials of the new partners reflect a strong foundation for their legal expertise. Oppenheimer holds an LLB from the University of Leeds and an LPC from Nottingham Law School. Varne earned a BA/LLB from the University of Western Australia and a GDL from the College of Law Western Australia. Oddy, a graduate of the University of Oxford, also completed her LPC at Nottingham Law School.

“We are delighted to welcome David and David to our team and to have Lucy rejoin us. Each partner is exceptionally talented in their field, and their track record and deep sector knowledge have earned them a reputation as being among the best,” said Rich Trobman, Chair and Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins.

“Adding both Davids and Lucy is another significant development for our London practice. With years of leadership under their belts, they are exceptional additions to our team in the City,” noted Ed Barnett, Managing Partner of the London office.

The addition of these partners underlines Latham's commitment to establishing a premier global real estate practice. “David and David are at the very top of the debt market in Europe, widely respected for their expertise, track record, and work on innovative real estate finance deals,” said Douglas Heitner, Global Chair of Latham's Real Estate Practice.

“The recent investments we’ve made in our Structured Finance Practice globally have given us tremendous momentum in the market. Lucy is an outstanding practitioner with first-class technical skills and an impressive track record,” commented Jeremiah Wagner, Global Co-Chair of the Structured Finance Practice.

As the landscape of real estate finance continues to evolve, the strategic hiring of Oppenheimer, Varne, and Oddy positions Latham & Watkins to navigate complex, high-value transactions effectively, enhancing their ability to serve private equity firms, investment banks, and other key market players in the UK and beyond.