Davitt Jones Bould (DJB), the specialist real estate law firm with nearly 50 solicitors (with an average of 20 years post qualification experience in commercial property and who are based across the UK) has made two more senior appointments with the announcement that Nigel Heilpern will join as a Consultant. Geoffrey Lander becomes the firm’s first Non-Executive Chairman after five years as the Non-Executive Director.
They both know each other well having worked together for over 25 years. Geoffrey and Nigel worked together at Nabarro. They see DJB as having a unique and brilliant business model. The firm only recruits qualified solicitors with over 10 years commercial property experience and includes alumni from Nabarro, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Allen & Overy and others. DJB make no charge for the Client Directors who take care of all the client care needs and who are available to clients at all times as they are not caught up in deals.
Described as a ‘brilliant real estate lawyer’ by Chambers and Partners, Nigel Heilpern also joins DJB as a Consultant. Nigel joins the firm following seven years as Head of Real Estate and Real Estate Finance at US Firm King & Spalding. Prior to this Nigel was a Partner at Nabarro. He also works with Avonhurst as a Partner. He has an excellent reputation in the City for his work on complex real estate finance deals and transactional work for banks, developers and other institutions.
The news comes after Geoffrey Lander was promoted to Non-Executive Chairman at DJB. Geoffrey is a household name in the real estate sector having spent 30 years at Nabarro, where he was the department head for five years and later was responsible for their Transatlantic clients. He was a trusted advisor to a stellar client base that included HSBC Group, JP Morgan and Gap Inc. Since leaving practice he has held multiple non-executive roles including Non-Executive Chairman for Irwin Mitchell’s London team for five years until 2014.
DJB CEO Peter Allinson said: “The addition of Nigel to the team is all part of DJB’s ascendancy into becoming the leading specialist real estate law firm in the UK. With Geoffrey as our new Chairman I am looking forward to the next chapter and continued rapid growth”.
ABOUT DJB: DJB is a national law firm that specialises entirely in real estate. The firm has offices in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Taunton ensuring truly national coverage.
The firm is renowned for its high quality legal work and service.
We only recruit experienced lawyers with excellent calibre. As a result, our legal team of over 40 lawyers has an average post-qualification experience that exceeds 20 years. Most have joined us from other City firms, in-house departments and/or senior roles. Our lawyers have advised some of the UK’s most significant land owners including Barclays Bank, HSBC, Credit Suisse, Rolls Royce, The Royal Parks, The Cabinet Office and The Crown Estate. This focus on quality only has led to a 50% male and female Partner rate.
All of our clients are provided with a dedicated client care professional at no extra charge, which ensures that they receive the highest standard of service at all times.
DJB is regularly selected to advise on high profile projects such as the hosting of the London 2012 Olympic Games by The Royal Parks and the first Sukuk Bond to be entered into by a Western Government on behalf of HM Treasury. Based in London at The Shard and also Manchester, Birmingham and Taunton, DJB has a national presence.
The firm enjoys top tier rankings in all of the main directories, as well as receiving many awards.