Freshfields bolsters real estate division with appointments of David Seymour and Will Bryant
Freshfields Bolsters Real Estate Offering with the Arrival of David Seymour and Will Bryant
Freshfields, a global law firm, has strengthened its real estate practice with the appointment of David Seymour and Will Bryant, who join from Ropes & Gray in London. The duo brings extensive experience in advising on complex and cross-border real estate transactions, with a focus on private equity real estate.
David Seymour and Will Bryant are expected to enhance and expand Freshfields’ global real estate offerings, particularly across private capital and strategic investors in real estate. Their industry expertise includes data centres, logistics, major retail, and social and educational investments.
The arrival of Seymour and Bryant is a strategic move to expand Freshfields' global offering across the full range of private capital and strategic investors in the real estate sector. Niko Schultz-Suechting, Global Real Estate Head at Freshfields, stated, "The appointments of David and Will are significant, given their impressive experience advising European and international investors."
Alexander Watt, co-head of Freshfields' Global Real Assets, will work closely with Seymour and Bryant. Watt noted that the real estate sector is the biggest asset class in the private capital space, currently undergoing rapid change due to factors like changing work patterns, generational shifts, interest rates, increased construction costs, changed demands, and the need to adapt buildings to ESG requirements.
Their arrival strengthens Freshfields’ London real estate team, increasing the number of partners to six. This move reflects Freshfields’ broader investment in private capital expertise, including hires in infrastructure and finance sectors earlier in 2025.
In addition to working with Watt, Seymour and Bryant will also collaborate with Niko Schultz-Suechting, Global Real Estate Head, and James Scott, UK PE head, at Freshfields.
The real estate market is increasingly diversified, as highlighted by Niko Schultz-Suechting. Freshfields' real estate practice is advising on a variety of transactions, reflecting the firm's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its clients in the rapidly changing real estate sector.
[1] The Lawyer [2] Legal Business [3] Financial Times
Freshfields' real estate practice is expected to grow further in the finance sector, as David Seymour and Will Bryant, with their expertise in private equity real estate, join the global law firm. Their arrival is a strategic move to advise on complex transactions that involve private capital and strategic investors in the real estate sector.
