The Manchester team at Weightmans has announced Owen McKenna as its new partner in the real estate department.

Owen is a specialist transactional real estate lawyer with over 20 years’ experience at regional, national and international law firms, including DWF, Brabners and most recently, the Beyond Group. Owen advises on all manner of real estate transactions with a strong expertise in the acquisition and ongoing management of multi-let office buildings, office parks and industrial units.

Global law firm Ashurst announces the appointment of Kate Barker as partner in its Sydney office to further strengthen its real estate practice. Kate specialises in complex and structured investment real estate deals and has extensive experience in real estate-focused joint ventures, investment funds and development projects. 

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has hired tax partner Robert Dever to lead and develop its tax law practice in Dublin and strengthen its European transactional services group.

International law firm Bird & Bird grows its team in Ireland with the addition of leading IP and data litigator Ann Henry.

With over 20 years’ experience, Ann represents international companies in pan-European litigation, particularly in the areas of patent litigation and data privacy disputes in the life sciences, technology and retail sectors. 

Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP continues the strategic expansion of its Land Use Practice with the addition of Shareholder Erik W. Snipas on Long Island. He joins from Forchelli Deegan Terrana, where he was a partner in the firm’s Land Use & Zoning and Industrial Development Agency Benefits & Government practices.

National law firm Freeths has strengthened its tax offering with the appointment of Partner Stephen Jones in Birmingham. He joins from DLA Piper.

Having almost 30 years’ experience, Stephen advises on all tax aspects of property and corporate acquisitions and disposals, including development, investment, joint ventures, corporate mergers, demergers, group reorganisations and reconstructions, private equity transactions and international deals, both in the UK and internationally.

Accomplished deal lawyer Jay Hughes has returned to McGuireWoods as a partner in Houston, bringing two decades of experience assisting clients in mergers and acquisitions as well as energy transactions and financings, primarily in the oil and gas, power and renewable sectors.

Kennedys is focusing on further US expansion with the addition of seven new attorneys in two of our East Coast offices. Partner Jay Hamad is joining the firm’s New York and Basking Ridge offices, bringing with him a special counsel and five associates.

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has appointed Peter McCusker to join its corporate financial services team as a partner in London.

Peter joins from Royal London where he was Group Deputy General Counsel, playing a key role supporting Royal London’s life, pensions, and asset management businesses for more than a decade.

James Billingsley has joined Duane Morris LLP as a partner in the firm’s Business Reorganization and Financial Restructuring Practice Group in its Dallas office. Prior to joining Duane Morris, Billingsley was a senior partner at Polsinelli PC.