Herbert Smith Freehills promotes partner to lead global real estate team

News

29 April 2024

He replaces real estate partner Jeremy Walden, who held the role for six years and will continue the full-time, fee-earning role he maintained while serving as managing partner.

White will lead the global real estate practice alongside joint managing partner Luke Simpson. His new role will take effect on 1 May.

Outside of HSF, White is chairman of the City of London Law Society’s planning and environmental law committee, a member of the British Property Federation’s planning committee, a legal associate of the Royal Town Planning Institute and a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

White is head of planning in London at HSF, and has more than 25 years of experience across all aspects of contentious and non-contentious planning and development law. He is also joint lead partner for the EMEA real estate sector at the firm and is responsible for client relationship and thought leadership initiatives to grow the firm’s cross-practice real estate sector expertise.

He joined legacy Herbert Smith in 1995 as a trainee and became a partner in 2005.

Ian Cox, executive partner, practices at HSF, said: “Matthew is well-versed with leadership roles. As the current head of planning in London and joint lead partner for the EMEA real estate sector, he is well-placed to take on the leadership of the global real estate practice with fellow joint managing partner Luke Simpson.

“Their combined wealth of experience will enable our leading global practice to continue to grow healthily and to be a key driver of our firm strategy.”

White said: “Under Jeremy’s leadership, we have consistently delivered exceptional results for our clients and have achieved great success for our full-service real estate practice. I am excited to take the team forward to the next stage of our growth and look forward to continuing to build strong relationships across the real estate sector.”

Send feedback to Pui-Guan Man

Follow Estates Gazette

Herbert Smith Freehills

Law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has appointed London real estate partner Matthew White as joint managing partner for its global real estate practice and as the UK, US and EMEA regional head of practice. He replaces real estate partner Jeremy Walden, who held the role for six years and will continue the full-time, fee-earning role he maintained while serving as managing partner. White will lead the global real estate practice alongside joint managing partner Luke Simpson. His new role will take effect on 1 May. Outside of HSF, White is chairman of the City of London Law Society’s planning and environmental law committee, a member of the British Property Federation’s planning committee, a legal associate of the Royal Town Planning Institute and a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. White is head of planning in London at HSF, and has more than 25 years of experience across all aspects of contentious and non-contentious planning and development law. He is also joint lead partner for the EMEA real estate sector at the firm and is responsible for client relationship and thought leadership initiatives to grow the firm’s cross-practice real estate sector expertise. He joined legacy Herbert Smith in 1995 as a trainee and became a partner in 2005. Ian Cox, executive partner, practices at HSF, said: “Matthew is well-versed with leadership roles. As the current head of planning in London and joint lead partner for the EMEA real estate sector, he is well-placed to take on the leadership of the global real estate practice with fellow joint managing partner Luke Simpson. “Their combined wealth of experience will enable our leading global practice to continue to grow healthily and to be a key driver of our firm strategy.” White said: “Under Jeremy’s leadership, we have consistently delivered exceptional results for our clients and have achieved great success for our full-service real estate practice. I am excited to take the team forward to the next stage of our growth and look forward to continuing to build strong relationships across the real estate sector.”