Bath-headquartered law firm Royds Withy King has appointed specialist real estate development lawyer David Paxton as a partner and head of the real estate team in its London office.
David, pictured, has joined from the London office of international law firm Charles Russell Speechlys, where he was a partner for just over two years.
He has broad sector experience, having also been a senior associate at both Eversheds Sutherland, Pinsent Masons and Travers Smith and as senior legal counsel for a major international real estate developer Bouygues.
He advises a wide range of developers and investors and has a particular focus on mixed-use residential – including build to rent – infrastructure, hotels and leisure, retirement living, and student accommodation.
He also acts for investors, property companiess and corporate occupiers on real estate acquisition, financing, joint ventures, asset optimisation, lettings and sales.
He has worked with FTSE 100 companies, major international developers, national house builders, pension funds, HM government, real estate investment funds, sovereign wealth funds, royal families, ultra high net worth individuals and overseas investors.
The nature of these transactions often requires him to lead and co-ordinate a cross-departmental team to provide advice on associated planning, construction, tax, finance, and corporate issues.
Career highlights include advising Chelsea Football Club, HS2 and Berkeley Homes while he has also acted for overseas family offices and private equity funds acquiring and developing super-prime London real estate.
David said: “I am delighted to be joining Royds Withy King and excited about leading the London real estate team during a period of significant changes in the market and the wider world economy.
“We will continue to provide our clients with value-added, commercially orientated legal advice to help them navigate a successful course through a dynamic and challenging business environment.
“2021 is likely to offer unprecedented opportunity in the UK real estate market and I am looking forward to helping my clients make the most of this.”
Royds Withy King managing partner Graham Street added: “David is an experienced and talented lawyer and we’re delighted to welcome him to our firm. This latest appointment underlines our commitment to further growing our profile and practice in London.”
David’s arrival brings the number of new partner hires at Royds Withy King to seven since last March.
The firm employs around 520 people across its offices in Bath, Swindon, Oxford and London.
