Greenberg Traurig has hired a partner from Ashurst Perkins Coie to lead its London construction practice, the latest in a string of real estate hires in the City by the US firm.
Ben Patton has joined GT as a shareholder after nearly 20 years at Ashurst Perkins Coie and legacy firm Ashurst, where he was co-head of the London construction group. He provides procurement and construction contract advice on projects in the build-to-rent, logistics and infrastructure sectors, and at his new firm is expected to focus on UK development and construction matters.
His hire continues the build-out of GT's London office, which has added more than 20 shareholders over the past few years focused on corporate, private equity and infrastructure and now has around 180 lawyers.
“Ben’s arrival continues the growth of our London office and reflects our commitment to investing in areas where we see strong client demand," GT's executive vice president and London office managing shareholder, Fiona Adams, said in a statement. "Our real estate practice has gained strong momentum, and we continue to attract market-leading lawyers. Ben is highly regarded in the market and adds depth to our offering across development and construction mandates.”
GT said Patton would complement the work of shareholder Richard Ceeney, who joined the firm in April 2025 from Reed Smith to focus on infrastructure and energy projects globally.
The firm's London real estate team was also expanded earlier this year with the hire of shareholders Freya Dear and Patrick Williams from Fried Frank and Simon Elliott from HSF Kramer, while real estate finance lawyer William Lo was promoted to shareholder. Following Patton's arrival, the practice will boast around 50 lawyers, according to the firm's website, working as part of a global real estate team of more than 700.
Patton said GT's “continued investment in London, combined with the strength of its global real estate platform, made this a compelling opportunity".
He added: "As one of the largest real estate law firms in the world, the firm has the breadth and international reach to support clients on complex developments, while retaining an entrepreneurial approach.”
Patton’s hire follows a strong financial performance in 2025 for GT, which grew revenue 11.8% to surpass $2.9bn against a 10.1% growth in profit per equity partner to $2.9m, even as its equity partner count held steady.
An Ashurst Perkins Coie spokesperson said: "We wish Ben all the best and thank him for his contribution to the firm."
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