Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer has hired real estate lawyer Alison Hardy from Ashurst to head up the newly merged firm’s real estate dispute resolution practice.

Hardy joins in London, bringing with her experience in all areas of commercial real estate disputes, such as development issues, energy and infrastructure matters, investment disputes and distressed real estate, including property insolvency. She is also a member of the British Property Federation’s Insolvency Committee, where she helps examine the impact of tenant insolvencies on the property industry.

Matthew White, managing partner of HSF Kramer’s UK and EMEA real estate practice, said: “Alison’s extensive experience across the entire spectrum of commercial real estate disputes complements our market-leading position in real estate across the UK, New York and Australia and will reinforce our reputation as a global disputes powerhouse.”

Hardy joins after just over seven years at Ashurst, where she also led its real estate disputes practice. Prior to that she spent four years as a partner at Squire Patton Boggs, which she joined from Wragge & Co, where she worked for eight years, four of them as director.

She also spent just over a year as an associate at Charles Russell and almost three years at Clifford Chance, having trained and qualified at FBC Manby Bowdler.

Hardy said: “Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer boasts an exceptional reputation across its real estate, disputes and bankruptcy and restructuring teams which offers strong alignment with my practice. I am excited to build on the firm’s successes to date and to be a part of its ongoing growth as a newly combined firm.”

Hardy becomes one of the first laterals to join HSF Kramer since the merger between HSF and Kramer Levin went live earlier this month. The merged firm said it would focus on growing in key practice areas including disputes and real estate.

In April, Travers Smith hired Robert Payne from CMS to lead its real estate litigation team, with a focus on disputes around lease renewals, insolvency and development matters. Meanwhile, in June last year, McDermott Will & Emery boosted its London real estate practice with a double partner hire from Fried Frank.