Mayer Brown has appointed Chris Harvey as its next London managing partner, succeeding Dominic Griffiths in October.
As co-leader of the firm’s real estate group, Harvey brings experience leading a global practice to the role, as his predecessors did. He has represented investors, funds, property companies, banks and developers in investment, development and finance transactions, particularly for private equity and Asian, US and European investors in the UK real estate market.
He is known for major London investment and development transactions, including leading the acquisition of the ‘Walkie Talkie’ building, the UK’s largest-ever office complex property transaction.
The Chicago-headquartered firm called him “an outstanding lawyer and a proven leader who brings deep knowledge of our clients, our people and the London market”, according to the firm’s chair, Jon Van Gorp, who stressed London’s importance to its international platform.
Van Gorp said: “I have worked with Chris for years. His client focus, commercial judgement and collaborative approach make him exceptionally well placed to build on the momentum achieved under Dom’s leadership and guide the office through its next chapter.”
Harvey joined Mayer Brown in 2012 from CMS in London, where he built a leading real estate practice advising on high-value, cross-border transactions across the UK and international markets.
In addition to client work, Harvey will oversee the London office’s strategic direction and operations, supporting the continued development of its talent, client relationships and cross-border platform.
“It is a privilege to be asked to lead Mayer Brown’s London office at such an exciting time for the firm,” said Harvey. “London has an exceptional team, a distinctive client base and a strong culture of collaboration across practices and offices.”
He added: “Dom has led the office through a period of strategic growth and record performance, and I look forward to working with colleagues across London and the wider firm to continue that progress, deepen our client relationships and ensure we keep delivering the highest levels of service.”
Harvey succeeds Griffiths, who has held the position since 2022, and will join the firm’s global management committee. Sally Davies previously held the role from 2017.
Griffiths joined Mayer Brown from White & Case as a partner in 2005 and served as co-leader of the firm’s global banking and finance practice since 2014. He represents banks and financial institutions across a broad spectrum of financing transactions and is seen as a leading asset-based lending and structured finance lawyer.
As the firm’s graduate recruitment partner in London for many years, Griffiths previously led the search for new trainees. A long-time advocate for diversity and inclusion, he helped originate Mayer Brown’s adoption of a blind CV interviewing policy for trainee applicants.
The appointment follows a busy period at Mayer Brown in London, where Griffiths’s tenure strengthened finance, capital markets, real estate and private credit teams through key lateral hires.
This month, for example, high-yield and leveraged finance partner trio Rob Mathews, David Becker and Ben Bierwirth joined the banking and finance practice from Baker McKenzie. Harvey’s own corporate real estate team also added two partners from Taylor Wessing, Mark Rajbenbach and Victoria Butcher, prior to that firm’s merger with Winston & Strawn.
Mayer Brown – once known as legacy Rowe & Maw in London – celebrated its 130th anniversary in the City last year. London revenue hit a record $268m in 2025, an increase of around 20%, according to Non-Billable.
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