Milbank has hired Paul Hastings partners Miles Flynn and Rehan Hanif in London to launch a European real estate practice.
The duo’s hire comes amid a wider infrastructure push by the firm in London that also saw it pick up a three-partner infrastructure team from White & Case earlier this year.
Milbank said Flynn and Hanif’s arrival “formally establishes” its European real estate finance practice and would strengthen its global real estate capabilities.
“Launching a European real estate practice is a natural next step in Milbank’s global growth strategy,” said firm chairman, Scott Edelman. “With Miles and Rehan spearheading this initiative in London, we are strengthening our ability to deliver transatlantic real estate counsel on our clients’ most complex transactions.”
At Milbank Flynn and Hanif will advise banks, debt funds and private equity sponsors on the structuring and financing of all types of commercial real estate debt, and arrangers, servicers and noteholders in European CMBS transactions.
Flynn has spent the past 16 years at Paul Hastings and is viewed as a top real estate finance lawyer in the London market. He specialises in matters including senior and mezzanine debt, intercreditor agreements and back leverage transactions and also has significant experience in the enforcement and restructuring of commercial real estate loans.
Meanwhile, Hanif focuses on cross-border real estate finance transactions and also brings experience in Islamic finance. He joined Paul Hastings in 2023 from Kirkland & Ellis, where he was a partner.
The duo continue an upswing in senior real estate finance hires by law firms in London, as activity in the market grows off the back of rising private capital investment, particularly in the commerical sector.
Earlier this month, Kumar Tewari joined Watson Farley & Williams from Katten to head its real estate finance practice, while in September, Owen Jones moved to McDermott Will & Schulte from Tristan Capital Partners.
In June, Gibson Dunn also snapped up A&O Shearman’s global head of real estate finance, Mark Manson-Bahr.
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