Baker & McKenzie has made its second London partner hire since the beginning of the year - bringing in a partner from Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis for its property team.
Justin Salkeld (pictured) is set to join Bakers towards the end of next month and will advise on a variety of real estate work including acquisitions, disposals and lettings.
He will become the third real estate partner in Bakers’ London arm, working alongside local practice head Michael Smith, partner Stephen Turner and eight associates. Globally the practice has around 500 lawyers.
Significant recent deals for the City property team include acting for Canada Life on its commercial lending portfolio, which has loans in excess of £200m, and advising Grupo Urvasco on the sale and leaseback of a newly-developed Silken hotel at a central London site.
Salkeld told Legal Week: “Baker & McKenzie has a fantastic international platform, particularly with the structuring and financing of
property. Real estate has changed a lot in recent years; it really has become a global industry. The size of the practice in London enables us to concentrate on being a more high-end provider.”
Smith said: “[Salkeld’s] practice complements our existing capabilities in property globally, which is an important growth area for us. We are committed to growing the practice and Justin’s appointment reflects our need to expand partner resources to service a rapidly developing practice.”
In March Bakers’ London office bought in Peter Castellon as a corporate partner. He joined the firm from his position as director and counsel in Citi’s markets and banking division.
