Real estate sector strengthened with appointments of David Seymour and Will Bryant at Freshfields to boost expertise
Freshfields Bolsters Global Real Estate Offering with Appointment of David Seymour and Will Bryant
Freshfields, a leading global law firm, has made a strategic move to significantly expand its real estate offerings by appointing David Seymour and Will Bryant, formerly of Ropes & Gray, to its team.
The duo, renowned for their expertise in cross-border private equity real estate transactions, will bring a wealth of experience advising European and international investors. Their sector experience spans data centers, logistics, major retail, social, and educational investments.
Alexander Watt, co-head of Freshfields' Global Real Assets, noted that real estate is the biggest asset class in the private capital space and is currently undergoing rapid change. Factors such as changing working patterns, generational shifts, interest rates, increased construction costs, changed demands, and the need to adapt buildings to ESG requirements are driving this transformation.
The appointments are seen as enhancing Freshfields' strength in London and global capabilities to meet the evolving needs of clients. The firm aims to expand its global offering across the full range of private capital and strategic investors in the real estate sector.
Niko Schultz-Suechting, Global Real Estate Head at Freshfields, and James Scott, UK PE Head, will work closely with Seymour and Bryant. The collaboration is expected to further bolster Freshfields' position in the competitive private equity real estate market.
The appointments come at a pivotal moment for Freshfields' expansion. The firm has been strategically building out its team to meet evolving market needs and client expectations globally, including adding other infrastructure and finance partners in London earlier in 2025.
This move represents a notable gain for Freshfields and a significant loss for Ropes & Gray's London office, which recently saw other key private equity partners depart.
In summary, David Seymour and Will Bryant’s appointments enable Freshfields to bolster its position in the competitive private equity real estate market globally by leveraging the partners’ strong cross-border transaction experience and specialist industry knowledge, facilitating expanded service offerings for a diversified and evolving client base.
- David Seymour and Will Bryant, who have extensive experience in private equity real estate transactions, will bring their expertise to Freshfields' finance team to spearhead cross-border deals, thereby strengthening the firm's position in the competitive global private equity real estate market.
- As part of their mission to expand its global offering within the private capital and strategic investors' real estate sector, Freshfields has strategically positioned itself by appointing David Seymour and Will Bryant, further diversifying their finance portfolio with a focus on data centers, logistics, major retail, social, and educational investments.
