Jeremy Kenley

Latham & Watkins has added to its private equity real estate bench in the U.K. with the hire of partner Jeremy Kenley from Gibson Dunn, marking the latest move in an active London hiring market. Kenley’s move adds further depth to Latham’s real estate private equity capability as competition among global firms for top-tier transactional talent continues to intensify. He advises a broad roster of clients, many of whom already work with Latham—including Brookfield and Apollo—and brings nearly eight years of experience from Gibson Dunn, preceded by more than six years as a partner at Mayer Brown, according to his LinkedIn profile. The firm said Kenley’s arrival "further enhances the firm's global leadership for sophisticated real estate transactions," underscoring its strategic push to deepen transactional capability across key sectors. Kenley’s hire follows a string of private equity–focused additions. In July, the firm announced that Ross Allardice from White & Case would join its London office as a partner in the M&A and private equity practice, reinforcing the firm’s ambition to grow its transactional offering in Europe. "We’re delighted to welcome Jeremy to the firm," said Ed Barnett, London Office Managing Partner at Latham & Watkins. "Jeremy is a star name in the market and one of the most accomplished real estate private equity lawyers in the City, with an impressive track record advising across the full spectrum of complex transactions," he added. "Jeremy brings deep experience that will further strengthen our London team and support our continued growth as a global leader in this space. He’s a fantastic addition to our already strong practice." Latham has been at the centre of London’s volatile hiring market for some time, with movement flowing both ways. In October, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher hired Latham partner Simon Tysoe, who joined its London M&A, energy and infrastructure, and oil and gas groups after a decade at Latham. That same month, Latham expanded its healthcare and life sciences practice with the addition of Simmons & Simmons partner Lydia Torne, who joined after nearly two decades at her former firm. She specialises in intellectual property transactions.

Nov 19

2 min

Latham & Watkins has strengthened its London office with the hire of three partners from A&O Shearman, continuing an aggressive build-out of its real estate finance and structured finance capabilities in the city. Real estate finance partners David Oppenheimer and David Varne, alongside structured finance partner Lucy Oddy, are joining Latham’s London practice. Oppenheimer joins after a 20-year tenure at A&O Shearman, where he served as global head of real estate finance. Varne has spent more than 12 years at the firm, while Oddy departs after a decade in its structured finance practice. According to Latham, Oppenheimer and Varne are widely regarded as two of the leading real estate finance partners in Europe. The pair have also worked closely with Oddy on complex CMBS and back-leverage transactions. Oddy brings more than 20 years’ experience advising financial institutions, funds, private equity firms, and corporates. Over the past year, Latham has added real estate private equity partner Jeremy Kenley, promoted Chris Cox to partner, and strengthened its structured finance bench with partners Franz Ranero and James Smallwood, who joined as part of an 11-lawyer CLO team in summer 2025. London office managing partner Ed Barnett described the arrivals as “another significant development” for the firm’s City platform, adding that the hires enhance Latham’s ability to advise private equity firms, investment banks, investors, and public companies on high-value, sophisticated transactions. The latest hires underscore the U.S. firm's continued investment in London as a key hub for its European and global finance practices. At A&O Shearman, partners Chris Woolf and Lisa Brill will continue to lead the global real estate practice and John Coburn will lead the real estate finance team as practice head. An A&O Shearman spokesperson said: “We thank David, Lucy and David for the contribution they have made to the firm and wish them all the best for the future.”

Jan 6

1 min

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP advised Related Argent on its joint venture with NTT UD Europe Limited, a subsidiary of leading Japanese telecommunications group Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, to take forward the third Build-to-Rent development at Brent Cross Town. The development will comprise 226 rental homes across three blocks in a prime location between Claremont Park and the new high street to form part of the £8 billion mixed-use park town. This third development will bring the rental portfolio at Brent Cross Town to around 760 homes, all managed by Related Argent. The Gibson Dunn team was led by partner Patrick Hennessy and included partner Jeremy Kenley and associates Ciarán Deeny and Emily Mattley (Corporate and Real Estate). The team was supported by partner Sandy Bhogal and associates Sophie Walshe and James Chandler (Tax), as well as partner Attila Borsos and associate Alana Tinkler (Antitrust and Competition). Download PDF

May 29

1 min

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is pleased to announce that a private equity team of three partners will join the London office. The team, all formerly with Vinson & Elkins LLP in London, will continue to focus on cross-border M&A, particularly infrastructure, ESG and real assets transactions for both private equity and corporate clients. The team is active in various sectors, including energy transition, transportation, telecoms, shipping, water and wastewater, EfW and building materials. The team is also very active on advising on global impact and climate change related investments. Partner Federico (Fede) Fruhbeck, who will serve as Gibson Dunn’s Head of Private Equity in Europe and Co-Chair of the Projects and Infrastructure Practice Group, will join alongside partners Robert Dixon and Alice Brogi. “We are delighted to welcome Fede, Rob and Alice to the firm,” said Barbara L. Becker, Chair and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn. “Growing the transactional practice in London and beyond is a strategic focus for us. The addition of these seasoned deal lawyers expands our ability to further develop the private equity infrastructure work we are handling in London, New York and Asia, as well as deepens our broader private equity M&A practice globally.” “Fede, Rob, and Alice each have extremely impressive deal sheets and strong top-tier client relationships that complement and closely align with our existing platform, including our thriving private equity real estate practice in London,” said London corporate transactional partner Jeremy Kenley. “Their arrival will further enhance our private equity practice for us in London and add to the continued expansion of our London corporate team.” “We are very excited to welcome Fede, Rob, and Alice on board,” said Ali Nikpay, Co-Partner-In-Charge of the London office. “With their exemplary track record and standing in the market, they are a fabulous addition to the London office.” “I’m thrilled to join Gibson Dunn with my fantastic colleagues,” said Fruhbeck. “Gibson Dunn is a great firm with a strong collegial culture, and I look forward to collaborating with teams globally to expand and further strengthen the firm’s premier offering.” About Federico Fruhbeck Fruhbeck’s practice focuses on cross-border M&A transactions across Europe for private equity clients and large family-owned conglomerates. He has extensive experience in the infrastructure and real assets industries and regularly leads transactions across Europe, including in Spain, Italy, Germany, France and the Nordic region, as well as Latin America. Fruhbeck also advises both issuers and underwriters on capital markets transactions, particularly in high-yield issuances (particularly green bond offerings) and initial public offerings. Before joining Gibson Dunn, Fruhbeck was a partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP in London, where he practiced since 2017. Prior to that, he practiced with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York and London. A native Spanish speaker, he is also fluent in English, German, and French. He received his licentiate degree (J.D. equivalent), summa cum laude, from the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in 2007 and an LL.M. with honors in 2010 from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. He is admitted to practice in New York and Spain, and is a registered foreign lawyer with the Solicitors Regulation Authority in England and Wales. About Robert Dixon Dixon advises private equity and corporate clients on M&A and equity investments, with a focus on cross-border M&A infrastructure transactions. His practice has a particular emphasis on digital infrastructure transactions, including the associated long term commercial contracts. Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Dixon was a partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP in London, where he practiced since 2009. He also previously practiced with Slaughter and May and Addleshaw Goddard LLP. Dixon earned his DLP in 1999 and his Bachelor of Laws with honors in 1998 from the University of Edinburgh. He is a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales and a solicitor of the Law Society of Scotland. About Alice Brogi Brogi practices private equity M&A, representing sponsors in cross-border transactions across a number of sectors with a focus on infrastructure and hard assets. She has advised clients on domestic and cross-border acquisitions, disposals, preferred equity and debt investments, joint ventures, loan-to-own restructurings, and portfolio acquisitions in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria and the Nordics. Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Brogi was counsel at Vinson & Elkins LLP in London, where she practiced since 2016. She previously practiced with the London offices of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. She completed two secondments to Hudson Advisors UK Limited and previously spent seven months seconded to the merchant banking division of Goldman Sachs in 2014. In 2007, she received a master’s degree in French and German corporate law, magna cum laude, from the Universite Paris Nanterre and an LL.M. in corporate law from the London School of Economics. A native French speaker, Brogi is also fluent in English and German. She is admitted to practice in England and Wales and France. Download PDF

Oct 18

4 min