Enhancement of Real Estate Services at Freshfields as David Seymour and Will Bryant Take Lead Positions
In an exciting development, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is strengthening its ranks with the addition of two seasoned private equity real estate lawyers, David Seymour and Will Bryant. Niko Schultz-Suechting, the Global Real Estate Head at Freshfields, and James Scott, the UK PE head, have welcomed the newcomers to the team.
Seymour and Bryant are joining Freshfields from Ropes & Gray in London and bring with them a wealth of experience in the real estate sector. Their expertise spans across data centers, logistics, major retail, and social and educational investments, making them valuable additions to Freshfields' growing team.
The private equity real estate sector is currently the biggest asset class in the private capital space, and the appointments of Seymour and Bryant are strategic moves to meet the evolving needs of Freshfields' clients. The real estate market is increasingly diversified and undergoing rapid change, with factors such as changes in working patterns and environments, generational shifts, interest rates, increased construction costs, and ESG requirements driving these changes.
The appointments come at a time when the sector is experiencing a shift in investor preferences. There is a notable global movement of capital toward European real estate private equity, partly at the expense of US markets, driven by investor preference for stable income streams and less volatile assets.
According to experts including Alexander Watt, the co-head of Freshfields' Global Real Assets, the current trends in the European and global private equity real estate sector emphasize several key points. One of these is a stable but cautious investment environment, despite geopolitical uncertainties and a modest Eurozone economic growth. Prime, best-in-class real estate continues to offer real inflation-adjusted rental growth, appealing for its relative income stability amid market volatility.
Investors are increasingly attracted to housing (a cornerstone opportunity across Europe), logistics (remaining strong), and rebounding retail sectors. Furthermore, infrastructure spending and partnerships are rising, presenting fresh opportunities. There is also a trend towards emerging European markets as growth slows in major economies.
However, the sector is not without its challenges. Development is constrained by high construction costs and tight financing conditions, which tighten the supply of modern buildings and can limit growth potential.
Despite these challenges, there is cautious optimism that lower interest rates in the second half of the year will support private equity activity. While overall dealmaking is expected to be muted through the rest of 2025 due to geopolitical tensions, the outlook remains positive.
Seymour and Bryant will work closely with Watt, Schultz-Suechting, and Scott at Freshfields. They will advise European and global private equity real estate funds, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, family offices, and operating partners. Their specialization in cross-border transactions will further enhance Freshfields' strength in London and global capabilities.
Freshfields aims to expand its global offering across the full range of private capital and strategic investors in the real estate sector. With the addition of Seymour and Bryant, the firm is well-positioned to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the evolving private equity real estate landscape.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's strategic move to appoint David Seymour and Will Bryant, seasoned private equity real estate lawyers, is aimed at meeting the evolving needs of their clients in the rapidly changing private equity real estate sector. Seymour and Bryant will be advising European and global private equity real estate funds, leveraging their expertise in cross-border transactions to strengthen Freshfields' position in London and enhance its global capabilities.
