Cleary Gottlieb Appoints First-Ever Real Estate Partner in London to Broaden Private Capital Offering

Cleary Gottlieb announced today that Stephen Nicolas has joined the firm’s London office as a partner in the Global Real Estate practice.

Stephen, with his team of lawyers, will establish the firm’s London-based European real estate practice, and represents the firm’s further investment in its multidisciplinary private capital offering.

Stephen’s practice focuses on corporate and private equity real estate transactions across a broad range of asset classes. He advises on acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, restructures, complex lease arrangements, franchise agreements and management agreements for clients operating across a wide variety of jurisdictions.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Stephen to Cleary,” said Managing Partner Michael Gerstenzang. “As the firm’s first London-based partner in our Global Real Estate Practice, Stephen and his team represent an important broadening of our private capital offering across the firm.”

“Stephen’s track record is extremely impressive and makes him the perfect fit for our team as we expand our presence globally,” said Real Estate Practice Group Leader Daniel Reynolds. “His extensive experience in cross-border transactions and his experience in hospitality and commercial real estate is precisely in line with our clients’ current and future needs.”

“Stephen is a superb addition to our team as we continue broadening our private capital offering into a multifaceted private capital practice,” said Ian Shawyer, Leader of the European Private Equity Group. “This is an important step to meet our clients’ needs as they continue to diversify their strategies across key private equity adjacencies, including real estate.”

“It is an honor to accept this unique and exciting opportunity to establish the London presence of one of the foremost real estate practices in the U.S.,” said Stephen. “Given Cleary’s ongoing commitment to expanding its transatlantic private equity and private funds practices, this is the perfect time to join. I am thrilled to be collaborating with such a talented and esteemed team.”