Raleigh, North Carolina –LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP (“DLA Piper”), one of the leading law firms, today announced the addition of a corporate practice from Alston & Bird LLP.
The group, recognised as one of the country’s pre-eminent REIT securities practices, is led by partners Brad Markoff, William Klapp, Robert Bergdolt, Jeffrey Sullivan and Jeffrey Miller. The group also includes Bradford Lenox and Christine Lehr, who have joined the firm as of counsel, and three associates. To accommodate the group, DLA Piper has opened a Raleigh, NC office located at Six Forks Center I at 4700 Six Forks Road.
These additions expand and diversify DLA Piper’s existing real estate capital markets practice – a strategic objective of the firm – by adding one of the most sophisticated REIT securities and corporate practices in the US. The addition of a Raleigh office also represents an opportunity for DLA Piper’s Emerging Growth and Venture Capital practice by giving the firm access to one of the country’s leading R&D hotbeds for emerging growth companies, particularly those in the life sciences and communications industries.
“It’s not every day that a group of this calibre and quality comes along that perfectly fulfils a strategic growth objective of the firm,” said Lee Miller, joint-CEO of DLA Piper. “Adding this outstanding team not only gives us a premier REIT/real estate capital markets practice, it also extends our emerging company practice by giving us a presence in Raleigh. We are fortunate to add this distinguished group to the firm.”
“The skills and experience we bring to the table complement DLA Piper’s existing practice extremely well,” said Brad Markoff, who has been appointed managing partner of the new Raleigh office. “We chose to join DLA Piper because we recognised that our REIT clients would greatly benefit from a world-class practice that can address any real estate-related need, in any geographic location, with the best lawyers.”
Brad Lenox, who focuses his practice on technology companies and venture capital firms, added: “We are also excited about combining our corporate practice with DLA Piper’s nationally-recognised emerging company and venture capital practice to serve technology-oriented companies and investors right here in our own backyard.”
Expanding a World Class Real Estate Practice
Consistently ranked one of the world’s top real estate practices by leading industry research firms, DLA Piper continues to diversify its real estate capabilities through the expansion of specialised, niche practices. The new Raleigh group adds tremendous depth to DLA Piper’s existing REIT, real estate private equity fund and real estate finance practices, while bringing added capabilities in the underwriting of REIT securities and corporate governance. Over the past two years, this group has been involved in five IPOs and more than 25 secondary offerings in the REIT industry totalling about $2bn.
With more than 200 real estate lawyers in offices throughout the country, DLA Piper provides a full range of transactional and advisory services to real estate-related firms, such as developers, investors, lenders and asset managers. The firm also provides relocation, zoning, economic incentive, leasing, acquisitions, disposition, bankruptcy and related legal counsel to corporations.
DLA Piper was recently named global Real Estate Law Firm of the Year 2005 in the inaugural Who’s Who Legal Awards based on nominations received from clients and private practice professionals. The firm is listed as the top real estate law firm in The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers 2005, which was published in March.
ENDS
For further information:
Patrick Bustamante, Media Relations, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, Tel: +00 1 (650) 833 2388
Gabriella Davila, Media Relations, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, Tel: +44 (0)20 7153 7127
