Key Takeaways
- • Squire Patton Boggs has recruited real estate partners Rachel Kerr and James Eddowes from Gowling WLG, according to the firm's announcement.
- • Kerr brings more than 16 years of experience advising UK investors and developers across industrial and logistics, retail, offices, BTR, hotels and portfolio acquisitions.
- • Eddowes acts for UK and US institutional and private equity investors and developers on acquisitions, disposals, financings and development projects.
- • The hires strengthen the firm's Birmingham office and its real estate practice as it expands M&A and investment mandates involving high-value real estate assets.
Summary
Squire Patton Boggs has hired real estate partners Rachel Kerr and James Eddowes from Gowling WLG, the firm announced in a release reported by BE News. The appointments were announced on 14 October 2026 and expand the firm's Real Estate Practice Group, with the lawyers based in Birmingham.
Kerr has more than 16 years of experience advising UK investors and developers across a broad range of sectors and asset classes, including industrial and logistics, retail, offices, build-to-rent, hotels and portfolio acquisitions. Eddowes advises UK and US institutional and private equity investors and developers on real estate acquisitions, disposals, financings and development projects.
Matthew Dalzell, European head of the firm's real estate practice group, said the hires would enhance the firm's capabilities in commercial development, investment and private equity real estate as it continues to grow M&A and investment mandates involving high-value real estate assets and large-scale portfolio transactions. Tom Durrant, Birmingham office managing partner, described the arrivals as another significant step in the office's growth.
Eddowes said clients increasingly require advice combining deep real estate expertise with corporate, finance and cross-border capabilities, and that the market continues to present opportunities across sectors. Kerr cited the firm's global reach and client focus as the reason for joining.
Publisher context indicates the move follows a wider pattern of activity at the firm, including a report that it recruited a nine-lawyer real estate team from Gowling WLG led by three partners, and a separate announcement that it promoted 20 lawyers to partner in 2026.
Kerr has more than 16 years of experience advising UK investors and developers across a broad range of sectors and asset classes, including industrial and logistics, retail, offices, build-to-rent, hotels and portfolio acquisitions. Eddowes advises UK and US institutional and private equity investors and developers on real estate acquisitions, disposals, financings and development projects.
Matthew Dalzell, European head of the firm's real estate practice group, said the hires would enhance the firm's capabilities in commercial development, investment and private equity real estate as it continues to grow M&A and investment mandates involving high-value real estate assets and large-scale portfolio transactions. Tom Durrant, Birmingham office managing partner, described the arrivals as another significant step in the office's growth.
Eddowes said clients increasingly require advice combining deep real estate expertise with corporate, finance and cross-border capabilities, and that the market continues to present opportunities across sectors. Kerr cited the firm's global reach and client focus as the reason for joining.
Publisher context indicates the move follows a wider pattern of activity at the firm, including a report that it recruited a nine-lawyer real estate team from Gowling WLG led by three partners, and a separate announcement that it promoted 20 lawyers to partner in 2026.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.