Key Takeaways
- • BCLP hired Claibourne Harrison, a private equity real estate partner from Gibson Dunn, to bolster its London real estate bench as part of sector-wide positioning to capture growing private capital investment into European real estate and infrastructure assets.
- • Harrison, who made partner at Gibson Dunn in 2022 and holds dual qualification in Texas and England & Wales, advises private equity and investment firms on cross-border real estate transactions and investments.
- • The hire reflects intensifying lateral movement among elite London law firms in the real estate sector; Mayer Brown hired two Taylor Wessing partners (Victoria Butcher and Mark Rajbenbach) in February, while Gibson Dunn itself lost private equity real estate partner Jeremy Kenley to Latham in November 2025.
- • Nazir Dewji, BCLP's real estate department leader, signaled the firm's commitment to building a "market-leading global real estate platform" amid increasing client demand for full-spectrum real estate strategy services tied to private equity deal lifecycles.
- • Harrison cited BCLP's top-tier positioning, international full-service capabilities, and depth in real estate as primary drivers of his move, emphasizing the firm's ability to support clients across entire deal cycles.
Summary
BCLP has recruited Claibourne Harrison as a partner in its London real estate team, effective immediately, marking the firm's latest strategic hire to strengthen its private equity real estate offering. Harrison joins from Gibson Dunn, where he achieved partner status in 2022. Dual-qualified to practice in Texas and England & Wales, Harrison specializes in advising private equity and investment firms on cross-border transactions and investments within the real estate sector.
The appointment occurs within a broader competitive landscape of partner-level movement across London's legal market. The real estate sector, in particular, is experiencing elevated lateral hiring as major law firms position themselves to capture accelerating private capital flows into European real estate and infrastructure assets. This activity extends beyond BCLP: Mayer Brown brought on Taylor Wessing partner duo Victoria Butcher and Mark Rajbenbach in February 2026, while Gibson Dunn itself experienced the departure of private equity real estate partner Jeremy Kenley to Latham in November 2025.
BCLP has been actively building its real estate capabilities over the past year. The firm recruited high-profile real estate partners Hayden Cameron and Mark Manson-Bahr, a real estate finance specialist, from A&O Shearman, further fortifying its competitive positioning in the sector.
Harrison explained that BCLP's established market strength in real estate, combined with its international full-service platform and demonstrated ability to support clients throughout entire deal lifecycles, motivated his transition. Nazir Dewji, the firm's real estate department leader, characterized the hire as evidence of BCLP's ongoing commitment to develop a market-leading global real estate platform, noting that the addition of Harrison's deep private equity expertise addresses rising client demand for comprehensive real estate strategy services.
The appointment occurs within a broader competitive landscape of partner-level movement across London's legal market. The real estate sector, in particular, is experiencing elevated lateral hiring as major law firms position themselves to capture accelerating private capital flows into European real estate and infrastructure assets. This activity extends beyond BCLP: Mayer Brown brought on Taylor Wessing partner duo Victoria Butcher and Mark Rajbenbach in February 2026, while Gibson Dunn itself experienced the departure of private equity real estate partner Jeremy Kenley to Latham in November 2025.
BCLP has been actively building its real estate capabilities over the past year. The firm recruited high-profile real estate partners Hayden Cameron and Mark Manson-Bahr, a real estate finance specialist, from A&O Shearman, further fortifying its competitive positioning in the sector.
Harrison explained that BCLP's established market strength in real estate, combined with its international full-service platform and demonstrated ability to support clients throughout entire deal lifecycles, motivated his transition. Nazir Dewji, the firm's real estate department leader, characterized the hire as evidence of BCLP's ongoing commitment to develop a market-leading global real estate platform, noting that the addition of Harrison's deep private equity expertise addresses rising client demand for comprehensive real estate strategy services.
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