Key Takeaways
- • BCLP hired Claibourne Harrison, a private equity real estate partner from Gibson Dunn, to strengthen its London real estate practice and capture growing private capital flows into European real estate and infrastructure assets.
- • Harrison, who made partner at Gibson Dunn in 2022 and holds dual qualifications in Texas and England & Wales, advises private equity and investment firms on cross-border real estate transactions.
- • The hire reflects intense competition among elite law firms for real estate talent in London, following similar moves by Mayer Brown (hiring Victoria Butcher and Mark Rajbenbach from Taylor Wessing in February) and represents BCLP's continued investment in its global real estate platform.
- • Harrison's departure from Gibson Dunn follows the November 2025 exit of private equity real estate partner Jeremy Kenley to Latham, underscoring sector-wide talent mobility driven by client demand for comprehensive real estate advisory capabilities.
- • BCLP's real estate department leader Nazir Dewji emphasized the strategic value of Harrison's experience, citing increasing client demand for full-spectrum real estate strategy across deal lifecycles.
Summary
BCLP has expanded its London real estate practice with the appointment of Claibourne Harrison as a partner, hiring the experienced private equity real estate advisor from Gibson Dunn. Harrison, who achieved partner status at Gibson Dunn in 2022, brings dual legal qualifications in Texas and England & Wales, enabling him to counsel private equity and investment firms on cross-border real estate investments and transactions. His move to BCLP signals the firm's strategic commitment to capturing market share in the growing segment of private capital flowing into European real estate and infrastructure assets.
The hire occurs within a notably active period for real estate partner mobility in London's legal market. In February 2026, Mayer Brown recruited Taylor Wessing partners Victoria Butcher and Mark Rajbenbach as part of a broader wave of sector realignment. These moves reflect law firms' positioning to meet elevated client demand for comprehensive real estate advisory services spanning deal structuring, financing, and cross-border transaction management.
Harrison's departure marks the second significant exit from Gibson Dunn's private equity real estate team in recent months, following the November 2025 departure of partner Jeremy Kenley to Latham. Despite these departures, Gibson Dunn bolstered its own real estate bench in 2025 with high-profile hires Hayden Cameron and real estate finance specialist Mark Manson-Bahr from A&O Shearman.
BCLP's real estate department leader Nazir Dewji framed the hire as central to the firm's ambition to build a "market-leading global real estate platform," emphasizing Harrison's deep private equity experience and the firm's capability to support clients through entire deal lifecycles. Harrison cited BCLP's strength as a top-tier, internationally-recognized full-service firm as the primary driver of his decision, highlighting the firm's ability to deliver integrated cross-border real estate strategy.
The hire occurs within a notably active period for real estate partner mobility in London's legal market. In February 2026, Mayer Brown recruited Taylor Wessing partners Victoria Butcher and Mark Rajbenbach as part of a broader wave of sector realignment. These moves reflect law firms' positioning to meet elevated client demand for comprehensive real estate advisory services spanning deal structuring, financing, and cross-border transaction management.
Harrison's departure marks the second significant exit from Gibson Dunn's private equity real estate team in recent months, following the November 2025 departure of partner Jeremy Kenley to Latham. Despite these departures, Gibson Dunn bolstered its own real estate bench in 2025 with high-profile hires Hayden Cameron and real estate finance specialist Mark Manson-Bahr from A&O Shearman.
BCLP's real estate department leader Nazir Dewji framed the hire as central to the firm's ambition to build a "market-leading global real estate platform," emphasizing Harrison's deep private equity experience and the firm's capability to support clients through entire deal lifecycles. Harrison cited BCLP's strength as a top-tier, internationally-recognized full-service firm as the primary driver of his decision, highlighting the firm's ability to deliver integrated cross-border real estate strategy.
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