Top 100 full service law firm, Birketts, has strengthened its Real Estate Team with the strategic appointment of partner Stephen Sumpton. With a wealth of experience, Stephen’s hire boosts the breadth and depth of Birketts’ Real Estate offering and further enhances the team. He will based in Ipswich but will also have a role to play in the development of the firm’s new London office.
Boasting over 20 years’ experience in investment and development work, Stephen has a wide range of specialist real estate knowledge across commercial, residential, industrial, retail and mixed use properties and schemes.
Prior to joining Birketts, Stephen worked at a City firm, where he specialised in investment, development and strategic land acquisition. Stephen acts for a number of clients including sovereign wealth funds, fund and asset managers, developers, housebuilders and major corporate occupiers. His recent transactions include acting for the National Pension Service of Korea in relation to the £1.2bn acquisition and leaseback of the Goldman Sachs London HQ.
Stephen also has substantial experience of real estate development in central and eastern Europe, particularly within Russia, where he lived and worked for three years, acting for Governmental organisations as well as developers, investors and multi-national companies in relation to the development and financing of numerous office, retail and industrial premises in and around the Russian capital, Moscow.
Of his appointment, Stephen said: “As a regional firm with a sterling reputation for City quality service, Birketts is a great fit for my practice and a natural choice for the next step in my career. I am delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside such a highly regarded team. I look forward to supporting a new client base in relation to the acquisition, investment, development and disposal of all kinds of real estate across the UK.”
Partner and Head of Property, Chris Schwer, said: “We are delighted to welcome Stephen to the Real Estate Team. His professionalism, wide-ranging knowledge and commercially astute nature makes him a great addition and I have no doubt that our clients will benefit from Stephen’s advice and expertise for years to come.”