Commercial Real Estate Lawyer Joins McGuireWoods in London

LONDON – Martin Barrett, an industry heavyweight who has more than 25 years of experience handling major commercial property transactions, has joined McGuireWoods as a partner and will lead the firm’s new London real estate team. 

Barrett has broad experience in the acquisition, disposal and development of corporate headquarters and regional offices, with a particular focus on clients in the energy, pharmaceutical, industrial and rail sectors. He has advised funds and property holding companies on investment and on the management of their property portfolios. He also has advised on development and development finance, town center schemes, property finance and on the property aspects of corporate transactions.
 
Barrett comes to McGuireWoods from the London office of Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC), where he was head of the firm’s real estate group. Joining Barrett in the move to McGuireWoods are counsel Chris King and associate Rhiannon C. Campbell.
 
“Martin has such an impressive track record in major commercial and industrial property deals and he is an outstanding leader, as well,” said John Grieb, chair of McGuireWoods’ Real Estate and Land Use Department. “We know we can count on him to grow and develop our London real estate team.”
 
Barrett’s experience includes representing a London-based multinational pharmaceutical company in all aspects of its UK property portfolio and is currently advising on the acquisition and development of the company’s 650,000 square-foot global research and development and corporate headquarters and the disposal of its 400-acre campus. Legal 500 has listed Barrett as a “leading individual” for real estate every year since 2009.
 
“Martin is very well known for his work in heavyweight commercial real estate matters and he is the ideal person to lead our London real estate team,” said Daniel Peyton, managing partner of the McGuireWoods’ London office.
 
“McGuireWoods is a perfect fit for my practice and I know my clients will benefit from the firm’s intense focus on excellence,” Barrett said. “I am excited to have the opportunity to help grow the real estate practice in London.”
 
King represents multinational energy, pharmaceutical, chemical, industrial, banking, investment and other commercial clients. She has advised a number of the UK’s leading energy and infrastructure clients on major projects over the past two decades. She has experience in complex land acquisitions and disposals, clawbacks, easements, wayleaves, substations, mines and minerals, and landlord and tenant matters.
 
Campbell advises clients on a wide variety of commercial property transactions, including acquisitions and disposals, and landlord and tenant matters. She also handles all aspects of leasing and real estate work for corporate occupiers and the management of clients' property portfolios.
 
McGuireWoods’ real estate group represents investors, developers, financial institutions and Fortune 100 companies in matters throughout the United States and abroad. Eight of the firm’s U.S.-based real estate lawyers are ranked by Chambers USA in its 2015 guide.
 
McGuireWoods is a leading international law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers in 21 offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.mcguirewoods.com. Its full-service public affairs arm, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC, offers infrastructure and economic development, strategic communications and grassroots advocacy, and government relations solutions.