John Sullivan, the newly named chairperson of the DLA Piper's US Real Estate Practice, plans to expand the firm's operation this 2016.
In an exclusive interview by GlobeSt.com, Sullivan mentioned, "We are looking to hire more attorneys in almost every market we are in." He plans the expansion to include New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Washington, and Chicago.
To Sullivan, these cities have a great number of real estate transactions in the last five years. He is therefore expecting a volume increase in these transactions in the coming years. He also mentioned the positive effect of increased foreign capital to U.S. real estate market.
The law firm named Sullivan as co-chair on July last year. Sullivan is now the co-chair, with Olaf Schmidt, who stays at the law firm's office in Milan. On the other hand, Sullivan will remain at the Boston office of the firm.
Aside from being DLA Piper's co-chair, Sullivan is also part of the firm's U.S. Executive Committee, Policy Committee, and even the firm wide Associate Committee.
He succeeded Jay Epstien in office, who used to be the chair of the group. According to him, Epstien's 12 years of leading the U.S. real estate practice was praiseworthy. He recognized that his recent appointment is part of the planned and executed transitioning of leadership among the different groups of the practicing law firm.
Sullivan's practice is exceptionally broad-ranged, especially in the different aspects of commercial real estate. He had represented both public and private pension plans, as well as opportunity funds. Moreover, he had practiced law, including debt, joint venture transactions, and equity for investment advisors as well as non-US investors.
DLA Piper's U.S. Real Estate Practice has 175 law practitioners. Its offices include two in Los Angeles, San Diego, Baltimore, and New Jersey. Moreover, it has a single office among each of the states of New York, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle, Northern Virginia, and many others.
