White & Case Expands Its Real Estate Capabilities with the Addition of David Viklund and Ted Smith as Partners

Global law firm White & Case LLP has expanded its Global Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Practice and Global Real Estate Industry Group with the additions of David Viklund and Ted Smith as partners in New York and Houston, respectively. 

"Real estate is a key asset class for the M&A market," said John Reiss, Global Head of White & Case's M&A Practice. "In 2018, the Firm acquired a team of 18 lawyers from Pircher, Nichols & Meeks in Chicago. As that acquisition has flourished and the real estate market continues to grow and experience volatility, the addition of these new partners adds further depth to our world-class bench of real estate lawyers, and further fortifies our market-leading presence in this space."

Viklund and Smith advise private equity firms, REITS, institutional lenders and other investors on all aspects of financing real estate investments, as well as the acquisition and disposition of assets. They also have extensive experience advising on restructurings and the development of commercial properties across the industry. 

"With increasing interest rates, the real estate environment in 2022 remains volatile, meaning there is a real likelihood of increased workouts and restructurings across the sector," said Gene Leone, Head of White & Case's Global Real Estate Industry Group. "These partners bring extensive experience in this area that will be of tremendous value as our clients navigate the current market complexities. We are delighted to welcome them to our team."

White & Case's Global M&A Practice has continued to expand in 2022, with the addition of more than 45 lawyers globally since the beginning of the year. The practice's recent partner additions include Di Yu, who joined the Firm's London office in August; Linda Sim, who joined the Firm's Los Angeles office in June; Shiva Sandill, who joined the Firm's Chicago office in June; Matthew Barnett, who joined the Firm’s Los Angeles office in March; and Burr Eckstut, who joined the Firm’s New York office in March. 

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