Welcome to our new look 2007 edition of Property Matters! It reflects the ongoing evolution of our real estate offering as we continue to adapt and expand to meet the changing marketplace and the increasingly sophisticated needs of our clients and their businesses.

It has been a great year for our clients and as a result we have acted on a huge number of exciting and high profile real estate transactions. A selection of these deals appears opposite. It has also been a great year for us and we have strengthened our team with the addition of three new real estate partners as well as several other appointments, details of which can be found here.

As a result of the difficulty in finding value through traditional investment deals, many of our clients are increasingly looking elsewhere for real estate opportunities. Whether it is development or cross border investment, we have been there to assist and add value.

In this issue we include a roundtable discussion about the resulting changes my partners have seen in their real estate practices, as well as an overview of the Firm’s involvement in the recent pan-European Accor Hotel deal, which saw us acting in a ‘consigliere’ role for our client Moor Park. We highlight several other pertinent topics and, with green issues playing an increasingly important role in our daily and professional lives, Kevin Steele explores the effects of Part L of the new Building Regulations and Susan Freeman discusses the importance of the sustainability agenda in the current market.

Thank you to all our clients who have helped make this such an exciting year. We look forward to working with you to achieve even greater successes next year.

Nick Doffman
Head of Real Estate
nick.doffman@mishcon.com