Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has appointed real estate lawyer Andrew Yates as head of living capital in London.
Yates most recently worked for DLA Piper and prior to that he held roles at Pinsent Masons and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.
He has expertise in complex development, residential investment, regeneration, thought leadership and leading multi-disciplinary teams.
Tom Willows, national head of WBD’s living practice, said: “Living is one of our key real estate growth areas in London and Andrew’s appointment will help position Womble Bond Dickinson for further expansion, reinforcing our brand as a leading adviser to the living sector nationally and internationally. For many years, Andrew has been at the forefront of build-to-rent thought leadership, bringing new UK institutional and overseas investment into the sector. An expert in complex urban development, he has overseen large‑scale public/private joint ventures and guided well-known investors as they entered the residential market. We’re delighted to welcome him to the firm.”
Yates added: “I’m thrilled to be joining Womble Bond Dickinson at such an exciting point in the firm’s growth. Bela [Zavery] and the team are already doing exceptional work across the capital and the living sector is evolving rapidly. WBD has built an outstanding reputation and has great opportunities to expand its transatlantic links.
“At a time when developers are navigating complex challenges around building safety and viability, and investors are increasingly focused on single-family and mid-market housing, WBD is uniquely positioned for the next stage of the cycle. I’m looking forward to helping further strengthen and expand this offering to support investors, lenders, developers and public sector partners in delivering high quality places to live.”
