The City of London commercial law firm Laytons ETL has launched a new department focused on the real estate requirements of its growing corporate client base.

The new Real Estate Corporate team will be led jointly by partners Scott Hilton and Simon Jones, both of whom have significant corporate followings.

Mr Hilton joined Laytons ETL last year from the London office of US firm Armstrong Teasdale, having previously built up his practice working for City firms. Mr Jones has been a partner at Laytons ETL since its merger in 2022 with the specialist commercial real estate firm he owned and led, Cannings Connolly.

Other members of the new team include Senior Associates Harry O’Donnell and Shaan Patel, and Associate Sophie Hartley, supported by Executive Assistants Liz Wills and Kerry-Ann Matticks.

The Real Estate Corporate division will provide a tailored service to serve the corporate clients Laytons ETL has attracted in increasing numbers, particularly over the past 24 months. These clients include large corporate occupiers, including PLCs, as well as corporate investors, across all major asset classes, including offices, retail, betting, industrial and logistics.

The department will work closely with Laytons ETL’s tax and corporate teams to provide specialist advice on investment matters and the real estate elements of corporate transactions. It will also collaborate with colleagues in the firm’s dispute resolution practice to address real estate issues that arise in situations of corporate insolvency and restructuring.

Mr Hilton said, “By focusing on the needs of corporate clients, our new practice will enable us to enhance the service we offer to the growing number of big-ticket clients who have chosen Laytons ETL as their legal partner, and also provide us with a platform from which to expand further in this market.”

Mr Jones added, “This launch reflects the status of our team as an increasingly significant player on the corporate real estate scene. Over the last couple of years we have made significant progress bringing on board a variety of big national and international brands.

“This new practice, which brings in expertise from across the firm, will enable us to provide the focused but multi-disciplinary service they require, and to establish ourselves as a key player in the sector.”