International law firm Bird & Bird today strengthens its hotel, hospitality and leisure offering with the appointment of Karen Friebe as a Real Estate partner in London.
Karen joins from Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) and will play a key part in building the firm's hotel, hospitality and leisure practice.
Karen advises clients on the acquisition, development, disposal and management of all types of hotel, from budget to luxury, and in dealings with other types of property in the wider hospitality and leisure sector.
Bird & Bird's Real Estate group's strategy is to align with other areas within the firm where there is a strong real estate element including in the Energy and Utilities, Banking & Finance, Retail & Consumer, Technology & Communications and Hotel, Hospitality and Leisure sectors. Karen's appointment fits perfectly with this strategy.
Jonathan Baker, Head of the Real Estate Practice at Bird & Bird says: "The hotels, hospitality and leisure sector is becoming an increasingly important area for the firm and Karen will help take our practice in this area to the next level."
Mark Abell and Graeme Payne, Co-Heads of the Retail & Consumer sector group comment: "We are thrilled to welcome Karen to Bird & Bird. We already have a substantial international hotel, hospitality and leisure team which acts for a large portfolio of brands and is particularly active throughout Asia and Europe. Karen is a world leader in the sector and her leadership will turbo charge Bird & Bird's existing offering which will complement and strengthen our capabilities both locally and internationally. We are very much looking forward to her working with her."
Karen Friebe added: "I am delighted to join such a globally respected firm like Bird & Bird. I believe that taking a holistic approach to the Real Estate sector will be more beneficial to clients and the firm will provide me with the best platform to implement this approach. I am looking forward to working alongside my colleagues in the Real Estate practice and in the Retail & Consumer sector group both in London and internationally."