Heller Ehrman Welcomes Real Estate Partner to London Office

Robert Asher Joins Firm from London Office of Sidley Austin

(LONDON) 17 January 2008 – Robert Asher, a corporate real estate partner who specialises in the hospitality area, has joined the London office of Heller Ehrman as a partner.  He was formerly a partner in the London office of Sidley Austin LLP.

With a focus in the real estate and hospitality sectors, Asher has represented developers, lenders, owners and hotel management companies in numerous transactions throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East.  Asher has handled a variety of hotel deals for clients that include Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, the Dorchester Group and a major UK-based developer of resorts in the Caribbean.

Asher has led several landmark hospitality transactions, including acting for Starwood in its acquisition of Méridien Hotels & Resorts and representing the Dorchester Group in the acquisition of the Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan and the Hotel Plaza Athenée in Paris.  In the private equity investment area, his clients have included Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank.

Heller Ehrman has one of the world’s leading hospitality practices, regularly representing the world’s premier hotel brands as well as hotel private equity investors.  With the relocation of Brian Smith, one of the leaders of the practice, to London in 2007, Heller Ehrman has further solidified the reach of its brand in the UK and Europe.  The London office actively represents Fairmont/Raffles, Four Seasons Hotels, Starwood, Hyatt Hotels and other international brands in acquisitions/dispositions, management transactions and the structuring of hotel/residential projects throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.  The office has also been active in the representation of real estate private equity capital investing in the hotel sector.

“Bob is known and well-respected by many of our clients, and the addition of his practice further enhances Heller Ehrman’s strong reputation in the hotel sector,” said Brian Smith, who also serves as managing partner of Heller Ehrman’s London office.  “Bob has worked with many of our lawyers in the past, he shares Heller Ehrman’s cultural values, and we are delighted to welcome him to the firm. With the combination of our practices, we believe that Heller Ehrman now has the premier hospitality practice in Europe.”

Asher began his career as a corporate lawyer in Washington, D.C. and moved to Hogan & Hartson’s London office in 1995. He joined Sidley Austin’s London office in 1998.

“Heller Ehrman has an internationally recognised real estate and hospitality practice,” said Asher. “We share many clients and I have the greatest respect for the firm and its culture.  The combination of our practices is a tremendous opportunity.  I look forward to helping the firm grow in London.”

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