Addleshaw Goddard has added a further Real Estate Finance specialist to its eight-partner team with the appointment of new partner Zak Ikponmwosa from Clifford Chance. The Magic Circle finance expert follows the arrival of Habib Ullah who joined as a lateral partner hire in 2017 from Taylor Wessing in Dubai.

Zak joined Clifford Chance in 2004, and is highly regarded in his specialist field; according to Legal 500 2017, he is known by clients as an 'excellent negotiator and a safe pair of hands on any deal', with 'excellent technical and industry knowledge'.

Zak jointly led on the £1.15bn funding of the 'Cheesegrater' building for HSBC, ING and Bank of China and brings to the AG team strong experience leading transactions on the full complement of real estate finance disciplines including structurally subordinated senior and mezzanine deals, hotel financings, JV financings, intercreditor deals, development financings and loan acquisitions.

Amanda Gray, Finance & Projects Division Managing Partner said:

"Real Estate Finance has consistently been one of the best performing teams in our Banking Division and remains a key pillar of our business going forwards. Adding Habib and now Zak to the practice creates necessary additional capacity at an exciting time when the client base is increasingly moving beyond UK banks to include overseas banks, property funds and overseas investors with a focus on complex, structured and cross-border real estate finance transactions.

A key focus for the Real Estate Finance team is therefore to continue targeting a greater share of higher value lender driven work, but also more borrower instructions, working in combination with our Real Estate and Funds teams.

Zak is outstanding in his specialist field and we are delighted one of the brightest talents in the sector has chosen to join us."

2017/18 has been a very successful year for partner hires by AG, following a period of sustained growth across the business. Zak is one of nearly 20 new partners added to teams in London, Scotland, Leeds, Manchester, Asia and the GCC.