Latham & Watkins LLP is pleased to announce that Kevin Ehrhart has joined the firm’s Los Angeles office as a partner in the Finance Department. Ehrhart has a highly regarded transactional real estate practice focused on the acquisition and disposition of commercial office and industrial portfolios, as well as the development and financing of hotels and resorts, golf courses, retail and industrial centers, and residential communities located throughout the United States and Asia. He joins from Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis in Los Angeles, where he was a partner since 2005.

“Kevin is one of the leading transactional real estate attorneys in Los Angeles and we are excited to welcome him to our firm, where his skill set will fit well with current real estate market dynamics and our offerings to clients in a range of transactional areas,” said James Beaubien, Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins in Los Angeles.

Dominic Yoong, Chair of the firm’s Finance Department in Los Angeles, added: “While the transactional real estate market has recently been challenging for all, strategic investments have continued and sophisticated legal advice remains highly valued. Kevin has notable experience advising sophisticated clients on many complex transactions. His clients include leading real estate private equity firms and real estate investment trusts (REITs), which have proven to be resilient players in the real estate market.”

Kevin Ehrhart commented: “I was particularly attracted by Latham’s national and global platforms – as well as the firm’s strengths in real estate finance and related areas such as tax, capital markets and M&A – which will enable me to use my skills and experience to expand my practice and effectively advise the firm’s clients on their business-critical transactions.”

Ehrhart received his law degree from the University of Southern California in 1997 and soon after joined Allen Matkins in Los Angeles. He served as Vice Chair of that firm’s Real Estate Department and chaired its Los Angeles Real Estate Group and its Hospitality Industry Group. Among other awards, Kevin has been recognized as a “Leading Individual in Real Estate” by Chambers and Partners from 2006-2011 and “40 Under 40 Nationwide” by Real Estate Forum in 2008 and 2010.

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