Seyfarth Shaw LLP announced today the addition of Real Estate partner James O’Brien to the firm’s San Francisco office, continuing the national Real Estate department’s steady growth as the fourth largest Real Estate practice in the United States. O’Brien joins Seyfarth from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, following the recent arrival of a group of six real estate attorneys in Seyfarth’s New York office.

O’Brien’s practice focuses on representing investment funds and other institutional investors in connection with real estate acquisitions and dispositions, real estate financing, leasing transactions and joint venture formation. He has worked on transactions involving all types of commercial and residential real property, including development property, office buildings, hotels, resorts, multifamily projects and mixed-use projects. O’Brien previously practiced in both New York and London and has been living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area for the last seven years.

Chair of Seyfarth’s Real Estate department Paul Mattingly said, “A strong presence in northern California is important to domestic real estate clients as well as inbound Pacific Rim investors. As we build out our international presence, gaining a stronger foothold in San Francisco’s gateway market will benefit increased real estate work, and James’ experience and institutional knowledge adds to our ability to service those clients.”

Nick Geannacopulos, Seyfarth’s San Francisco office managing partner added, “James has a reputation as a real estate attorney who practices at the highest level. His presence furthers diversifies our national Real Estate department’s on-the-ground skill set in the Bay Area and adds to our roster of more than 70 attorneys across all practices in San Francisco.”

O’Brien received his B.A. with honors from the University of Notre Dame and his J.D. from New York University School of Law.

www.seyfarth.com