Weightmans has appointed Brian Ghatan as a Partner in a boost to the firm’s commercial real estate offering in Manchester

National law firm Weightmans has recruited commercial real estate expert Brian Ghatan from Addleshaw Goddard as the firm continues to accelerate its offering to the Built Environment sector.

Brian advises a wide range of clients on all aspects of commercial real estate and is recommended in the Legal 500 as being ‘ especially skilled at navigating complex refinancing transactions ’. Most recently he has represented Bruntwood on high profile deals such as the SciTech joint venture with Legal & General to create the UK’s largest property platform dedicated to driving science and technology growth in regional cities. Brian led the real estate aspects of the transaction and the subsequent £185m green funding deal for the JV to refinance elements of the portfolio. He has also advised on ongoing development transactions at the Circle Square development site in Manchester including the £45m forward funding with Aviva of a 158-bed hotel and multi-storey car park for more than 1,000 vehicles.

He said:

“Weightmans has a strong reputation for delivering high quality advice on all aspects of real estate and property for both public and private sectors. The firm embraces technology as a way to drive results for clients, which is well received in the market.

“I’m delighted to be joining the team at a time of such growth and development for the business and look forward to working with colleagues across the firm to embrace new ways of working and adapt to new demands and opportunities.”

Brian’s arrival is the latest in a recruitment push for the Weightmans built environment group, after it welcomed four new experts to its planning, property and construction teams in recent months.