Trowers & Hamlins has recruited real estate partner Julien Allen from City rival Olswang.

Allen joined the top 40 firm's real estate group in London earlier this month (1 June) after four years at Olswang, including two as a partner. Before Olswang, he spent four years at Clifford Chance and five years at Norton Rose.

Allen, who advises on property development, investment transactions, joint ventures and lettings, most recently advised REIT Asset Management on its £635m portfolio acquisition from the administrators of the Dawnay
Day Group. 

Other notable clients include property investment companies Minerva, Brixton, Apollo Real Estate and Freshwater.

Trowers' senior partner Jonathan Adlington said: "We are very pleased to welcome Julien to our team. He has an outstanding track record in major transactional work and a loyal following among both developers and property investors. He will be an enormous asset."

Allen added: "There has definitely been a pick-up in activity across the board but it will depend to a great extent on the banks. Now is a great time to invest in real estate as the market has dropped significantly."

The move comes after Olswang lost another property partner, Nick Simpson, to Osborne Clarke last month.