SJ Berwin has made up a new real estate partner in an out-of-season City promotion.

The firm has promoted London-based associate Darren Rogers to the partnership with immediate effect.

SJ Berwin said Rogers, who qualified as a solicitor in 2000, had deserved the promotion based on his track record in leading client relationship in the firm's real estate department. The firm was planning on promoting him in its usual round at the end of the financial year, but opted to fast-track the promotion in light of a number of departures from the team.

His client relationships include leading real estate clients British Land and Gazeley, who were also clients of recently departed real estate head Jon Vivian, who left in favour of Irwin Mitchell with a 16-lawyer team this autumn.

The promotion brings the SJ Berwin City real estate team to 13 partners and 46 associates.

SJ Berwin co-head of real estate Simon Ricketts said: "It is not the first time we have promoted a partner out of the normal round. Rules are there to be broken. Darren is an exceptional candidate for partnership and his position in the real estate team is exactly right in terms of his practice, deal leadership and strong client relationships."

The news follows the closing of a number of deals for SJ Berwin's real estate team including the Crown Estate £448m sale of a 25% stake in the Queen's Regent Street property portfolio last month.

Other recent deals have included acting for British Land on its £480m 50:50 joint venture with Oxford Properties to develop the Leadenhall building in the City and acting for the Royal Bank of Scotland on its £175m refinancing of L&G's Industrial Property Investment Fund.