SJ Berwin is looking to rebuild in real estate finance ahead of the departure of City partner Nathan Briner, who is moving to an Australian corporate and private client firm.

Briner (pictured), an Australian native who joined the UK top 20 firm in 1998 and made partner in 2005, is leaving in August to join Arnold Bloch Leibler in Sydney after deciding to return to his home country.

His practice focuses on advising lenders and borrowers on real estate finance and general corporate lending, and his clients include National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Royal Bank of Canada, Morgan Stanley Real Estate Funds and London & Newcastle.

Briner is one of two dedicated City real estate finance partners at SJ Berwin alongside Raji Bartlett, with SJ Berwin finance head Jeremy Cross also practising in this area. The firm is currently looking for new recruits to build up the team further.

SJ Berwin's City finance team will have eight partners following Briner's departure, also including the two-partner restructuring and insolvency team.

Briner said: "I am happy to confirm it is purely for family reasons that I am returning to Australia. After 13 years, it is with regret that I am leaving SJB which is a fantastic firm, has great people, very talented lawyers and is a place I have very much enjoyed working at. I fully intend to stay in close touch with SJB from both a personal and business perspective."

Arnold Bloch Leibler, which has offices in Melbourne and Sydney, specialises in providing commercial legal advice to Australian and international corporations, high-net worth individuals and large family businesses. Following the hire, it will have around 30 partners.