Goodwin Procter is effectively relaunching its London office with a double partner hire from Ashurst.

The US firm has hired Ashurst's European real estate funds chief David Evans (pictured), who sat within Ashurst's corporate practice, and fellow real estate funds partner Samantha Lake Coghlan.

Evans, who was elected to Ashurst's management board in 2009, will chair Goodwin's London office which is set to move out of referral partner SJ Berwin's London headquarters into new London space.

Goodwin's sole London partner Brian Smith died earlier this year, with real estate partner Mike Glazer subsequently relocating to London to oversee the relaunch, resulting in the hire of the Ashurst duo.

Both Evans and Lake Coghlan have spent their entire legal careers at Ashurst, with Evans becoming a partner in 1995 and Lake Coghlan becoming a partner in 2009. Both will join Goodwin after serving a period of notice.

The pair cover all aspects of real estate fund structuring and investment matters including investment management mandates, structured acquisitions of real estate, joint ventures, club deals, multi-investor funds, and private M&A. They have advised clients on a wide range of issues related to the structuring of real estate transactions, products and vehicles across many European jurisdictions.

Goodwin's chair chairman Regina Pisa said: "David and Sam's experience and expertise will add a significant new dimension to our international presence, and we look forward to welcoming them to the firm. We are also enthusiastic about the prospect of having a gifted leader such as David chairing our London office and driving the firm's growth in this important market."

Goodwin and SJ Berwin will continue to maintain their existing referral relationship.

Other recent departures from Ashurst have seen real estate partner Simon Cookson join DLA Piper, while non-contentious construction partner Marc Hanson has handed in his notice to join Berwin Leighton Paisner.