Irwin Mitchell partner Rob Thompson is to take over from London real estate head Jon Vivian from 1 May.

Vivian (pictured), who will continue as senior real estate partner in London, will focus on managing existing and new client relationships. Since 2011, he has also helped drive the firm's push into corporate, commercial, regulatory and litigation work.

Thompson was one of the four partners who joined Vivian in a 20-lawyer real estate team exodus from legacy SJ Berwin to Irwin Mitchell in November 2010.

In his new role, Thompson will head the 10 partner London real estate team, with support from Vivian and senior real estate partners Jo Footitt and Lewis Myers.

Thompson, who specialises in investment and development work in the UK and abroad, said the team was indebted to Jon for helping to build the practice "from a virtual standing start in London".

Since joining, the team has added Ellandi Retail Fund, Caudwell Properties, HSS Hire Service Group, Mercer Real Estate Partners, and Tishman Speyer to its list of clients, many of which followed the group in 2010.

Last year, Thompson led a team advising Wells Fargo and Lone Star on its acquisition of the £4bn Hypothekenbank Frankfurt loan book from Commerzbank.

"The London office is extremely important to us as an access to blue chip and an increasingly international client base," commented the firm's national head of real estate Paul Firth.

"Real estate now represents 33% of Irwin Mitchell's commercial practice and I will continue to work with Rob and Jon as we develop the practice further."

For a profile of Irwin Mitchell's corporate ambitions, click here