Kirkland & Ellis has added a real estate capital markets practice in Texas, hiring former Jones Day partner Andrew Van Noord.

Van Noord joined Kirkland’s year-old Dallas outpost as a partner Thursday, along with associate Conrad Steele, who also came from Jones Day.

Van Noord said he wasn’t looking to leave Jones Day, but Kirkland offered him the unique opportunity and challenge of kickstarting its real estate practice in Texas, where the firm also has a Houston office. He  added that he also expects to tap into Kirkland’s strength in the private equity sector.

He declined to identify his clients but said he represents a broad mix of entities involved in real estate transactions, including fund sponsors and developers. He focuses on joint ventures and fund formations, but also does real estate M&A.

Andrew Calder, a Kirkland partner in Houston and a member of the firm’s global management executive committee, said in a press release that he is thrilled Van Noord joined the firm.

“Andy is well-regarded in the Texas legal community, and real estate is an important practice in the Dallas market in particular,” Calder said.

Kirkland opened its Houston office in 2014, and tacked on the Dallas location last year.

Jones Day did not immediately provide a comment on Van Noord’s departure.

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