Edwin Collins, a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright in Los Angeles/courtesy photo.

Norton Rose Fulbright, with an eye on growing its West Coast footprint, has added real estate and private equity lawyer Edwin Collins as a partner in its Los Angeles office.

"We are looking to strategically grow our office with laterals who have practices that fit with both our client bases and our strengths in other offices," said Jeffrey Margulies, partner-in-charge of Norton Rose Fulbright's Los Angeles and San Francisco offices.

Before joining Norton Rose Fulbright, Collins served as managing director at One Road Partners in Los Angeles, an investment and advisory firm that handles investments related to real estate, health care and hospitality.

"Becoming a part of Norton Rose Fulbright allows me to introduce my clients to a renowned worldwide real estate and private equity practice. I look forward to sharing all that the impressive global firm has to offer," Collins said in a statement.

At Norton Rose Fulbright, Collins plans to work with real estate private equity firms, real estate investment and development clients on joint venture formation, acquisitions and dispositions, as well as financing matters, according to the firm.

Before starting his career at One Road Partners, Collins worked as general counsel with real estate private equity firm Hackman Capital Partners. He also worked in private practice for nearly a decade, including four years at Kirkland & Ellis in New York, where he was a partner.

"Eddie lives in the world of real estate private equity," Margulies added. "He's got a national practice so he's not limited to California, but being based here, we just felt that he would be a superb addition to our team around the U.S."

Norton Rose Fulbright became a 1,000-attorney international firm in June 2013 when U.K.-based Norton Rose merged with U.S.-based Fulbright & Jaworski. The firm said it has 54 total lawyers in California, including nine in San Francisco and 45 in Los Angeles.

"We're trying to grow primarily to our strengths and to the clients' sectors that we work in," Margulies said. "We're not taking the approach of trying to be all things to all people but really looking for partners who can fit with our practices and take advantage of our global platform."

In California, the firm is looking to build up its transactional bench, Margulies said. "We have strong practices in finance areas and in health care transactions, [involving] both public and private entities," he added. "So those are the types of areas that we are strongly interested in."

In a statement welcoming Collins, Gene Lewis, head of Norton Rose Fulbright's U.S. business practice, also said: "Eddie joins us with deep connections to leading REPE firms and investors in Southern California, Asia and other parts of the world. His arrival enhances our transaction capabilities in California."