Global property giant Lend Lease has promoted senior legal counsel Mark Packer as its general counsel (GC) for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions after the multinational’s longstanding EMEA legal chief Patrick Gloyens stepped down from the role.
Packer, who before joining Sydney-headquartered Lend Lease in 2009 was co-head of real estate finance at Eversheds, has until now headed the development, investment management and Continental European businesses. His new position as GC took effect in early July.
It was not known at the time of writing where Gloyens – a former property partner at US firm Dechert who joined Lend Lease in 2008 – has gone to, and a spokesperson would only confirm that he had left the company.
Gloyens departure follows that of senior legal counsel Alistair Cutts, who left the role in 2013 as the company was suggested to be seeking to scale back its European arm.
Packer will now be responsible for the 18-strong legal team which includes lawyers and secondees and according to Gloyens’ Linkedin profile, the role has previously also included responsibility for the insurance and company secretary teams. Further duties includes issues relating to corporate governance and regulatory issues, involving anti- bribery, competition and data protection audits.
External advisers on the construction giant’s legal panel include Linklaters, Eversheds, Pinsent Masons, Herbert Smith Freehills, DAC Beachcroft, DLA Piper and Nabarro, which this year won a place on the preferred list of advisers for the first time.
Nabarro already had a solid relationship with Lend Lease before securing its panel position in March, having won a competitive pitch in 2012 to advise on the major £1.3bn development of The International Quarter (TIQ) sited on the Olympic Park in Stratford City in London, with head of real estate Ciaran Carvalho leading.
Lend Lease also previously instructed Magic Circle firm Slaughter and May on the agreements with The Olympic Delivery Authority for the facilities management of the Olympic Village and the Olympic Park infrastructure.
Sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk
