Global law firm Ashurst announces the appointment of Chris Beaumont-McQuillan as partner, based in Abu Dhabi, to further build out its real estate practice as part of the continued expansion of the firm's presence in the Middle East and investment in the global real estate sector.
Chris is a leading private equity real estate (PERE) specialist with over a decade of experience advising global and regional investors including private equity funds, asset managers, sovereign wealth funds, family offices, pension funds, and REITs on complex, cross-border real estate transactions across the GCC, Europe, US, Asia, and Africa. His expertise spans the full investment lifecycle, with a particular focus on joint ventures, funds, capital solutions, and high-value deals in sectors such as senior living, purpose built student accommodation, hotels and leisure, industrial and logistics, data centres, and large-scale development platforms.
Sarah Sivyour, Global Head of Real Estate at Ashurst, commented: “Chris’ arrival, which follows the recent appointments of Lee Foxcroft and Todd Wu in London, is a pivotal moment for our global real estate team. His deep expertise in joint venture and fund structuring, along with hands-on experience in complex cross-border transactions, aligns perfectly with our strategic priorities. Chris’ strong track record advising institutional capital across the full investment lifecycle, and broad experience, means he is well-equipped to lead our real estate practice in the Middle East and enrich our client offering in this rapidly growing sector. We are delighted to welcome Chris to Ashurst.”
David Charlier, Abu Dhabi Office Managing Partner, said: “Chris’ appointment underscores our continued growth and sustained investment in the Middle East. Establishing a dedicated real estate practice in the region is a natural next step for our clients and our business. The region is witnessing the rapid development of a PERE ecosystem, with global and regional capital increasingly being deployed in market. Establishing a dedicated GCC real estate capability anchored in Abu Dhabi strengthens our regional platform, deepens our bench for clients, and reinforces our commitment to building a leading practice across the Middle East."
Chris added, “I’m thrilled to join Ashurst and build the firm’s Middle East real estate practice. The GCC real estate market is undergoing a step-change, with increasing volumes of sophisticated equity and debt capital being deployed into the region. Ashurst’s global platform, sector focus and collaborative culture provide the ideal foundation to build a leading real estate practice in the Middle East, with a particular focus on private equity real estate as the sector grows across the region.”
In under two years, the team has more than doubled to 20 partners. Chris’ arrival follows the addition of partners Clint Dempsey (Banking), Maha Osman and Vasi Papadopoulos (both Corporate) in Dubai, and in Riyadh the relocations of Martyn Rogers (Banking), Tammam Kaissi (Disputes) and Adam Skibsted (Projects), as well as the arrival of Raheel Butt (Regulatory) and Leonid Stoliarski (Corporate/ECM).
