Hogan Lovells expands its preeminent REIT practice with leading capital markets partner Jim Davidson

Hogan Lovells expands its preeminent REIT practice with leading capital markets partner Jim Davidson

Press releases | 01 April 2025

Washington, D.C., Houston, 1 April 2025 – Global law firm Hogan Lovells announced today that James “Jim” Davidson has joined as a capital markets partner in the firm’s preeminent and nationally recognized REIT practice, based in the Washington, D.C. and Houston offices. Davidson, who joins from Hunton Andrews Kurth, advises clients on REIT transactions, corporate governance, and securities market regulation, and represents clients in both U.S. and international capital markets matters.

“We are excited to welcome Jim to Hogan Lovells,” said James Doyle, global Practice Group Leader – Corporate & Finance. “Jim’s extensive experience in capital markets, particularly his knowledge of the REIT space, as well as his deep experience in private credit, corporate governance, and securities regulation, make him an exceptional addition to our team.”

Davidson is a well-known REIT capital markets lawyer, having advised on more than 200 REIT transactions over the last 15 years. He has been a key player in groundbreaking complex REIT financings, including the only postal REIT, traditional and alternative medical property REITs, and the first Mexican FIBRA (similar to a U.S. REIT). His clients include major mortgage, hospitality, office, and multifamily REITs, along with specialty finance companies.

“With private equity and private credit playing increasingly important roles in the real estate capital markets, Jim’s background is a perfect addition to our market leading REIT practice, said David Bonser, Global Managing Partner of the Corporate Practice, and Global Co-Head of the REIT practice. “His ability to structure complex and first-of-their kind REIT transactions will enable our clients to identify opportunities in an evolving market.”

Davidson has extensive experience with a wide variety of both public and private debt and equity offerings by U.S. and non-U.S. issuers, including initial public offerings, convertible offerings, and both investment-grade and high-yield debt financings. He also advises domestic issuers on corporate governance matters, SEC filings, disclosure issues, Sarbanes-Oxley requirements and ESG-related matters.

“Jim’s extensive capital markets experience, including structuring transactions and advising on the regulatory aspects of those transactions, further strengthens our practice at a time when our clients are increasingly seeking sophisticated advice on how to navigate market conditions,” said John Beckman, Head of Capital Markets – Americas.

Davidson said: “I am excited to join Hogan Lovells. The firm’s stellar reputation in advising REITs and its experience in the private credit and the real estate sector—along with a collaborative culture that operates well in an environment where clients’ needs are often cross-practice and multi-jurisdictional—provides an ideal platform for me to expand my practice and continue delivering exceptional results for clients.”

Ajay Kuntamukkala, Office Managing Partner, Washington, D.C. added: “We’re very happy to welcome Jim to our growing office here. As one of Washington’s largest and oldest law firms, we are somewhat unique in that in addition to our market leading regulatory expertise, we have a very strong corporate and finance practice here, including our nationally renowned REIT practice. Jim is a welcome addition who further solidifies our leadership in this space.”

Bruce Oakley, Office Managing Partner of our Houston office commented, “Jim has developed a strong reputation in the REIT space and we’re very happy to be expanding our preeminent REIT team into Texas.”

Davidson earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2009.

About the Hogan Lovells Washington, D.C. office

Since 1904, our lawyers in the nation’s capital have been instrumental in assisting clients in solving their most difficult commercial, regulatory, and legal obstacles. Hogan Lovells’ Washington, D.C. office is the firm’s largest office in the United States, with over 500 lawyers spanning all three of the firm’s practice groups -- Corporate & Finance, Global Regulatory and IP, and Litigation, Arbitration and Employment. We operate at the intersection of business and government, with a deep understanding of how geopolitics, political risks, and regulatory issues affect clients across numerous sectors.

About the Hogan Lovells Houston office

Hogan Lovells’ transactional, litigation, regulatory, and intellectual property lawyers meet a wide range of client needs for companies headquartered or doing business in Houston. Our lawyers have years of experience representing clients in strategic transactions and complex disputes in Texas and around the world. A variety of clients—energy and manufacturing companies, infrastructure funds and developers, financial institutions, and life sciences and health care entities—repeatedly turn to us for counsel.