Ashurst Appoints Former BCLP Real Estate Head Chris Beaumont-McQuillan As Partner
Ashurst appoints former BCLP real estate head Chris Beaumont-McQuillan as partner
The Global law firm, Ashurst has strengthened its Middle East presence with the appointment of Chris Beaumont-McQuillan as partner, based in Abu Dhabi, marking the firm’s first dedicated real estate partner hire in the region. The appointment forms part of Ashurst’s continued expansion in the Middle East and its strategic investment in the global real estate sector.
Chris Beaumont-McQuillan 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. His practice focuses on complex, cross-border real estate transactions across the GCC, Europe, the United States, Asia, and Africa.
His expertise spans the full investment lifecycle, with particular strength in joint ventures, fund structuring, capital solutions, and high-value transactions across sectors such as senior living, purpose-built student accommodation, hotels and leisure, industrial and logistics, data centres, and large-scale development platforms.
Chris Beaumont-McQuillan brings over 15 years of international real estate experience across leading global law firms. Prior to joining Ashurst, he served as Partner and Head of Real Estate (Middle East) at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP from February 2023 to January 2026, advising on complex private equity real estate transactions across the GCC and international markets.
Before that, he was a Partner and Counsel at Reed Smith LLP, where he advised institutional investors on high-value cross-border real estate and infrastructure matters. Earlier in his career, Chris spent nearly seven years at White & Case LLP as a Senior Associate and Associate, working on major international real estate and development transactions across London and the UAE. He began his legal career at Slaughter and May, where he trained and qualified as an associate in the Corporate practice.
Commenting on the appointment, Sarah Sivyour, Global Head of Real Estate at Ashurst, said,
"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. 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."
Chris Beaumont-McQuillan said,
"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."
Conclusion
Chris Beaumont-McQuillan’s appointment marks a significant milestone in Ashurst’s Middle East growth strategy, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to building a market-leading private equity real estate practice in the region. With his extensive experience across complex, cross-border real estate transactions and leadership roles at leading global law firms, Ashurst is well-positioned to support the growing deployment of sophisticated equity and debt capital across the GCC.
Ashurst is a leading international law firm that has operated in the Middle East for over 20 years. As of 2026, the firm maintains a significant regional presence through four primary offices and has recently expanded into integrated risk consulting.
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