Nabarro LLP has concluded two concurrent deals for its client Hermes REIM ahead of the Christmas break. The first, completed on 23 December, was the acquisition of the 18-property Hawk portfolio acquired from Friends Provident. The portfolio contains high-street retail, office, retail warehouses and multi-let industrial estates with over 100 tenants.

The second, completed a day later, involved the acquisition of the 35 unit Christopher Place Shopping Centre in St Albans, from Criterion Group for £35 mln (EUR 38.8 mln). 'The shopping centre acquisition involved complex tax and corporate issues and moved at a high pace, completing eight business days after instructions were received', the law firm said in a press statement.

Nabarro has been on the Hermes panel since 2007.

Rob Raimes, real estate partner at Nabarro noted: 'We are delighted to be active for Hermes on these two deals at such a competitive time and are especially pleased to have been able to complete both acquisitions within such a tight time period and to the timescales set by both sellers who insisted on pre - Christmas closing. The depth of our real estate and indirect investment teams means we can take on these types of transaction with tight timescales and, regardless of the complexity, get them all done on time.'