Associate Director

Seyfarth welcomes leading employment lawyer Nicholas Turner to its team. LexBlog, Inc. is delighted to welcome Nicholas Turner to Seyfarth as a partner in its Sydney office, further strengthening its market-leading labour and employment practice in Australia and across its global network. Nicholas joins with more than 20 years' experience advising across Australia, Asia and Europe, bringing a truly international perspective to employment law. He is widely recognised as a trusted adviser to boards and senior executives on complex workplace, industrial and strategic workforce matters, and has built a reputation for delivering pragmatic, solutions-focused advice in high stakes environments. Prior to joining Seyfarth, Nicholas served as Head of Employment in Australia at DLA Piper, where he established and grew the practice significantly. His career also includes senior leadership roles as Head of Employment in London at Sidley Austin and Head of Employment in Asia at Linklaters, reflecting the depth and breadth of his global experience. Nicholas advises on the full spectrum of workplace issues, including senior executive matters, remuneration and incentives, enterprise bargaining, and complex disputes. He is particularly experienced in guiding organisations through workplace change and large-scale workforce transformations, as well as advising on cross-border employment matters and corporate transactions. Darren Perry, Chair of Seyfarth's International Employment Law department and Managing Partner of the firm's Australian offices, commented: Nicholas, with his extensive background, will fulfil a valuable role with his ability to connect its Australia practice with the cross-border work done by its International Department partners in the United States, London and Hong Kong. Daniel Waldman, Vice Chair of the International Employment Department, added: Nicholas is a strong addition to its team who further enhances its market-leading reputation in Australia. It is so valuable to have such an experienced lawyer in Sydney, with his being UK-qualified and having spent meaningful time in Hong Kong, who can also operate cross-border and create stronger connections back to its other offices. Commenting on his appointment, Nicholas said: Seyfarth presents a compelling opportunity to me as both a lawyer and business generator. I am truly energised by the prospect of focusing on client work with the outstanding team of lawyers at Seyfarth, both in Australia and internationally. Seyfarth's strong and stable brand platform will enable me to advance my practice to the next level. With Nicholas' appointment, Seyfarth continues to invest in its Australian practice and its global capabilities, ensuring clients benefit from deep local expertise combined with a truly international outlook.

Seyfarth again bolsters Real Estate offerings. June 10, 2026 - Seyfarth Shaw LLP continues to expand its real estate capabilities in Texas with the notable addition of Consuella (Connie) Simmons Taylor to the firm's Houston office as a partner in its noted Real Estate department. Taylor previously served as firmwide chair of the Real Estate & Construction practice at Baker Botts L.L.P. Taylor is the 11th Real Estate partner to make a lateral move to Seyfarth since the start of 2025 - and the fifth since the beginning of 2026, including three in Texas. Seyfarth's Real Estate practice is among the largest in the country. Taylor brings more than 30 years of experience to Seyfarth, having counseled clients on commercial real estate transactions of all asset types, primarily representing developers and owners. Clients have entrusted Taylor with a wide range of significant matters involving office and retail leasing, acquisitions, dispositions, financing, and development of real property. Taylor is widely recognized in the industry and has held leadership roles with the planning committee for the ICSC +US Law Conference presented by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and with the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL). In 2025, she was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame by the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce, an honor recognizing women who "innovate, uplift communities, break ceilings, and redefine leadership." "Connie's outstanding real estate practice is multi-faceted and well-aligned with Seyfarth's national platform," said Paul Mattingly, national chair of Seyfarth's Real Estate department. "Her deep experience in retail and office leasing, development, and sophisticated real estate transactions - combined with her reputation in the industry - positions her as a high-profile addition to our team. We are excited to have Connie join us with her vast experience and proven leadership." Taylor counsels both buyers and sellers of office and retail assets in major metropolitan and suburban areas across the United States, ranging from single assets to multi-asset portfolios. She also represents clients in financing, refinancing, and loan assumptions involving office buildings, retail shopping centers and industrial/logistics projects in Houston and other large US cities. Her work includes several portfolio financings for development funds. I couldn't be more excited to welcome Connie to its full-service, market-leading Houston office. Connie will be an incredible addition to one of its powerhouse departments - real estate - in addition to its strengths across labor & employment, litigation, and corporate," said Suzanna Bonham, managing partner for Seyfarth's Houston office. "Her decision to join Seyfarth after more than three decades at Baker Botts speaks volumes about the momentum we're building and the power of our platform - particularly our focus on innovation, technology, and a deeply client-centered approach. Connie brings exceptional experience, a strong reputation in the market, and a collaborative leadership style that fits seamlessly with how we work. I am especially energized about what her addition means for our clients and the continued growth of our Houston office." Taylor has represented landlords in office and retail leasing transactions involving up to one million square feet in a single deal. Taylor's tenant representations include the lease of approximately half-a -million square feet for a major utility company, as well as leases ranging from 10,000 to over 100,000 square feet for energy companies and other corporate clients. "Seyfarth's nationally integrated real estate platform presents a compelling opportunity to expand the way I serve my clients," said Taylor. "The firm's collaborative approach and strength in Texas and across the country position it for continued growth. I am excited to join the team in Houston and contribute to that momentum." Taylor's leadership and industry impact have earned significant recognition. She is recognized as one of the "500 Leading Real Estate Lawyers" by Lawdragon and was named "Lawyer of the Year" in Real Estate Law by The Best Lawyers in America in 2023. She is consistently ranked by Chambers USA and Best Lawyers. Taylor earned her JD at Tulane University Law School and her BA at the University of Houston.

Seyfarth Shaw LLP has launched a Miami office, its 14th in the United States and 18th globally, to serve the US-Latin America business corridor. Juan Carlos Varela joins as partner, Miami office managing partner and chair of the firm's Latin America practice. The office will provide services including commercial risk management, real estate, corporate and M&A, regulatory compliance, litigation and workforce strategy. Varela holds law degrees in four countries and is admitted to practice in Florida, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela. Daniel Vielleville joins as litigation partner with offices in Miami and New York, whilst Victor Guerra joins as consultant with over 20 years of in-house experience at multinational corporations. The office launches with 20 existing Florida-admitted Seyfarth attorneys, providing immediate depth across multiple practices in key industries including financial services, real estate and technology.