Chris Schwer

Partner, Head of Property
  • Experience

Chris joined Birketts in 2000. He is a Partner and Head of our Property Division.

Chris specialises in all aspects of commercial property matters and acts for many of the region’s leading investors, developers, landlords, tenants, funders and charities. He trained with Birketts between 1986 and 1988 and upon qualification he joined a City law firm. After a spell living and working in New Zealand, Chris re-joined the firm becoming a partner in June 2000. 

Chris is based in our Ipswich office but manages teams in all the firm’s offices. He became Head of the firm’s Property Division in 2005. He is also a member of the firm’s Partnership Board.

Chris has considerable experience of investment and development work, as well as real estate finance. However, in more recent years his main focus has been on strategic land and joint venture type collaborations and arrangements.  

As Head of the firm’s Property Division, Chris has extensive management and leadership responsibilities. He is Client Relationship Manager for many of the firm’s largest clients and is often consulted on strategic, structural and other issues over and above pure transactional property matters.   

With overall responsibility for service levels across the division, Chris oversees all professional appointments and ensures that all teams within the division carry sufficient resource at all times. He is also responsible for talent management within the division and takes pride in mentoring and assisting colleagues to optimise the career opportunities available to them at Birketts. 

Chris is named as an ‘Eminent Practitioner’ by Chambers [UK 2024].

Clients in this edition note “Chris is a true leader. His depth of knowledge is exceptional and the attention to detail he has for clients is second to none. Birketts are very lucky to have someone of this stature to lead their property business, and his clients benefit a great deal from that.”

Another adds “Chris Schwer provides a very good level of service.” He is also described as “extremely knowledgeable and competent.”

Chris is recommended and named as a ‘Hall of Fame’ member by Legal 500 [UK 2024]. In an earlier edition, a source said “Chris Schwer is a true leader and exceptional lawyer.”

Chris is named as an ‘Eminent Practitioner’ by Chambers [UK 2024].

Clients in this edition note “Chris is a true leader. His depth of knowledge is exceptional and the attention to detail he has for clients is second to none. Birketts are very lucky to have someone of this stature to lead their property business, and his clients benefit a great deal from that.”

Another adds “Chris Schwer provides a very good level of service.” He is also described as “extremely knowledgeable and competent.”

Chris is recommended and named as a ‘Hall of Fame’ member by Legal 500 [UK 2024]. In an earlier edition, a source said “Chris Schwer is a true leader and exceptional lawyer.”

Awards and Memberships

Legal 500 Hall of Fame logo
Chris Schwer Chambers logo 2024

Chris delivers an exceptional service to us and to all his clients, linked with an in-depth knowledge of the legal business.

Chambers [UK 2023]

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