DLA Piper has named John Sullivan, a partner in the firm's Boston office, co-chair of its U.S. real estate practice. Sullivan joins Jay Epstien, who practices in the firm's Washington, D.C. office, as co-chair of the U.S. real estate practice. Effective January 1, 2016, Sullivan will serve as sole practice group leader of U.S. real estate, while Epstien will continue in his current roles as co-chair of DLA Piper's global real estate practice and sector groups with Olaf Schmidt, who practices in the firm's Milan office. Sullivan, who also becomes a member of the firm's executive committee, has led the Boston group since joining DLA Piper's predecessor firm in 2003. Sullivan has a broad-based commercial real estate practice, with emphasis on representing public and private pension plans, opportunity funds, investment advisors and non-US investors in joint venture, preferred equity, financing, acquisition and sale transactions. In addition, he is a member of the firm's policy and associates committees. DLA Piper's Real Estate practice has been widely recognized as one of the leading real estate practices in the world. The firm's lawyers represent clients in sophisticated real estate transactions involving all asset classes, including acquisitions, joint ventures, sales, financing, leasing, development, construction, environmental law and tax matters. DLA Piper is a global law firm located in more than 30 countries throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East, positioning it to help companies with their legal needs around the world. In certain jurisdictions, this information may be considered attorney advertising.