Welcome to Market Watch, a podcast from Mishcon de Reya, where we dive into the opportunities and challenges facing the real estate sector through conversations with key industry players.
In our fifth episode, Nick Kirby, Partner in the Commercial Real Estate team and Head of PropTech at Mishcon de Reya, speaks with Laura Elkin, Portfolio Manager at AEW UK REIT.
Laura Elkin
Laura is an experienced real estate professional with nearly two decades in the industry. She has been part of AEW’s UK team since its REIT’s IPO ten years ago and now leads its portfolio strategy. Known for her rigorous value-driven approach, Laura has played a central role in delivering a consistent dividend for AEW UK REIT, even through turbulent market cycles.
AEW UK REIT
AEW is one of the world’s largest real estate asset managers, with £78.8 billion of assets under management globally (as of March 2024). AEW UK REIT focuses on value investing across diversified sectors and has won numerous awards, including Best UK Property Trust at the Citywire Awards and Best Listed Fund at the MSCI UK & European Property Awards.
In this episode
Laura shares her career journey from roadside and automotive valuations to leading a high-performing REIT. She and Nick discuss AEW's flexible, bottom-up investment strategy, the benefits of short-income asset management, and how to navigate volatility while maintaining investor trust. The episode also touches on how relationship-building and effective communication remain central to long-term success in real estate.
This podcast is brought to you by Mishcon de Reya, which has one of the largest full-service real estate teams in the UK, acting for clients who are shaping the market.
Topics covered:
- Value-driven investing and active asset management
- The case for short-income assets
- Communicating with investors in uncertain times
- Building a long-term career in real estate
- How AEW UK REIT has consistently outperformed over a decade
- Lessons from the pandemic and the 2022 mini-budget
- Trends across sectors: industrials, retail, and leisure
- The importance of people and teamwork in investment strategy