Reed Smith has lured an 11-lawyer real estate finance group from Akerman’s New York office, led by former Akerman practice chair Randy Eckers, the firm announced Friday.

The group represents lending institutions in the financing of commercial real estate loans, construction loans, bridge loans, mezzanine loans, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and commercial property assessed clean energy (C-PACE). Its clients include banks, private equity firms, debt funds, bond investors, and property owners.