Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough has started a REIT practice by snagging a partner, Mike Rafter, from Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz.

Rafter, a corporate and securities lawyer who specializes in real estate investment trusts (REITs), brought Kara Davis as of counsel and Benjamin Russell as an associate. Russell had just joined him at Baker Donelson from Kaufman & Forman in March.