Linklaters is set to launch in Duesseldorf with the hire of two corporate partners from magic circle rival Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
The
However, a spokesman for Freshfields stressed neither partner had handed in their resignation.
The move comes three months after highly-rated Duesseldorf corporate partner Thomas Austmann announced he was to leave Freshfields to launch a local arm for Allen & Overy (A&O). Austmann, who was managing partner of Freshfields’ Duesseldorf arm from 2003 to 2006, left on 31 March and will begin practicing with A&O next month.
If concluded as expected, the Duesseldorf hires will be regarded as a coup for Linklaters, which has in recent years been focused on raising the profitability of its German law practice. The office will be Linklaters’ fifth in
The hires also mark a period of aggressive recruitment by Linklaters targeted at arch rival Freshfields, with the firm this year also hiring finance partners David Ereira and Brian Gray in
Linklaters declined to comment.
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