Linklaters partners are due to vote on the appointment of Freshfields duo Ralph Wollburg and Achim Kirchfeld, although the pair have yet to hand in their resignation. Both partners have been with Freshfields for more than 20 years.
If concluded, the Duesseldorf hires will be seen as a coup for Linklaters, which has in recent years focused on raising the profitability of its German practice. The office will be Linklaters’ fifth in
The hires also mark the latest in a series of swoops on Freshfields, with the firm this year also recruiting finance partners David Ereira and Brian Gray in
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, will begin practising with A&O next month.
Duesseldorf partners say the arrival of Linklaters and A&O will intensify the already competitive recruitment market. One former Freshfields partner said Wollburg and Kirchfeld were well regarded and good recruits for Linklaters, but that their departure had been expected in the local market.