German indy Heuking Kuhn opens in Zurich

Heuking Kuhn Luer Wojtek, the German former ally of City firm Denton Wilde Sapte, has opened an office in Zurich, becoming the first major German independent to open in the Swiss financial centre.

The new office will be headed up by new private client partner Holger Erwin, who joins Heuking Kuhn from rival independent Haarmann.

Erwin, who is both UK and German-qualified and whose practice covers a range of corporate work as well as private client, has previously practised at elite German independent Hengeler Mueller and City giant Allen & Overy. He joined German tax and corporate boutique Haarmann as a partner little more than a year ago.

The office launch makes Heuking Kuhn the first large German independent firm to open in Zurich - a move managing partner Dieter Bohnert said was driven by client demand.

Commenting on the move, Bohnert said: "Our activities in Switzerland have reached a volume which cannot be sustained by flying in and out of Switzerland any longer. We are very pleased now to be able to assist our clients directly where they are located."

He added: "Our objective is to add [to the services of local firms] German law-related advice. We combine unique accessibility on the spot with the full know-how of a large German law firm."

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