Three NRF laterals boost German practice
Dentons has targeted two more regions for European growth, launching an office in Munich alongside plans for a back office in Poland.
In a bid to boost its corporate offering in Europe, Dentons is launching its Munich office this summer with the recruit of three partners from Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF). Alexander von Bergwelt will serve as managing partner for the Munich office, and will be responsible for building and leading the new team. He specialises in corporate, private equity, restructuring and litigation.
Von Bergwelt joins alongside corporate partners Michael Malterer and Igsaan Varachia. The trio are the latest additions to Dentons’ 100-lawyer operation in Germany, with the Munich office its latest investment into the German market, having hired 12 new partners in Berlin and Frankfurt since the start of 2015.
Germany managing partner Andreas Ziegenhagen told Legal Business: ‘Our growth strategy for Germany meant Munich was the natural next step. We had no office in the south with links to Stuttgart.’
‘Munich was the natural next step. We had no office in the south.’
Andreas Ziegenhagen, Dentons
He added: ‘Where you’ve seen firms expand in the country or downsize isn’t so much an indication of the domestic legal market but depends on the strategy of the law firm – whether it has the full-service approach. You have some firms with only the strategic view to do corporate M&A or banking and finance work – they don’t need many offices.’
Meanwhile, in mid-May Dentons revealed plans to open a business services centre in Poland. Dubbed the Dentons Business Services EMEA unit, the move is expected to affect 50 back-office jobs in the UK and will launch in Warsaw later this year. It will be led by director Piotr Macieja, who joins from professional services provider TMF Group and will provide support in finance, business development, marketing, human resources and IT for lawyers and professionals. Dentons announced this news in the same week NRF said it would outsource to the Philippines, putting 170 operational roles at risk.
sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk