Eversheds Sutherland expanded in Germany in August, opening its fourth office in the country after acquiring Düsseldorf-based firm Grooterhorst & Partner.
The new office, which is focused on real estate and insurance, opened with three partners: Johannes Grooterhorst, Marc Christian Schwencke and Ralf-Thomas Wittmann. The trio were joined by a team of 11 lawyers.
Grooterhorst and Schwencke focus on real estate while Wittmann specialises in insurance. The office plans to become a full-service practice.
Eversheds co-chief executive Lee Ranson said the firm strategy is further commitment to the expansion of its global platform. ‘Our launch in Düsseldorf, an important centre of corporate activity and the industrial heartland of Germany, is a significant milestone in the rollout of that strategy.’
Eversheds has developed its footprint in Germany in recent years, notably merging with its German partner Heisse Kursawe in 2015.
‘Our German practice has recently made significant progress. The opening of the Düsseldorf office adds momentum as we strengthen our position in the German market,’ said the firm’s managing partner in Germany, Matthias Heisse.
In March, Gowling WLG launched its second German outpost in Stuttgart. Corporate partner Andreas Woelfle and counsel Petra Beyer were relocated to staff the new office.