Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has hired two partners, Norbert Impelmann and Albrecht von Breitenbuch, along with four other lawyers from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe for its Berlin office.
The hires aim to bolster BLP’s real estate and infrastructure practice in Germany, and follow the appointment of nine legal staff into BLP’s Hong Kong office earlier this year to boost its property practice.
Impleman was Orrick’s office leader in Berlin and head of the firm’s real estate practice group in Germany, while Albrecht was also a partner in Orrick’s Berlin office. Albrecht was a member of the firm’s real estate group and spearheaded Orrick’s technology practice for startups and venture capital investors.
As well as the two partners, senior associate Katharina von Rosenstiel, managing associate Ruben Pisal and associates Henning Bigalke and Maxim Gnatjuk will join, along with four support staff.
The team’s integration into the Berlin office will be led by Roland Fabian, managing partner of BLP Germany and a member of the firm’s board.
Fabian said there was huge potential for BLP in Germany as it was a highly active real estate market. ‘By strengthening our German team, we will ensure that we are at the forefront of this activity and have the best team possible to take advantage,’ he said.
In April this year, US firm Orrick said it would cut its German network by half, and would close is Frankfurt and Berlin offices.
victoria.young@legalease.co.uk