Eversheds has confirmed it is in talks over a full merger with its German partner Heisse Kursawe Eversheds as the firm opens a third German office in Berlin.
Chief executive Bryan Hughes said in a statement today (2 April): ‘Our strategy for growth is focused on increasing the depth and reach of our international operations. We are regularly in dialogue with firms around the world and this includes our German partner firm. As those discussions are ongoing, there is nothing further to say at this stage.’
The new Berlin office of Heisse Kursawe Eversheds will be headed by senior office partner and employment partner Stefan Kursawe and will cover all areas of commercial law, with a particular emphasis on public law, procurement law and real estate law.
The firm, whose clients include base security provider Securitas and project management company DEGES, which is responsible for the development and construction of infrastructure within reunified Germany, says it opened the office in response to client demand for a presence in Berlin.
Kursawe said: ‘Berlin has become an obligatory location for commercial law firms and we have opened the office due to real client demand. As an economic area, Berlin has clearly gained enormous momentum and is the headquarter of several important authorities and associations. Berlin is also a vibrant city and we hope our presence in the region will also help attract potential new recruits as we continue to pick up new mandates.
‘The opening of our Berlin office is another exciting development for Eversheds international presence, as we continue to grow our operations in new markets in order to offer our clients the seamless and collaborative service they have come to expect from us.’
Earlier this week, Eversheds took the next step in its African expansion strategy by signing a partnership agreement with existing relationship firm CWA Morocco, establishing new offices in Casablanca and Tangier.
Led by local managing partner Mohamed Oulkhouir, Eversheds CWA Morocco will advise domestic and international clients across a broad spectrum of industries, including maritime, automotive, financial services and industrial engineering.
As part of Eversheds’ ‘Pan-African strategy’ to establish offices in key markets announced in October 2013, the 1760-lawyer firm opened four other offices on the continent in December through tie-ups with South African firm Mahons and Tunisia’s El Heni, with the firm continuing to explore opportunities in Ghana and Kenya.
francesca.fanshawe@legalease.co.uk
For more on Eversheds’ international strategy and ambitions, see The ideal law firm for 2013? Eversheds hunts for its breakthrough
