Fresh from its run of lateral hires from Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) in London, Jones Day has made two prominent European partner hires, as Clifford Chance’s (CC) Frankfurt-based automotive head Johannes Perlitt joins the firm’s corporate practice while the head of EU product regulatory practice at McKenna Long & Aldridge in Brussels, Ursula Schliessner has also joined the firm as a partner.
Corporate/M&A specialist Perlitt joins Jones Day after 14 years as a partner with Magic Circle CC, where he headed the automotive industry group. Having represented global companies in a number high profile corporate and capital markets transactions, he previously advised Volkswagen on its combination with Porsche to create the Integrated Automotive Group – a €4.7bn deal for an accelerated integration model introduced in July 2012.
Partner-in-charge of Jones Day’s German office, Ansgar Rempp, said: ‘The addition of Perlitt demonstrates that Jones Day has become one of the most sought after firms for first class laterals. We are glad to have recruited one of the most experienced German lawyers for public takeovers and corporate law.
‘This is another important step in the ongoing expansion of our presence in the German market. We will continue to pursue our strategic goal of becoming one of the leading corporate law firms in Germany. Due to its economic strength and leading role within the EU, Germany is among the most important locations for Jones Day for the long term.’
Jones Day has been on a recruitment drive in Germany, strengthening its Düsseldorf office with hires including Simmons & Simmons partner Ulrich Brauer, who joined last April as German head of corporate and M&A. Former Bird & Bird partner Kerstin Mast and Ralf Recknagel of German firm GSK Stockmann + Kollegen also joined the firm’s German corporate practice the year before.
Separately, it has emerged that Schliessner joined the firm’s Brussels office in mid-February as a partner in its government regulation practice.
With more than two decades of experience in EU regulatory matters, and a specific focus on chemical, environmental, food, biotech, product safety, and workers’ health & safety regulatory issues, Schliessner advises companies and trade associations on regulatory compliance issues, product authorisations, labelling, and circulation across the EU in a broad range of industry sectors.
Acknowledged by the Legal 500 as McKenna Long’s ‘lead advisor’ on consortium management, registration and authorisation, her clients have included Chromium Trioxide REACH Authorization Consortium and Iron Oxides REACH Consortium.
On her arrival, Schliessner said: ‘This move is a win-win situation that will provide our existing clients with access to all the resources of a global law firm with offices in strategic locations around the world, and will also allow us to leverage our knowledge and experience to serve the needs of an even greater number of clients.’
Noel Francisco, head of the firm’s government regulation practice, added: ‘With her broad-ranging experience, and her leading reputation on REACH, she will strongly enhance our EU regulatory law practice in Belgium and across Europe, complementing our teams in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK.’
Last week (28 February) Legal Business revealed that Jones Day had secured the hire of its fourth BLP partner since last August, with the arrival of banking and capital markets partner Paul Simcock.
Sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk